AMERICA BEGINS TO WAKE UP

AMERICA BEGINS TO WAKE UP

“The Great Society”…investing in our human social, cultural and educational structure under our President known as LBJ or Lyndon Being Johnson.  The United States had recently suffered two tragic loses of two giants in the world of politics i.e., President JFK John F. Kennedy-1963 and his brother a few years later 1968 US Attorney General Robert Kennedy or known more as Rob Kennedy.  Anyone who had arrived to the age of reason and heard or saw the news…recalls this AMERICAN TRAGEDY!  My own recollection when time froze and imbedded an image in my mind forever took place in the hallway at Gervais High School…kids cried; people were rushing to the nearest TV which at that time was in the library.  The next day everyone came to school .. somber ..some kids still crying..It seemed that we had loss a family member; indeed we had and even more as our country and some areas around the world were in mourning for days.

President LBJ would continue the Democratic Agenda which was introduced by JFK and initiate many new programs to fight poverty related issues; education would be on top of the list.  His menu of ideas, programs and his empathetic view of the cultural landscape and previous divide will hand him the 1964 presidential victory.  He will then call upon national leaders and experts to come to Washington and help create programs and/or repair those that were not doing well.

Dr. Ron Petrie’s work was well known in Oregon, as well as nationally. His skills, leadership and passion were assets that he would take to Washington D.C. to help guide some of the innovations in education. He also produced a film that explains and shows early days in Educating Migrants in Oregon; Ron always credits his experiences in the St. Paul Schools. His research and innovation was accepted by the 1960 Legislature and under the leadership of Supt. of Oregon Schools Rex Putnam a Pilot Program was launched. 

Ron Petrie who was working for the Oregon Department of Education when he was called upon to assist in improving education especially in areas where education had been neglected and/or to invent new opportunities to embrace the participation of minorities and white poor families who were not faring well in the most important KEY one can use to improve one’s quality of life; and the life of others.   Yes…poor white families!  When I interviewed Ron Petrie in 2010 he shared a special story…with watery eyes Ron recalls visiting the home of a white family in Oregon.  “I arrived to this shack and I was about to give the parents some bad news about their kid….and after exchanging greetings,  without dealing with my original purpose for my visit,  I took the kid back to the school. The image of this family extracted emotions from me like no other.  “To this day, when I think of POVERTY I think of this family.”      “Emotions were raw and so surreal that I often thought of this family in my work.”

By the time Ron was invited to come to Washington, D.C. Ron had already influenced many phases of education in St. Paul, Oregon, Marion County and the State of Oregon.  Many of the manuscripts and programs bear his name.  These were the days of mimeograph machines and white out liquid-paper to help cut, paste and correct one’s “Master Pieces” :-) Thanks for smiling!

When I interviewed Ron to create a short story about a man who spent more than 40 years improving education,  I felt I was talking with a relative, a friend and a mentor.  We started our discussion by revisiting his arrival to St. Paul, Oregon Elementary School which served kids from 1-8th grade.  This was Ron’s first teaching assignment in 1957.  I was one of his students and to this day I still am his protégé and one of his admirers.  BLESSED!... I am to still keep in touch and meet monthly with my principal-teacher from 1957.  When I tell this story those who listen have a little doubt or wonder if I am stretching my imagination; you can do the math as today is 3.11.2013.

Visit- Window on Education for more inf., use Google locator cell above and enter "Petrie"

VISIT THE GALLERIA OF PHOTOS RELATED TO EDUCATION.  THIS IS AN AREA THAT EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO AS EDUCATION IS MANDATORY AND EVEN IN THE PRESENT TIME SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES FOR POLITICIANS, EDUCATORS, LEARNERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS.  FROM MY VIEW POINT PARENTS CONTINUE TO REMAIN OUTSIDE THE BOX OF LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP.  THE RECENT REVIEWS BY THE PRESENT LEADERSHIP IN 2013 ARE NOTHING NEW. 

IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT EDUCATION AS A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT ONLY CONSUMED DAILY BUT IT IS COMPULSORY; THIS MAKES THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING STUDENTS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.  AS AN ADVOCATE OF “EDUCATION RIGHTS” FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS I WILL PRESENT MANY TOPICS, OPINIONS, and REPORTS FOR HISTORICAL REFERENCE.  I AM ALSO HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE CAN REALIZE HOW EVERYONE IS AN INVESTOR AND HOW LITTLE SUPERVISION OR OVERSIGHT THIS INVESTMENT SEEMS TO HAVE CONSIDERING THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CONSUMER-WHICH IS MAINLY THE FAMILY.

 

March 11, 2013