Wil Lou Gray

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Wil Lou Gray (August 29, 1883 - March 10, 1984) is an influential educator for both children and adults, with a primary focus on adult literacy.

Video Wil Lou Gray

Early life and education

Wil Lou Gray graduated from Laurens High School in Laurens, South Carolina in 1899 and continued his education at Columbia College where he graduated in 1903. After receiving a bachelor's degree at Columbia College, he completed graduate work at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee before moved to New York for an MA at Columbia University.

Maps Wil Lou Gray

Careers

Gray's career began in 1903 in Greenwood, South Carolina where he taught at Jones School. The Greenwood community did not put education as a priority, so Gray was transferred to a teaching position in English at Martha Washington College in 1907 and 1908. He then returned to his hometown where he became headmaster of Youngs School. It is here that he observes the problem of adult illiteracy and develops his passion for improving education among adults. He was elected a rural school supervisor in Laurens County and in 1914, opened the first night school for adult education.

Gray, a traveling traveler, had been inspired during his trip to Switzerland in 1913. There he saw a teacher on an educational journey with over 100 boys. This affects his belief in the importance of field visits for both students and teachers. He will then travel with his students and colleagues to various cities in South Carolina, such as Columbia and Charleston, and even to places like New York and Washington D.C.

In 1921, Gray founded the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, which is still the South Carolina state's leader in providing alternative education. The mission statement of this organization states that, "As a state government agency, schools provide a great deal of training in academic skills and life skills by SC state certified teachers in a modern classroom setting."

src: www.willougray.org

Awards

In 1937 he won the Algernon-Sidney Sullivan Award by the University of South Carolina for his service to mankind. He received the Service for the Black Race award from South Carolina State University. He received honorary doctorates from Columbia College, Clemson University, and Winthrop University. In 1950, the American State Legion gave it a plaque for its Distinguished Public Service. In 1974 he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame and the Columbia Rotary Club honored him with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. She is the only female nominee among thirty-four nominations for Man of the Half Century South Carolina Award.

src: laurenscountymuseum.us

References

src: www.willougray.org

External links

Source of the article : Wikipedia