Female Educators: Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune, source: cookman.edu

It’s Women’s History Month! 

There are many women that have impacted the lives of people across the country as teachers, administrators and non-profit leaders.

In previous generations, teaching was one of the few occupations that women were “allowed” to do outside of the home. It gave women the opportunity to attend college when their mothers and grandmothers could not. It became a source of pride for women and they were able to nurture the future of disenfranchised populations, immigrants and low income communities. Education has been a gateway for many African-Americans, Latinx communities, Asian-Americans and students who came from families where family members had not finished high school, middle school and elementary school. In honor of Women’s History Month, I will profile an educator of yesterday and today during this month. A Women’s History Month program is a great way to celebrate trailblazers in our history. I’m starting with Mary McLeod Bethune.

Mary McLeod Bethune Born in 1857 as the 15th of 17 children, Mary McLeod Bethune was the first child in her family to attend school. As the child of former slaves, she recognized the importance of reading at an early age. Even as a little girl, she was a teacher. Since she was the only child in the family to attend school, she taught her family what she learned in school. Her love of reading and value for education, put her on a path of educational leadership.

Bethune was a co-founder for nonprofit organizations and schools. The organizations she created include the National Council of Negro Women, the United Negro College Fund and Bethune-Cookman College. All of these organizations still exist today! She was a national leader and worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to address concerns in the black community. Mary McLeod Bethune had a commitment to education and public service. Bethune has inspired women, the African-American community and the many others to be courageous and to share knowledge with others. She had an unwavering belief that with faith, lives could be transformed. In her last will and testament as posted on Bethune-Cookman College’s website (cookman.edu), she states, “Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.”

jen@thepublicschoolmom.com 347-471-1546