Hello, and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower. So far we have been introducing to you people who are blind and/or visually impaired who live “normal” lives, doing “normal” jobs and who aren’t afraid to try new things. This month, we would like to introduce you to one of these educators who made this possible, Connie New house, a former teacher at the West Virginia School for the Blind.
Q: So, Connie, how many years did you teach Home Economics?
A: I taught home ec about 25 years; also spent some time teaching Braille, English and math as the needs of the students and schedule were addressed. After that time I was the principal at WVSB until 2007 when I retired, and then went back to sub for four more years. Altogether I spent 40 years at the school.
Q: Why did you decide to teach children who are blind?
A: I wish I had a wonderful story of my life dream to teach blind kids, but the truth is that I was looking for a job and the school was looking for a teacher. However, now I cannot imagine doing anything else.
Q: Why Home Ec?
A: Home Ec has always been my favorite area. Kids can't succeed in any area of life without good life skills. You might be a great computer programmer/writer/gardener/business owner but if you can't get up in the morning, get your breakfast, manage your wardrobe, care for your home, take care of your children, pay your bills, work as a team, and so on, it will be difficult for you to be a success.
I was drawn to home ec because it teaches skills that really matter - no matter your station in life. We always told students that they might be able to name every state capitol but if they can't tie their shoes/fix their cereal/pack their lunch/ do their laundry/etc, they will have a difficult time being successful.
This area of teaching always meant a lot to me because I felt like we really connected with students, became friends, and loved hearing about their lives when they left Romney.
Q: What were some of the challenges of teaching children who could not see like you?
A: Students showed up for class, often with absolutely no knowledge or skills in the kitchen. We had to start from the ground up with identification of equipment and materials, safety, and learning your way around the kitchen. We laughed and cried and learned together. We practiced and practiced and practiced until we could do it. We learned together.
Q: What was your favorite part of the job?
A: When some students came to home ec or Daily Living Skills (DLS) class for the first time, they literally could not fix themselves a glass of ice water. Many thought sandwiches all came pre made from the grocery; that cereal was just in the bowl with milk.
Many had been told that they could not cook/sew/clean/tend to their personal needs/have children because they were blind. Seeing the "light go on" for those students made that my million dollar job!
Q: What were some of the changes in methods or technologies that you noticed over the years?
A: The obvious changes would be technology; we don't need a recipe book if we keep items on our phone. Learning to use a microwave is often faster and more efficient. More foods come prepackaged. People usually don't make their own clothes or can their own food.
Q: If you could give any advice to parents/care givers of students who are blind concerning home economics or daily living skills, what would it be?
A: Advice to parents of blind kids...the same as advice to parents of sighted kids...let them get in the kitchen, get dirty, make mistakes, laugh, try and have fun!
Q: What advice would you give to students today?
A: I'm so sorry that the home ec/DLS classes at WVSB have been eliminated. Even with caring house parents, there is simply not enough time, or specialized skill training, to provide students with all the important life skills.
For instance...start every cooking project with a sink full of hot soapy water (put dishes in as you go and they're clean when you finish); work over a cookie sheet on the counter to catch spills, buy plates with a design that goes all the way around the plate so your table always looks pretty; use Elmer's glue to mark ranges, microwaves, laundry equipment, etc; put bacon in the oven to brown; when needing to add water to cooking meat or other food, use an ice cube to help avoid splattering; use parchment paper for ease of clean up; remember our motto of "clutter causes chaos" so clear your kitchen drawers of unused equipment; pin matching socks/baby outfits/etc together before laundry so matching is no problem....and the list goes on and on.
Connie, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today, and thank you, faithful readers for being here, too. We would love it if you would leave us a comment. Let us know what you think. Until next time, get in that kitchen and get messy. :)
Blessings.
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