Marva Collins (Finding Aid)

Marva Collins

1936 -

Favorite Color: Oranges and Reds

Favorite Food: All Southern foods

Favorite Time of Year: Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Home

Interview Length: 85 minutes

Interview Date(s): February 22, 2000

Interview Location(s): Marva Collins School

Abstract

Marva Collins is a marvel. Her warm, close-knit upbringing in Atmore, Alabama has given her a perspective on the ailments of 21st century youth. She finds a loss of contact between the generations, a lack of bonding brought on by television, and other diversions. She remembers her chilchood with her hard-working grandfather who's pampering instilled a great deal of self-esteem in the young Marva. She also recalls the close relationships between neighbors and how the community came together to discipline children and instill values. Collins also shares her great love of books and reading and how that influenced her life. Marva Collins opens the segment with how she became a teacher and how that experience shaped her philosophy on teacing. After serving as a substitute teacher for 14 years, Collins decided to strike out on her own, and she opened Westside Prepatory School in 1975. He revolutionary methodology drew the attention of 60 Minutes and Hollywood. A made-for-television movie, called the Marva Collins Story, aired in 1981 and starred Cicely Tyson and Morgan Freeman. Collins continues to share her teaching methodology and points to its success. She also details how valuable teaching and reaching children are to her. She values relationships with her students far and above accumulating material wealth. Marva Collins shares many of her fears and hopes for America's youth of all races and creeds. She worries about the influence of media and the emphasis on aquisition of material belongings.Her solution i s to reconnect with children, talk to them, spend time with them and let them know they are loved. Collins also repeats her creed for great acheivement and personal happiness. She discusses a recent success story, the rehabilitation of an unloved house in Hilton Head. She draws parrallels to the marked improvement in its value and the lavish attention she gave to the property and to the attention given to her students.

39 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)