Golda Meir: Teacher and first woman Prime Minister of Israel

Many people have heard of Golda Meir, the “Iron Lady of Israeli Politics” who served from 1969 to 1974 as the Prime Minister of Israel. But did you know that Golda was also a teacher?

Golda was born Golda Mabovitch in Kiev, Ukraine, on May 3, 1898. Her parents were Moshe and Blume Mabovitch, and Golda was one of eight children born to the couple. Five of her siblings died in infancy; Golda was the middle child of three surviving daughters. When she was a young child, her father immigrated to the United States; the rest of the family followed him three years later. The Mabovitches settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As a youngster, Golda attended the Fourth Street Grade School where she graduated as the valedictorian of her class. She then enrolled in North Division High School, against the wishes of her parents, who believed that girls should get married, not pursue an education or a profession. In her freshman year, Golda moved to Denver, Colorado, to live with her older sister, Sheyna, and at that time she transferred to North High School. In Denver, Golda met Morris Myerson, and she fell in love. Despite this romance, in 1915, Golda returned to her parents’ home in Milwaukee, and the following year she graduated from North Division High School.

After her high school graduation, Golda enrolled at Wisconsin State Normal School to pursue a three-year degree in education. During her training, the neophyte educator taught young children reading, writing, and history three days a week at a folkshule, a Yiddish school at the Jewish Center of Milwaukee. She also gave numerous lectures on Zionism, a movement to establish a homeland for the Jewish people.

In 1917, Golda married her long-time boyfriend Morris Myerson. Later, she modified her surname to Meir. In 1921, the fourth year of their marriage, Golda and Morris emigrated to Palestine, where the couple quickly joined a kibbutz. Over the next five years, Golda and Morris had two children: a boy named Menachem in 1924, and daughter named Sarah in 1926.

Unfortunately, Morris contracted malaria, so the family left the kibbutz and moved to Jerusalem, where Golda accepted employment in a government job. She worked as the secretary of the Working Women’s Council, and represented the council at a number of international labor meetings. In 1929 Golda was named a delegate to the World Zionist Organization. In the next decade, Golda organized illegal immigration of Jews to Palestine when it became obvious that they faced persecution by the Nazis. In 1946, at the end of WWII, Golda was appointed the acting head of the Jewish Agency’s political department, a position she held until Israel was founded on May 14, 1948. The former teacher was among the signers of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

Golda began her political career in Israel as that country’s representative to the Soviet Union. When she was elected to the first Israeli Parliament, she returned to Israel, where she was appointed minister of labor and social insurance. While serving in this capacity, she endeavored to solve the most important problems Israel faced at the time: housing and employment for 700,000 new immigrants. In 1947, David Ben Gurion, then Prime Minister of the fledgling country, appointed Golda his Foreign Minister, Israel’s second most powerful position. The only female foreign minister then serving in the world, Golda nevertheless conducted herself in a very informal way. She flew tourist class, hand-washed her own underwear, shined her own shoes, and entertained foreign dignitaries in her kitchen wearing an apron and serving them her homemade pastries.

In 1966, sixty-year old Golda decided to retire from public service, but her political party persuaded her to become their secretary general and the secretary of the Unified Labor Party. When Prime Minister Levi Eshkol died suddenly in 1969, her party prevailed upon her to become Israel’s next Prime Minister. She guided her country through the difficult period of the Yom Kippur War. However, the former teacher was suffering from lymphatic cancer, and because of her declining health and political pressures, she decided to resign in 1974.

Golda Meir passed away on December 8, 1978, at the age of 80. At the time of her passing, Golda was recognized as one of the first women to lead a nation in the modern era.

Bernard Ayotte, former educator and member of Maine’s House of Representatives

There are many examples of fine educators who have also served in political office. One of these is Bernard Ayotte, who served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014.

Bernard earned his degree in biology from St. Francis University, a private coeducational university located in Biddeford, Maine. The institution is now known as the University of New England. He also owned a sawmill and served in the United States Army.

After his graduation from college, Bernard became a biology and mathematics teacher. He worked his way up the ranks to become the principal in New Sweden Elementary School in New Sweden, Maine.

In 2006, Bernard was elected to the Maine House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. He represented District 3. He was re-elected in 2008, 2010, and 2012. He was unable to serve further due to term limits.

In 2009, Bernard became a member of the National Environmental Leadership Group at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Pennsylvania schoolmaster and US Congressman Andrew R. Brodbeck

In our nation’s history many a successful schoolmaster also made a name for himself in the political realm. One of these was Andrew R. Brodbeck, an educator from Pennsylvania who also became a member of the US House of Representatives.

Andrew was born April 11, 1860, in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. The country was just at the brink of the Civil War. As a young man, Andrew first attended and then taught in the public schools of his native York County. His career as an educator there was short, spanning the years of 1878 to 1880.

In 1880 Andrew moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania, an agricultural borough located 19 miles southwest of York and 54 miles north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland, and five miles north of the Mason-Dixon line. In Hanover Andrew established himself in a business that sold farm implements and fertilizer. During his years there, the former teacher served as a member of the board of directors of various business enterprises. Andrew’s career as an entrepeneur lasted until 1896, when he left the business to accept a position as the sheriff of York County. He served in that position until 1899.

Andrew was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Pennsylvania’s 20th District in the 63rd Congress. After he served his term, he was voted out of office, but in 1918 he was re-elected to serve a second term in the 65th Congress. In 1920, Andrew further served his constituents as a delegate at large at the 1920 Democratic National Convention.

Andrew passed away on February 27, 1937, in Hanover. He was 76 years old. The former educator and politician was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carverton, Pennsylvania.

To view this chalkboard champion’s page on the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, click on this link: .

Former teacher and career legislator John Binienda of Massachusetts.

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who have gone on to successful careers in politics. One of these is John Binienda, Sr., an educator who also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

John was born on June 22, 1947, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was one of eight children born to Mary G. (O’Coin) and Thaddeus A. Binienda. As a youth, John graduated from Saint Peter’s High School. After his high school graduation, he enrolled first at Quinsigamond Community College, and then Worcester State University. “He was fond of the school,” commented John’s son, Jamie Binienda. “He said the college offered many opportunities for adults and traditional-age college students.” After his graduation, he became a teacher in Leicester, Massachusetts. His career as an educator spanned 18 years.

In 1986, John was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. While in office, he was known as a tireless worker who rarely missed a house vote. He served on numerous committees, including Education, Public Safety, and Ways and Means. He was the former Chairman of the Committee on Energy, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue, and the Chairman of the Committee on Rules. In 2008, he worked to pass Darnell’s Law, which mandated CPR and first aid training for school-bus drivers in Massachusetts. He also co-sponsored a bill in 2012 that increased access to hearing aids for children. John once revealed that this issue became important for him when his grandson was born hearing impaired. By the time he retired, John had served 28 years in the House.

Sadly, John suffered from kidney disease and diabetes, and he passed away on August 22, 2014. He was 67 years old.