Taking Teaching on the Road, School Counselor Retracing 1961 Freedom Ride Routes for Students

Taking Teaching on the Road, School Counselor Retracing 1961 Freedom Ride Routes for Students

Posted by Elesha Barnette in State & LocalApril 19, 2011

It’s been 50 years since civil rights activist known as “Freedom Riders” boarded buses in Washington, D.C. and set out on history making journey through the segregated south.  Their mission was to challenge the lack of enforcement of the United States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia (of 1960), which had outlawed racial segregation in the restaurants and waiting rooms in terminals serving buses that crossed state lines.

The Freedom Riders of 1961 experienced mob violence.  Many were beaten and hospitalized. Others were arrested.  Their sacrifices were not in vain as their experiences called national attention to the violent disregard for the law that was used to enforce segregation in the southern United States.  Their efforts were an integral part of achieving equality and eradicating segregation in the south.

One Charlotte, NC, school counselor wants to ensure her students know about the landmark bus rides as well as the “character” it took to participate. Adrienne Barnette is the head counselor at the Morgan School, a K-12 school for students with exceptional needs; and as a part of a program she created called Carolina Character, Barnette is traveling the Freedom Riders route herself… on a motorcycle.
Why take the ride?  And why on a motorcycle?  Those are questions Barnette fields each day.  Her answer is simple:  ”You have to meet the students where they are.”

Barnette who takes her bike to school each day, is met in the bus lot by students eager to get a look and ask questions.  A school for children with behavioral and emotional disabilities, the kids enjoy a very hands on curriculum that extends outside of the classroom.

And that’s why Barnette is taking the ride.  As she takes the historic ride she’s been blogging, visiting museums that tell the story of the 1961 ride, and uploading videos and pictures to a blog for the students to follow along with at school or from home.

Today, she interviews original Freedom Rider, Hank Thomas.  One of many riders who were jailed for their participation in the original 1961 Freedom Rides, Barnette hopes her students will recognize the character it took  in order to take such a dangerous journey.

Barnette is joined in the endeavor by fellow motorcyclist and world traveler/educator, Zachariah Cashion. Cashion has traveled all over the world teaching and is excited for yet another experience he can pass on to students as well as anyone else he comes in contact with.  Also taking the trip is Holly Lambert, the school’s art teacher and Rufus S. Barnette, Ms. Barnette’s brother and a Morgan School volunteer. Both are helping document the adventure.

Prior to setting out for the venture they held a school wide assembly at which students began to learn about the heroic 1961 rides and its affects on the civil rights movement. Guest speakers included Ms. Nicole Moore of the Culture and Heritage Museum and Friendship 9 sit-in protestors: Mr. Willie McCleod, Mr. Clarence Graham, and Mr. David Williamson.

The group set out from Washington, D.C. on April 14th.  The plan is to make their way through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and. Mississippi.  3,193 miles later they will complete the trip in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Barnette, a member of “The Barnettes” (a family pop-rock-soul band) has also written and recorded a song entitled “Ride On”. It chronicles the 1961 rides and will also be used as a teaching tool. Proceeds from the song go to fund future Carolina Character programs.

Barnette created Carolina Character to assist children and students K-12 with their personal, social, career and character development.  Of the program, which as featured programs & speakers from the medical field to pro-sports to the arts Barnette says,

Teachers can lecture all day about what appropriate character looks like; but until they can experience it for themselves it’s just in one ear and out the other.  Through [the program] I am able to integrate character education thorough innovative personal experiences which reach far beyond one moment of learning and into a lifespan of conscious behavioral decision making.

For more information or to follow along as they take the “Route 1961 Ride to Freedom” check out the blog,   http://route1961.blogspot.com or follow them on twitter:  http://twitter.com/route1961

Blogger/Vlogger @Politic365 --- Prior to joining Politic365, Elesha Barnette spent nine years with Procter & Gamble. Elesha has a rich, diverse background in sales analytics as well as merchandising & marketing of Fortune 500 brands. In addition to her experiences in business development, Elesha has also run a freelance media production company that develops stories for screen. Elesha has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in Communications/Media Production.

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