Inspirational Coloradan: Emily Griffith

Teacher of ALL who wish to learn

Birth

Working Age

Realization

Denver

Smart lady

Teaching

Day and Night

Dream Comes True

Universal and free

Discrimination

Diversity is Great

Students’ Needs

Jobs

Principal Emily

Retired

Saint Emily

Opportunity Today

What We Learned

You Can Do It!

Emily was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 10, 1868

Her family was very poor.

Emily was only 17 years old when she started working as a teacher in Nebraska.

Back then, teachers “boarded around” or lived with the families of students…

What would it be like to have your teacher live with you?

Emily

Many of the parents of the families were poor and uneducated.

At this time Emily realized that being uneducated leads to poverty and problems like:

Hunger

Illness

Racism

Homelessness

Education = Power!!!

Emily and her family moved to Denver in 1894.

At this time, Denver was suffering from problems like:

Homelessness

JoblessnessPoverty

Racism

Emily was a smart lady.

She thought : “Everyone deserves an education!!!”

“Educationshould be available for people of all ages, races,and backgrounds!!!”

So Emily worked as a substitute teacher…

And a full-time teacher…

Which lead to being Deputy Superintendent of Schools.

This was a great honor, but she missed the classroom so she went back to teaching.

Super-intendent

Emily believed that everyone has the right to an education.

She also taught adults who needed to learn a skill like mechanics, teaching, or business.

She taught the 8th grade

during the day.

She taught classes to adults at

night.

Hard work Dedication

Emily’s dream comes true!!!

“Public Opportunity School For All Who Wish To Learn” was born!!!

1916

At a time period when immigrants were discriminated against…

Emily’s Opportunity School taught them English and skills so they could get jobs.

Free of charge!!!

Emily’s Dream made Denver…

The first city in the world…

With free universal adult education!!!

“Tall”

“Short”

“Old”

“Young”

“French”

“Japanese”

“Indian”

“Spanish”

Emily Says…

“Irish”

“Scottish”

“Everyone can learn at my school!!!”

“African”

The classes were designed…

To fit the students’ needs.

“I want to be a mechanic!”

“I want to work for the

newspaper!”

“I want to be a nurse!”

This way people could get jobs… that paid wages…

housing…

for meals…

and to support their families.

Emily served as the principal of the school for 17 years.

She set up her desk in the hallway so she could talk to every student passing by.

You Can Do It!!! We don’t believe in failure!

What do you want to learn? Help one another!

Emily Griffith retired in 1933.

One year later the school was renamed the Emily Griffith

Opportunity School.

Emily was what one might call a “saint.”

She dedicated herself to the public by…

Feeding the homeless…

Visiting the sick…

And helping

the police to find

orphans a home.

Emily’s impact lives on today…

Thousands of students graduate from her school every year.

The same school that Emily started over 82 years ago!!!

What have we learned from Emily Griffith?

Help one another!!!

Learning Power!

Everyone deserves an education!!!

Equals

The End

Always remember… You Can Do It!!!

More Info on Emily Griffith Opportunity School