Full Text:

Telling The Story Of Women In History

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Women made history, but how often do you read about them in history books?

So often, our official history describes the great men, and omits the valuable

lessons and role models of great women.

Last week, Hawley children heard about the lives and accomplishments of brave,

determined, and extraordinary women through the Mobile Ed productions program,

"They Made a Difference: Women in History."

Lisa Batten, actress with Mobile Ed, introduced herself as Clara Barton, born

in Massachusetts in 1821. As Mrs Barton, she described her own life and that

of Florence Nightingale.

She described the conflicting feelings of the young Florence Nightingale who

was raised in high British society. At age 16, God spoke and called her into

His service. She was torn, because she knew that everyone wanted her to marry,

but if she married she would be too busy with homemaking to follow her

calling. She followed her heart and at age 30 decided to become a nurse.

In Florence Nightingale's time, hospitals were crowded, dirty and disease-

ridden. She worked early morning to late night cleaning, training nurses and

providing care and comfort for the ill.

Besides the caring she gave to patients, her efforts affected history. She

increased standards of cleanliness in hospitals and made nursing into a

respected profession.

The overhead image on the slide projector changed to a picture of Harriet

Tubman. Ms Batten, still in the role of Clara Barton, asked the students how

they would feel if they had to quit school, quit playing and work scrubbing

floors from the age of six. She described how Ms Tubman had been forced to do

that, but eventually she had managed to escape. Risking her life, she then

made at least fifteen trips to free slaves.

She described how Anne Sullivan helped Helen Keller to learn through touching

things and finally taught her to read braille.

Ms Batten was so convincing in her roles, the children forgot that she might

be just an actress. Still in the role of Clara Barton, she asked the children

"If I died at age 90, that would be in 1912. How could I be here today?"

She called on a girl in the front who seemed very eager to answer. The girl

said "sometimes people say when you die, then you can live again, another

life."

Another child said "You're tricking me."

Finally someone said "You're just dressed to look like her, you're not really

Clara Barton."

Lisa Batten admitted that was true. She was an actress.

The presentation sponsored by the cultural arts committee at Hawley School

touched on women in science, exploration, education, nursing, public life and

literature.