Everyday Life in D.C. #4 (Part 2 of 3)

Picking up where we left off yesterday:  What is Susan doing at the YMCA? 

Susan is a volunteer adult literacy teacher at the Washington Literacy Center, which is located in the 12th Street YMCA.      

Susan comes from a family of teachers. Her grandfather was school superintendent in Stark County, Ohio, near Canton.  Susan's parents were teachers.  Her mother Phyllis was an elementary school teacher and also President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board in North Carolina.  Her father Lee was a long-time professor at the UNC School of Dentistry.  Plus, Susan herself has taught legal writing and research, appellate advocacy and legal ethics to hundreds of law students throughout her long career.  So, it is only natural that Susan selected teaching as one of her volunteer activities.

Susan selected teaching literacy to adults because she loves reading and writing, and she likes seeing a student's eyes light up when he/she catches on.  So many options are closed off to people who can't read or write in this society.  Teaching literacy skills is a way to help people improve their lives and achieve their personal goals.

The Washington Literacy Center welcomed Susan with open arms.  The Center's funding is at risk and there were no Summer classes when Susan arrived, despite a long waiting list of eager adult students.  So, Susan quickly trained herself in teaching literacy to adults who read English at the 3rd-5th grade levels and started teaching.  The classes meet twice weekly for 2.5 hours per day. 

Susan with one of her books

A classroom at the Washington Literacy Center

The experience has been rewarding.  The students are eager and they like homework.   Susan has noticed improvement during the weeks she has been teaching, and will continue teaching for the remainder of our time here in D.C.

Next Up:  More about the Y.M.C.A.

P.S.  So, now you know what Susan doing at the Y.M.C.A.--teaching, not trying out for the Village People.

If, however, Susan were in the Village People, which Village Person would she be?

The Village People

If you don't know the music of the Village People, you can click here to listen to their most famous song, Y.M.C.A., performed by a flash mob of wild Italians in Milan.