Teacher Harriet Glickman initiated creation of first Black character to Peanuts cast

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Franklin Armstrong was the first Black character to be added to the Peanuts cast of characters. Cartoonist Charles Schultz created Franklin in response to a letter written by Los Angeles teacher Harriet Glickman.

Recently I came across a story about how Franklin Armstrong became the first African American character to be part of the cast of Peanuts characters. I was surprised to learn that the creation of this character was initiated by a Los Angeles school teacher. Her name was Harriet Glickman.

In 1968, just after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet wrote a letter to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. She asked the cartoonist to consider adding a Black character to the cast of the Peanuts comic strip. Harriet was acutely aware of the influence of mass media, and how images could shape the unconscious biases of young children.  “And my feeling at the time was that I realized that Black kids and white kids never saw themselves (depicted) together in the classroom,” Harriet once recalled. “I’ve bee asking myself what I can do to help change those conditions in our society which led to the assassination and which contribute to the vast sea of misunderstanding, hate, fear, and violence,” she continued. The enterprising teacher suggested that adding a Black character to the cast of Peanuts characters would help bridge the gap between the races. Schultz responded by creating Franklin Armstrong, introducing him to the public in a comic strip published on July 31, 1968.

Teacher Harriet Glickman in 1980. She wrote the letter that prompted Charles Schultz to create the Black character Franklin Armstrong.

The inclusion of the character met with mixed responses. Schultz battled with his own editor about the addition. The debate became so heated that the cartoonist even threatened to quit unless the strips were printed as created. At least one editor of a newspaper in the South insisted that no more images depicting Black and White students together in the classroom be sent to his paper. The editor said they were actively fighting against integration in his city, and the cartoons were counter-productive to that goal.

Harriet was a true Chalkboard Champion. Sadly, she passed away on March 27, 2020, in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 93 years old.

To read more about Harriet, see this online story from the Charles M. Schultz Museum, which includes a delightful 13-minute interview of this teacher activist. You can also read the story printed by The New York Times.

West Virginia PE teacher Jennifer Butler, succumbs to Covid-19

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Physical Education teacher Jennifer Butler of West Virginia passed away from Covid-19 on April 14, 2020.

Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of another dedicated educator. Jennifer Butler, a physical education teacher from West Virginia, passed away from the disease on April 14, 2020. She was only 57 years old.

Jennifer was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, to Jennings Lee Ashton, Jr., and Amelia Ashton. As a young girl, Jennifer attended Martinsburg High School, where she graduated in 1981. After high school, Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Shepherd University. Shepherd is a public university located in Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Once she obtained her degree, Jennifer taught at several elementary schools in her home state. At the time of her passing, she was teaching at Hedgesville Elementary School in Hedgesville, West Virginia.

“Jenny Butler has been an unshakable presence in the education of our children,” remembered the school’s Principal Melissa D. Hollen.  “Her quiet kindness and creative lessons always made student health and well-being the centerpiece of her teaching.”

Hollen revealed that one of Jennifer’s special projects had been the completion of the school’s walking track. “For many years, Mrs. Butler had wanted the walking track to be paved so that students and community members could have another place to develop good health practices and enjoy life’s quiet moments,” Hollen said.

In addition to Covid-19, Jennifer was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the school year.  “Throughout her battle, Mrs. Butler continued to teach, and her deep care of the children and their well being never faltered,” remarked Hollen. “The job of a loving teacher doesn’t stop, and Mrs. Butler took the time to help answer students’ questions,” Hollen continued. “She was a tremendous person; warm, loving, and graceful. She was modest beyond compare and deeply devoted to her family, our staff and our students,” Hollen concluded.

To read more about Jennifer Butler, read this obituary printed in the Herald Mail Media.

Beloved Detroit educator and coach Dwight Jones succumbs to Covid-19

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Beloved educator and coach Dwight Jones (front row, left) with the Mumford High School girls basketball team and their 2017 championship trophy. Dwight passed away from Covid-19 on March 29, 2020. Photo credit: Mumford High School

Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Dwight Jones, a retired basketball coach from Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan. He was 73 years old when he succumbed to the disease on March 29, 2020.

Dwight first made a name for himself as a teenager in the early 1960s. He was one of the very few African Americans enrolled at Holy Redeemer High School, a private Catholic high school located in southwest Detroit. At 6’5″ and 230 pounds, he was unparalleled at rebounding. In fact, he earned the nickname “Hawk” throughout the Catholic League. In those days, he was involved in football, baseball, and track and field in addition to basketball. At the same time, he earned top grades.

The well-rounded student earned a full-ride scholarship to Tennessee State in Nashville. There he played on the basketball team. He pledged to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Dwight returned to Detroit, and in 1970 he accepted a position at Mumford High School. There he taught physical education and coached both girls and boys basketball. He also coached track and field, cross country, and tennis, and he served as the school’s Athletic Director. His career there spanned nearly five decades.

In addition to helping his young players develop their athletic talents, Dwight also worked hard to get them into college, whether it was a Division I or II school, or a historically Black college. “When he took over as Athletic Director, he was all about grades,” remembered Mumford colleague and former student Kevin Jackson. “Words can’t express what he meant to us.”

To read more about this legendary local hero, read this online story published by Detroit News.

Edney Apulu of American Samoa named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year

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Educator Edney Apulu of American Samoa, who has been named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year.

I love to share stories about outstanding educators who have earned accolades for their work. One of these is Edney Apulu, a high school social studies teacher in American Samoa. He has been named 2020 Territorial Teacher of the Year.

This is the second year in a row that a teacher from Tafuna has been named Territorial Teacher of the Year. Last year’s winner was math teacher Jordanna Maga.

As a young man, Edney attended Tafuna High School, where he graduated in 2004. Once he graduated, he enrolled in American Samoa Community College, where he earned his Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. He continued his education at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in both Social Studies and History. In addition, he earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Once he completed his education, Edney returned to his home island. There he accepted a position as a social studies teacher at his alma mater, Tafuna High School. He has taught there for the past 11 years. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Edney serves as the Head of the Social Studies Department and as an official with the American Samoa High School Athletics Association. He also serves as the Chair for the Lumana’i Chapter of the National Honor Society, and he is the faculty advisor of both the History Club and the Junior Statesman of America.

To read more about this amazing educator, view this online article about him published by the American Samoa Department of Education.