November 22, 2022 — As the first black kid to integrate schools in Louisiana, Ruby Bridges remembered what she saw when she first walked into William Frantz Elementary School.
“There was a large crowd outside the school,” Bridges said. “They were throwing things and yelling. That’s what happened in New Orleans at Mardi Gras.”
It wasn’t Mardi Gras. The crowd had gathered to discourage this brave first grader from attending school with her children.
Bridges was not deterred.
“She showed a lot of courage,” recalled former U.S. Vice Marshal Charles Burks. “She never cried. She never whined about her. She just marched like a little soldier and we are very proud of her.”
November 14, 1960 was the day Bridges bravely became the first black child to attend Franz Elementary School in New Orleans. Sixty-two years after his Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, Mapleton School District students, who only endured the early morning cold and long walks, gathered to honor Bridges at his first-ever Ruby Bridges Walk. . a day in class.
Before coming to Mapleton to work full-time, teacher and coach Vanessa Clemons worked for the Lane African American Black Student Success (AABSS) program. After she and her students met with Bridges via her Zoom last year, Clemons held her first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day last year as part of her work at AABSS. prompted to do so.
This year, Clemons joined the Mapleton School District full-time, bringing tradition to the upper community.
“I pitched it to community wellness students about bringing this event to Mapleton, and they believed it was a great idea,” said Clemons. “I think it is very important for students in all communities to learn about Ruby’s story and her mission to stop racism and bullying. He said: Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
Early Monday morning, student, teacher and parent volunteers gathered at the Mapleton Food Share. Many people brought canned goods and donated them to Food Share. Coffee, tea, water and breakfast sweets were provided. Students talked about Bridges and why the fight against racism remains important to this day.
Elementary school students left first, followed by middle school and high school students. The group walked on Route 126, turned left and crossed the Mapleton Bridge across the Siuslaw River. After that, the students went left to go to school and start their day.
The tradition of honoring Bridges on the day of her walk on November 14 continues in 2018 when a group of fifth graders from the South San Francisco Unified School District were so impressed with Ruby’s bravery that they made November 14 Ruby Bridges Day. It started when I proposed With the support of the San Mateo County Department of Education, their dream has become a reality.
In September 2021, the California Senate passed a resolution designating November 14th as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
If Clemons has his way, school districts across Oregon will join the festival next year. Siuslaw School Board Director Frank Armendariz warned the remaining members of the Siuslaw Board of the plans for the upstream school at the last board meeting. It looks like Vikings will be joining the sailors next year for a new annual tradition.
For more information on Bridges, please visit www.rubybridges.com/.
