My Visit to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
Some people hate to travel...the
crowds, the strangers, the planning. I am quite the opposite. I love seeing new places. I wish I had more time to travel all over the
world. I have been to Mexico, Canada,
the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
Austria, France, and Italy. I would
love to do Australia or Hawaii someday. I also love staying in our great country and
traveling to new cities and states. Our
family is the kind that drives somewhere and stops along the way to see the “Largest Ball of String in the Universe”
or whatever is out of the ordinary.
This month,
I traveled somewhere new: Grant, Alabama!
Now it may not sound as exciting to you as Rome, but it was a great joy
to spend three days at the “Gem of Gunter Mountain”, the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School.
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The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution owns this Appalachian school for students in need. Most Daughters call it KDS. However, everyone in Grant calls it the “DAR School”. According to their web site, the DAR School “serves grades K-12 and provides opportunities for the children of a large, rural area in the Appalachian foothills to develop a strong love of American ideals as they obtain a distinctive academic background. Emphasis is upon patriotic education throughout the curriculum. Although the school plant and enrollment have increased greatly in size and number since 1924, the same spirit of dedication to achievement, patriotic and moral values, and service to community and country exists on the campus today as it did in the early years of this unique educational experiment of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
This school changes lives.
The children in this area of Alabama often have not had the opportunities
that those of wealth have had. Without
these luxuries, they are more grateful for their education and the loving
guidance the teachers and staff provide.
According to one of the guidance counselors,
“I purchased clothes for all three
children in the family…which consisted of three siblings in the household who
were being raised by a single dad. It is
not known where the mother is, but that none of the children have contact with
her. The children didn’t have Christmas
and according to the father, there was no money. The girls were without any shoes and had no
jackets. One of the girls continuously
stole items of clothing for her and her sister to wear, and upon interviewing
both the girls to discuss the needs, I noticed that the one pair of tennis
shoes the girls did share had a hole down the middle. In addition, they were too small. …you could tell they were attempting to make
do with what they had… The girls had a
pair of flip flops and a pair of tennis shoes they shared between them. I am assuming the clothing items were the
same way because the older female had to wear clothes that did not fit her but
that did fit her younger sister.
When speaking to them I learned they had a
younger brother in 6th grade.
I learned he was also in need, and I purchased items that he would also
need.
I feel so privileged to work at a
place that will help people in need in this manner. The girls were highly appreciative of the
items. The older sister actually put on
the shoes when I presented them to her because she had on some shoes that did
not fit her. The younger sister was
wearing flip flops. Thanks so much for making
a difference in this family. I hope that
it will make an impact on their lives!”
So, why did I go to KDS?
As State Chairman for Junior Membership in the DAR, I represented our
committee and state this year, presenting an award to a graduating senior who
excelled in art. My journey included
visiting all parts of the campus, presenting the award, attending graduation, and
getting to know the welcoming Daughters of Alabama. Thank you to Rita Horton, Connie Grund, Patrice
Donnelly, Janeal Shannon, Tammy Clemons, and Peggy Johnson for making me feel
so welcome!
The campus is located in the most beautiful part of
Alabama. One of the first things that
got my attention was the view of the valley from the school grounds.
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This was such a peaceful, breathtaking view. I felt as if I could see forever. Right
behind me, the historical marker revealed that the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
was started in 1924 by the Alabama Society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
A tour of the school revealed many beautiful, historical
structures such as the Pennsylvania Log Cabin and the Pennsylvania Bell Tower.
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| Pennsylvania Log Cabin (front) |
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| Pennsylvania Log Cabin (back) |
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| Pennsylvania Bell Tower |
Since much of the campus contains historical landmarks, the preservation
of these buildings is extensive.
When one tours the more modern parts of campus, a welcoming
set of pillars greets you to the Home of the Patriots.
The mascot is painted on the main gym’s wall. It is also found in the cafeteria and on
several displays in each of the buildings.
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| Patriot Mascot painted on Gym Wall |
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| Beautiful Mural on Cafeteria Wall |
There were several particular things that struck me as very
noteworthy during my journey. They were
not amazing things, but things I will remember for a long time to come.
Now to put this in perspective, I teach in an economically
sound school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, the comparisons that I am going to make
are based on my everyday encounters.
First, I noticed that all of the students were very, very polite.
Now, anyone would hope that strangers were polite to strangers, but the
KDS students seemed exceptionally polite.
Trust me…these KDS kids were great!
I had more doors opened for me in one day by the boys of this school
than I have in a month at mine. “Yes, Ma’am”
ended every sentence that I heard.
Second, I am used to seeing students with perfect, white
teeth. All my students in my district,
by the time they are in middle school, have any “defects” under construction and have them fixed by high school age. The students that I encountered at KDS do not
have this luxury. Many of the students
at the high school level smiled with the beautiful smiles that God gave to
them. They had no corrections. This may seem like a strange thing to notice,
but it made a lasting impression, showing the economic differences.
Third, the patriotic education was noticeable. During the awards ceremony, the students,
grades K-12, all stood and said in complete unison the pledge of allegiance to
the flag as well as the American’s Creed.
In fact, the students said the creed so quickly, that they finished it
before any of the DAR members on the stage had a chance. No student was disrespectful during this
time. Not a single one.
Finally, the number of ‘Thank You’s from the students were
too numerous to count. When they saw me wearing
my pins, they knew I was part of a larger group that has helped each one of
them to have a better chance in this world.
They were grateful, and they showed it.
My visit to KDS has changed my life. It has made the support that I have given this
school become real and tangible. I saw,
first hand, the product of my contributions to the DAR School committee. I was able to meet the teacher, Denise
Duncan-Saint, that my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter, sponsored for two
years.
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| Me and Denise Duncan-Saint, math teacher |
What a great influence Denise is on the lives of these
children. …and what a great influence
you and I can be, even from far away.
So, how can you help?
The primary school is in great
need right now. The pipes in the
building have deteriorated and do not allow the bathrooms to drain
properly. Even though the custodians
clean the bathrooms thoroughly every day, the smell of urine and waste permeate
the entire building. Peggy Johnson, the chairman
of the board for KDS said “The health of our children is our number one
priority”. I don’t want you to get the
impression that the school is run down, for it is not. I saw modern facilities everywhere, from the
gymnasium to the cafeteria. However, the
primary bathroom is unacceptable. Take a
look at the urinal trough where the waste is not draining properly. It is time to fix this problem.
Last weekend, my chapter had our June meeting. There, I told my chapter of my visit to the
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School. I told
them of all the students and how we, as DAR members, have touched their lives
in such a strong, positive way. I then
told them that we have a chance to continue to support them through the
donation to this bathroom renovation.
The chapter members then unanimously voted to donate $1000 directly to
the school. Way to go, ladies!
This is why I LOVE
BEING IN THE DAR. I love it that we
are doing good in the world. I love it that we work together as a team to
raise money to turn around and put it back out there for those in need. I love setting the example for my children that
“it is not all about you”.
I am quite sure
that I will visit KDS again. I am quite
sure that my love for great education for all children in America, no matter
their economic circumstances, will drive me to be active within this committee. This is my passion. John F Kennedy said it best; “Children are the world's most valuable
resource and its best hope for the future.”
How do you plan to help our future?
To make a
contribution to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, please send your check to the
following address. Be sure to indicate
you want it to go to the “Flush Fund” or “Primary School Bathrooms”.
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
6077 Main Street
Grant, AL 35747
