The Master Teacher Herself: Happy Solar Return, Ms. Marva Collins

“Mr. Meant-to has a friend, his name is Didn't-Do. Have you met them? They live together in a house called Never-Win. And I am told that it is haunted by the Ghost of Might-have-Been.”

Happy Birthday Marva Collins-
   This is my favorite teacher.  She is a strong Virgo- read her book, "Marva Collins Way".  In my opinion, Virgos make great elementary school teachers.  They are teaching discipline, routine, and structure.  They also teach critical thinking and analytical skills.  If I had to guess, I think she is a Leo rising- she has a strong authoritative presence.  She dresses with flair- and she discusses how the teacher's presentation affects the student's learning.  And her Moon is Aquarius- she stands on the principle that every child is able to learn with a good teacher at hand.  Her mission is to educate humanity's children.  Ms. Collins is a gem- and I am honored to write this blog about her.

Marva Collins was born in Monroeville, Alabama (another reason I connect with this sistar; my father is from this small town).  After attending teacher training school, she worked in the Chicago Public School system for over twenty years.  Ms. Collins taught elementary school students with the premise that every child in her class could and would learn- even the "bad" children or those with learning disabilities.  In her autobiography, she states that if a child is not learning, it is because the teacher has failed to do their job.  

     It's true- I think teachers can be some of the laziest workers alive.  They get off by 3:30pm and have paid summer and holiday breaks.  Granted, the talk is that "it's so hard to teach these children in the urban settings" and administration does make it difficult by giving high demands with few resources.  However, it takes creativity and innovation to overcome these teaching difficulties, because in the end, the CHILDREN HAVE TO LEARN.  After twenty years, Ms. Collins decided to spread her wings and open a private school in her attic.  She took her life's savings, along with her husbands, and invested in a world-class, top notch learning program for those the world would like to forget- the children of southside Chicago; children living in poverty.  In everyday terms, our babies from the hood.

    This sistar took children that were "mentally retarded" and raised their learning level by over 300%.  All of her students enrolled in private collegiate prep high schools, and/or Ivy League colleges.  Check the link below for the 60 minutes special on her students, 16 years later. 

This sistar is someone I look to, because I too would like to start a school.  She is my educational model.  She proved these stupid Albions wrong- we ARE intelligent, we INVENTED intelligence, and we continue to evolve- in spiritual intellect.  

Lov n light, 

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