Category Archives: Education

Julia Richman: The Chalkboard Champion of “throwaway” kids

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Julia Richman

Julia Richman

Just about everyone agrees that a teacher can profoundly influence the lives of the students in his or her classroom. But Julia Richman, an educator, philanthropist, author, and social reformer from New York City, influenced the lives of students in an entire city.

Julia was born October 12, 1855, in New York City, the daughter of German-speaking Jewish immigrants from the Czech Republic. At a young age, Julia made some important decisions about her own future. “I am not pretty…and I am not going to marry,” she once declared, “but before I die, all New York will know my name.”

Julia was determined to become a teacher, a decision her very traditional father vehemently opposed. In the late 1800’s, an eighth grade education was considered sufficient for girls. However, after a protracted battle royal, Julia convinced her father to allow her to pursue her goal of becoming a professional educator. In 1872, Julia realized her dream when she graduated from Hunter College.

Over the next four decades, Julia worked tirelessly as a classroom teacher, principal, school superintendent, and social reformer. Inside the classroom and within her community, she improved the lives of countless newly arrived immigrants, special needs students, and delinquents: the children 19th-century society typically considered “throwaway kids.” This innovative educator tossed away the conventional methods of instruction of her day, and designed model programs that educators from all over the world came to observe. She instituted numerous progressive practices that are still used in public schools today.

When Julia passed away in 1912, the New York City Board of Education ordered the flags of all NYC public schools be flown at half mast in her honor. It appeared that Julia’s prediction as an eleven-year-old had come true: all New York City New her name.

Want to learn more about Julia Richman? I’ve written an entire chapter about this amazing educator in my book, Chalkboard Champions, available on amazon or bn.com. Available in print or ebook versions.

Martin R. Bradley: Teacher and Member of the Michigan State House of Representatives

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Many proficient classroom teachers are also quite adept as politicians, a fact that is confirmed by the distinguished career of Martin R. Bradley. Martin was a classroom teacher who was elected to five terms to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Martin was born in Newberry, Luce County, Michigan, on April 1, 1888, the son of Robert and Josephine (Johnson) Bradley. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Huron County. When he grew to manhood, Martin enrolled first at the Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan, and then at Central State Teachers College in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan.

After his college graduation, Martin returned to Huron County, where he had accepted a position as a school teacher in rural schools. In 1910, he moved to Hermansville, Menominee County, where the experienced educator served as the Superintendent of Schools. Martin remained in that position until 1914. After he concluded his stint as the superintendent, Martin worked for a time in the insurance industry, and then, from 1914 to 1923, as the postmaster for Hermansville.

In 1922, the former teacher began his distinguished political career. He served an impressive five terms as a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He was first elected for one term in 1922, and then was re-elected to four successive terms beginning in 1926. In addition, he was selected by his peers as the Speaker of the House for the 1933-1934 session, the first representative from the Upper Peninsula to be so honored. In 1932, Martin became a delegate to that year’s Democratic National Convention, the historic convention that nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt for President of the United States.

In 1935, when Martin’s final term was completed, he was appointed Collector of Customs, a position which required that he move to the Detroit area. Martin held this position until his retirement in 1953.

Sadly, Martin passed away in Leavenworth, Washington, on December 21, 1975, at the age of 88. For more about this accomplished teacher and politician, see the website for the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library.

NASA’s Educator Astronaut Project Sends Classroom Teachers into Space

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The Educator Astronaut Project is a program sponsored by NASA to educate America’s students about space exploration. Inaugurated in the 1990s, the program furthers the objectives established in the original Teacher in Space Program. One of these objectives was to elevate teaching as a profession, and another of these objectives was to inspire students to pursue careers in science and math. Educator astronauts are fully trained astronauts who fly aboard spacecraft as full-fledged crew members. They have duties and responsibilities that are the same as any other astronaut. In addition, they prepare lessons and demonstrations about space exploration for students in America’s classrooms.

Educator Astronauts Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger (left), Ricard Arnold (center), and Joseph Acaba (right).

To date, there have been four teachers who have been trained as educator astronauts. These teachers are Montana teacher Barbara Morgan; Florida educator Joseph Acaba; Maryland teacher Richard Arnold; and Washington educator Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger. New Hampshire educator Christa McAuliffe, the first participant in the Teacher in Space program, was classified as a civilian member of the crew. Tragically, she perished along with six astronauts in the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986.

To read more about teachers in space, click on this link to Citizens in Space.org. To read more about the Educator Astronaut Project, click on this link to Revolvy.

 

 

Sarah Lee Brown Fleming: Teacher, activist, and author

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Sarah Lee Brown Fleming

Sarah Lee Brown Fleming

There are many accomplished educators in American history who have distinguished themselves as community activists. Sarah Lee Brown Fleming, a school teacher from Brooklyn, New York, is one such educator.

Sarah Lee Brown was born in poverty in Charleston, South Carolina, on January 10, 1875. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a young girl, Sarah dreamed of becoming a school teacher. However, her father discouraged this goal, believing that Sarah could only aspire to be a domestic. Little did he know that one day, Sarah would become the first African American teacher in the Brooklyn public school system.

In 1902, Sarah married Richard Stedman Fleming. After their marriage, the couple moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where Richard became the first African American dentist to practice in the state. The union produced two children: a daughter named Dorothy born in 1903, and a son named Harold born in 1906.

An associate of Mary McLeod Bethune, Sarah channeled her energy into bettering the educational opportunities for African American women. She organized the New Haven Women’s Civic League in 1929, and in 1936, she established the Phillis Wheatley Home for Girls, a shelter for young Black women who had just moved to New Haven in search of employment. In fact, Sarah’s work was recognized by Congress in 1955, the same year she received the Sojourner Truth Scroll from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club.

In addition to her civic work, Sarah was also a published playwright, novelist, and poet named as part of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Sarah’s most notable published works are her novel Hope’s Highway, published in 1918, and a collection of poems entitled Clouds and Sunshine, published in 1920.

Sarah passed away in January, 1963, five days before her 87th birthday.