Finding A Nearly Perfect School
Finding A Nearly Perfect School
A Conversation With A Lucky Young Lady
When it is time for their child to start school, all parents think about what makes that “perfect school.” This is especially true when the child is starting the first grade. Thinking of first grade makes me recall a mother who looked and looked and looked for the right school for her daughter. Guess what? Today that mother can say, “ Congratulations, to you lucky little girl. You will graduate this May with honors and you have been named an African American Scholar.” I now share this conversation:
INTERVIEWER
“Please tell me about your school experiences.”
STUDENT
“At first, my grandmother home schooled me.”
INTERVIEWER
“That is understandable. Your grandmother developed that reading program that teaches every child to read so that no child will fail. The child who can read is on the way to academic success.” Can you explain what she does?”
STUDENT
“No, but she says thinking is very important. That made her give me thinking activities every day.”
INTERVIEWER
“Does she do anything else?”
STUDENT
“Yes, she teaches you to write and read the letters. She teaches you the sounds letters make. Then she teaches you to write words. Next she teaches you to put words into sentences. Finally, you look up and you can read.”
INTERVIEWER
“What is the next lesson you have? Did you do anything more?”
STUDENT
“Yes, Grandmother wanted to be sure I was ready when I started school in third grade. She taught me to write paragraphs. Grandmother says that writing paragraphs is the first step to to effective reading comprehension.”
INTERVIEWER
“Can you tell me any more about your grandmother’s lessons?”
STUDENT
“Not really, only that I was well prepared for the rest of elementary school. My mother visited several schools. When one third grade teacher told her that all her students could read, mother was happy. That school was a fine arts school. My mother selected that school because she knew that the school truly had time to address both academic learning and development of fine arts. I loved my music and dance lessons. My mother was happy because she believed that my teacher would be able to concentrate on academics as well as the fine arts. Mothers wanted me to be among students who would learn and grow. This is what we did.”
“When it was time for junior high and high school, my mother found another wonderful school. The school was very rigorous work, but the day is also sprinkled with ‘social and emotional’ ( SOE) care activities. Last month. We had a SOE activity the we all loved. We went outdoors for camping. In addition to our lunch boxes, we were each given an ‘emotions’ box . That was best part of day. We were to find a quiet place alone and open our boxes. Each box contained a letter from someone who knew us well. My letter was from my grandmother I enjoyed the letter so much that I carry it with me all the time. When I would feel a little too high from a success or a little too low from a less-than success, I find a moment alone and read that letter. Here it is, you will understand why I carry it.”
JOY:
The day you were born, you put light and happiness into my life. You are a baby who never cried… You brought joy! One day when you were two, you heard music, and you said to me, “ I was born to dance.”
When I saw you in ballet class, I thought you certainly were. I only hoped you, that one day would open a dance studio for other the little African-American girls, and that they would bring more joy to the world.
When you were in third grade, you had an art teacher who told me, “Every good word there is describes her. You had a drama teacher who told me that you had bought 500 grown people to their feet after they heard your monologue at the gala.
Your first grade teacher described you as loving and so very kind. Having been a first grade teacher, I worried because too often others mistake kindness for weakness. Promise me and yourself that you will always be the kind of person you are… That illustrates to others that kindness is strength.
We love you very much, sweet girl.
Love, Granny.
STUDENT
As I said before, the academic work was rigorous.
I have taken:
Advanced Placement Literature I, Avanced Placement Literature II
Accelerated Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus
Environmental Science science
Advanced Placement Government
Economics
Advanced Placement U.S. History
Advanced Placement French
Constitutional Law
I worked and worked but still had time to dance!
INTERVIEWER
That is an impressive list of advanced courses. The next time I speak to you in a year or two, you’ll be looking forward to college graduation. Thank you so much.
