Today at work, I encountered someone who could not read or write...

... coincidentally, I get an email for a second interview for a reading teacher position I applied for a few months ago.

I really want a job where I can make a difference.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

I went to a school in Missouri in a small town where a girl was held back in first grade twice, three years total in first grade & she couldn’t read, write and didn’t even know the numbers or alphabet. She came from a poverty family and she smelled bad, wore the same dress every day & it got dirtier by the week. I figured out that the family didn’t have running water because she was scared to wash her hands before lunch & I encouraged her to do it every day till she started doing it. This was her 3rd year in 1st grade with the same teacher, who would not go out of her way to help her. Our family moved second semester but we moved back for me to go to second grade there. They had passed her to 2nd grade because it was state law. I taught her the alphabet, numbers, and how to read and write certain words that year. I don’t know what happened to her because we moved again after that school year was over. I hope someone taught her to read.

Mindful · 56-60, F

💜💜💜💜💜💜@cherokeepatti

iamnikki · 31-35, F

@cherokeepatti ahh that's so nice of you. I hope she is doing well

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@iamnikki I believe most of her problem was malnutrition. She had dull eyes & her mouth gaped open, which are both signs of it. When she was in 2nd grade she had a little sister that started first grade and she wasn’t like that. She was bright-eyed & bushy-tailed if you know what I mean. Always smiling and cheerful. Maybe the girls mother doted on the younger child & neglected the older one for some reason. Back then we didn’t have a food stamp program but did have a Commodity program. The girl brought a peanut butter sandwich on white bread every day for lunch. There were no free or reduced meals at schools either.

Mindful · 56-60, F

@cherokeepatti omg! So sad!

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mindful She needed a shower at least once a week and a couple other dresses that could be washed. I read the local newspaper online and saw that her father died and that he was a farmer’s hired hand. So they probably never even owned a home, probably lived in a shack or whatever. There were abandoned homes around the area, used to walk around and find them in different places.

iamnikki · 31-35, F

@cherokeepatti yes thats probably what it was. Just all around neglected

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mindful I want to start sewing some dresses for girls in Appalachia and other places where there is a lot of poverty. There are several charities asking for them....1 church in Appalachia, some in Haiti and several in Africa. I need to see if they have those programs started back now that classes are in session in most areas.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mindful this girl was living in real poverty. No running water, very little food & no variety, no money for clothing, etc. I’ve often thought about how any child could have fallen through the cracks that way. I don’t know if the parents were proud & wouldn’t have accepted any type of charity.

Mindful · 56-60, F

@cherokeepatti amazing! So you can sew dresses? Goodness. So many clothes are thrown or given away here in Texas. Appalachia here?
*******
When I hear about Africa and Haiti I wish there was such a thing as a country who wars for the rights of humans and innocent people.

I’m getting sleepy... might sign off

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mindful they want a certain style. Something with elastic on the neck area and gathered at the waist, no buttons, zippers, snaps or Velcro closures. And pockets. I have a pattern, has short sleeves with elastic on the end of them. They don’t want to have to replace buttons etc that might fall off. Some of the charities in Haiti accept pillowcase dresses but they look like bags with a ribbon at the top. There are some that also want simple shorts with pockets for the boys & a simple solid-color t-shirt to match the shorts.

Mindful · 56-60, F

@cherokeepatti awwwwww that is a one size fits all. I get it.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mindful no, it has several sizes it the pattern, but it is comfy and looser-fitting.