[NLA] Champion of Equal Rights & Desegregation

[Judy_Alamprese@abtassoc.com]

Gail,

What a touching remembrance! I was saddened to read his obit in the "Post"
last week. His insight, spirit, and strength were among the best we've had
in education.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Judy

Judith A. Alamprese
Principal Associate
Abt Associates Inc.
4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone:  301-718-3168
Fax:  301-718-3108




                                                                                                               
                      Gail Spangenberg                                                                         
                      <gspangenberg at caalusa        To:       nifl-womenlit at literacy.gov,                       
                      .org>                         nifl-povracelit at literacy.nifl.gov,                         
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                      nla-admin at lists.liter        cc:                                                         
                      acytent.org                  Subject:  [NLA] Champion of Equal Rights & Desegregation    
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                               
                      12/09/02 11:47 AM                                                                        
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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
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