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Weekly piece of Nate's views on politics, religion, race, male/female relationships, and education.
Articles are to be considered for National publication, especially for newspapers across the Country.
Consider This...
Women in Education: The Road Best Traveled
It is hard to believe that women were greatly discouraged to pursue education in the United States, at the same rate that a man might. The thinking was, as hard as it is to believe, that an educated woman would upset the balance of the social structure in our society.
Men were expected to work and women were expected to raise the children, cook, clean, and cater to their husbands. Girls were taught at an early age where their place in our great society was. Women didn’t vote, so education wasn’t a major factor in their development. Social manners, and household chores were the primary concern of a “true Lady.”
I had some amazing women Teachers in my lifetime. Dr. Alfreda Johnson, Dr. Barbara Baton, Rev. Barbara Derrickson, Dr. Clarice Kendall, and Dr. Barbara Black, to name just a few. All of these women touched my life in a very special way. All of these women are highly educated, articulate, intellectuals, who never lost the common touch.
They all seemed to have a sense of historical significance etiched in their spirits. All of them are Master Teachers, in my opinion, and I benefited from each of them in a special way. Where would I be, if they were not able to be the Teachers they were meant to be? I’m glad I’ll never find know.
Dr. Alfreda Johnson, who taught in the Harrisburg School District, is a retired Counselor from Harrisburg Area Community College, made a big impact on my life, both as a Teacher and an advocate for poor inner-city youth. Her reach went far beyond the classroom. She demanded that we learned and gave our best effort. I never thought she saw a poor kid, with a learning disability in me.
I always got the feeling that she expected me to do the lesson of the day, like any other student, and have my homework done, neat and on time. In other words, she expected excellence. The important factor here is that she thought I could, and that empowered me to believe I could.
Dr. Barbara Baton, another great Teacher and Administrator in the Harrisburg School District, was very active in the community, serving on a number of Boards and leading important initiatives. I learned a lot from her while serving, with her, on a few non-profit Boards as a young man. She knew the issues. She was always in a leadership role.
Her scholarship was evident and sound. She didn’t take a back seat to anyone in the room. She was not boastful or over-bearing, but she was not a slient voice in the room. She always encouraged the youth around her to pursue higher education. I still mourn her passing.
Rev. Barbara Derrickson, taught me just about everything I know about Clinical Pastoral Education. She is a Supervisor of Chaplains, as is her husband, Paul Derrickson. Rev. Barbara Derrickson is one of the best examples of a “minister” that I have ever known. She is able to find the voice of God in the presence of cunfusion, even when she has to fight through her own anger or furstration to do so.
She can explain very difficult concepts in such a way that you get it. I am a better minister because of her.
Dr. Clarice Kendall, is a powerful voice in the Religious community. She is a Teacher with great wisdom and insight. She teaches by example and with passion. I grew-up in Lingo Temple Church of God In Christ with the Kendall family, and I worked for her as a college student during the summers. I have followed her advice on preaching and teaching the Word of God.
She is a master story-teller of the Gospel. I always enjoy her fellowship when she visits Imani African Christian Church, where I am the Senior Pastor.
And Finally, I have to lift up Dr. Barbara Black, my Black History Professor at West Chester State College, and a mentor. She was very close to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. She was a pioneer in higher education, for African American faculty and staff, on the campuses of Pennsylvania. She taught me to think Black is beautiful. She was highly successful in her private and professional life, but she never forgot what the struggle was all about. Like all of the other women educator’s mentioned, she is a Teacher that has enriched my life. I thank God for the educated women who have taught me.
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