Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id gB9Hn8X28216; Mon, 9 Dec 2002 12:49:08 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 12:49:08 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <p05100308ba1a8736198f@[63.210.209.167]> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Gail Spangenberg <gspangenberg@caalusa.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2420] Fwd: Ret'd Mail - Champion of Equal Rights X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Status: O Content-Length: 3705 Lines: 79 >This posting was returned to me because I entered an incomplete >address. I'll try to get it right this time. See below. > > >Mime-Version: 1.0 >X-Sender: caalusa@mail.earthlink.net >Message-Id: <p05100302ba1a67239064@[63.210.209.167]> >Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 11:47:34 -0500 >To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.gov, nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov, > nla@lists.literacytent.org >From: Gail Spangenberg <gspangenberg@caalusa.org> >Subject: Champion of Equal Rights & Desegregation >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" > >Colleagues, > >Everyone who cares about access and equality of opportunity -- in >schooling, higher education, or any aspect of life in American -- >has for years had a true champion in Harold (Doc) Howe II, once a >school superintendent and former U.S. Commissioner of Education >(under President Lyndon Johnson). I was deeply fortunate to have >worked with this extraordinary educator at the Ford Foundation for >many years, during the time of Ford's pioneering work on behalf of >women and minorities. I was even more fortunate to have him as a >personal friend in later years, and honored that he was on CAAL's >founding board of directors. > >Doc died on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Everyone who knew Doc >was deeply touched by him -- truly a man who "walked with kings nor >lost the common touch." With him, there was never ego, never >pretense, always straight talk, dedication, love of poetic impulse, >humility, sense of humor, and determination to help those less >fortunate than himself. Doc always listened. Indeed, his definition >of "leadership" was to consult openly and widely with people, listen >carefully to what they say and feel, and then act to advance their >interests. > >People in everyday life and positions of leadership across this >country were admirers of Doc and inspired by his example, and they >know the world will be a sadder place without him. But Doc gave us >all an incredibly rich legacy, and even to the end, despite being >very ill, he spoke out against regressive politics and the failure >of government to listen to its people. He was already 80+ years old >when he joined CAAL's board of directors, but he understood the >importance of adult education and literacy and of educational access >and knew the cause to be right and worth supporting. In the end, no >matter how deep the loss, what matters about Doc is his life. It >was lived for everyone who fights bigotry and racism, sexism, >restricted educational access, poverty, and other blights on our >society and democracy. I share the news of his death with you >because, if you care about these things, Doc was your friend, too. >If you knew him personally, you know the truth of my words. If you >didn't, he is a treasure worth discovering. > >One of Doc's crowning achievements was school desegregation, >although some Southerners in the 60's didn't think so. Another was >the development of strong grant programming for women and minorities >at the Ford Foundation. He was ardent in his demand for both equity >and excellence in education. The nation has been graced by the >presence of this very great man. His gift to us, if we are diligent >in standing up for the great social and educational causes that he >championed for a lifetime, will live on. > >-- >Gail Spangenberg >President >Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy >1221 Avenue of the Americas - 50th Floor >New York, NY 10020 >212-512-2362, fax 212-512-2610 -- Gail Spangenberg President Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy 1221 Avenue of the Americas - 50th Floor New York, NY 10020 212-512-2362, fax 212-512-2610
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