August AADSG Meeting

[James Robert Crow <jr1crow@mindspring.com>]

Hello Group:

The August meeting of the Atlanta Area Deming Study Group featured a
presentation by Bobby Leonard. "My Journey to Reading Literarcy"

Mr. Leonard told of his lack of education in the public school system in
Louisenia in the 1950's and because of his inability to learn how he turned
to a life of crime which ultimately resulted in his being sentenced to 104
years in a maximum security federal prision, which according to him was the
best thing that ever happened to him.

Mr. Leonard grew up poor and black on a farm in Louisena.  He was raised
uptill the age of 15 by his grandparents when he went to live with his
mother and sisters in New Orleans.  His grandparents were both literate,
but on the farm getting a field plowed was more important than homework so
his schooling languished.  When he went to live with his mother he realized
that the local children could read the labels on the jute box which he
could not do.  He later learned that many of the children knew the numbers
and could select their favorites by the numbers.

He was determined that he would not be made fun of by the local children so
when school started he simply did not go.  Instead he went to the streets
and learned how to hussel, steal, and whatever it took to get by.  He was
arrested a number of times before actually being convicted of a crime, but
once convicted he got a very long sentence.

In prison he was rebellous and spent a lot of time in the hole.  He needed
to contact his family in New Orleans, but because writing was the only
method of communicating he was unable to.  A volunteer helped him write a
letter on the condition that he would begin to learn to read.  He gave
Bobby 5 words to learn prior to their next meeting.  They were simple
words: us, me, them, they, those.  These may not be exact but are simular.
Bobby studied these words and tried to wake up his brain and get to
working.  The process was slow, but he preservered, and gradually made
progress.  For him it was a life changing event.  He not only learned how
to read, but got a degree in psychology from a local university while in
prision.

He was released from prison after 12 years.  This was 1979 and he has never
been back.  He has three children from before he entered prison, and all
three have been in and out of prision all of their adult lives.  He has two
children from after he was released from prison.  They are honor students
in the Fulton County School System.

For Mr. Leonard the change began with learning those first five words, and
the knowledge that he could learn.  Up until that point he was convinced
that he could not learn.  When he was tested upon entering the federal
prison system his reading level was 2.3.  That is 2 years 3 months.  His
learning how to read and subsequent change in behavior is what ultimately
got him released from prison and a productive life since his release.

Mr. Leonard said that before he learned to read he had a very narrow focus
on life.  He could only see things as black and white, and his fists were a
method of settleing anything he did not like.  Reading and education gave
him options, it expanded his world view, and enabled him to develop
alternatives and act upon them.

He is concerned that the focus of education is about getting a good job.
The students can see their peers working on the street corner dealing drugs
making as much in a week as many people make in a year with no more
education than they have.  Education loses its relevance in this context.  

When I graduated from college the dean of the college gave a talk of the
role of education.  For him to educate was to lead out of darkness.  I
think this is a good way to look at the education process.  Education gives
people options the lack of education does not.
Robert Crow
Principal
Crow Consulting
165 River North Circle NW
Atlanta, GA 30328 USA
Voice 770-396-2280
FAX 770-396-7010
jr1crow@mindspring.com
www.crowgroup.net