Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sheros and Wise Women

Shero - A woman who, in the face of danger or adversity or from a position of weakness, displays courage and the will for self sacrifice for some greater good - originally martial courage, but later including moral courage.

Dennis Denenburg has created a curriculum about heros for elementary and middle school classrooms. He wants to replace Spiderman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with flesh and blood people from American history as heros for our children. [www.heros4us.com] His list of 50 American Heros Every Child Should Know includes the following sheros. Give yourself two points for each of the following you know:

Jane Addams
Susan B. Anthony
Clara Barton
Mary McLeod Bethune
Elizabeth Blackwell
Rachel Carson
Mary Cassatt
Dolores Huerta
Martha Graham
Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Sacajawea
Sandra Day O'Connor
Rosa Parks
Dale Evans
Eleanor Roosevelt
Harriet Tubman
Ida B. Wells

A perfect score is 36 - I only got 32 so I have some studying to do.

Wise Woman - originally a white witch, one who practices folk magic for benevolent purposes or a folk healer. To me, a Wise Woman [WW] is that woman who gives us counsel, who can help us clarify what's in our hearts and take the next step forward. She heals the spirit, instead of the body.

March is Women's History Month. My commitment is to learn about the two sheros that I did not know from Dennis's list and to learn more about one of them who is a bare acquaintance. And, to write about the Wise Women in my life.