Mary McLeod Bethune

Morgan PerkinsValaria Frazier

EDUC-104April 18th 2013

Background

• Born in Mayesville, South Carolina July 10th 1875

• Married Albertus Bethune • Educator, author, and African American Civil

Rights Leader • Advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt

Inspiration • In 1896 Bethune became a teacher at Haines Normal and

Industrial Institute in Augusta, Georgia• The institute was founded and ran by Lucy Craft Laney who

she gained her educational inspirations from• Lucy Laney ran a school with a Christian missionary zeal of

emphasizing character and practical education for girls • Bethune adopted many of Laneys educational philosophies

The Beginning • Bethune started her first school in a small rented house for

eleven dollars per month in October 1904. • She used $1.50 to start the Literary and Industrial Training

School for Negro girls in Daytona • Her class consisted of six students • She chose Daytona because its economic opportunities held

more possibilities

Teaching Curriculum• Her curriculum consisted of a rigorous Christian life • Girls began the day at five thirty a.m. for bible study• They took classes in home economics and other industrial skill • Students days ended at nine p.m. • Later on she added Science and Business courses to her

curriculum, then she added high school courses of Math, English and Foreign languages

• Due to the increase in enrollment there was an addition of higher education courses

• The school also consisted of courses to educate teachers

Transitioning • Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute merged with the

Cookman Institute for men from Jacksonville, Florida in 1923• John D. Rockefeller donated 62,000 dollars in 1905 to help the

school • During the Great Depression, Bethune-Cookman was able to

meet the educational standards of the state of Florida• She was a part-time president during 1936-1942

The Present • There are now 40 buildings that educate more than 3,000

students• Bethune-Cookman is located on Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.• The school offers 35 majors and 6 major colleges; Arts and

Humanities, Business, Education, Nursing, Social Science, and Science Engineering

Her Story

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1dI6jZkYTI

Quote

• “ I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you a respect for the use of power. I leave you faith. I leave you racial dignity. I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellow men. I leave you a responsibility to our young people.”

-Mary McLeod Bethune 1875-1955