Historical November 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Ruth Johnson lives in Kingsbury Square in our neighborhood. She’s been there since 1985 and loves the location, “30 minutes from anywhere and now there’s MetroLink.” In 1992, she retired after 37 years with the St. Louis school system.
She had taught all grades kindergarten-8, was a remedial reading specialist, math specialist, assistant principal, and instructional coordinator.
After all these endeavors, one might expect Ruth Johnson to rest a bit, to stay way away from a classroom. But, that was not the case.
She quickly involved herself in a project that keeps her working with the city’s schoolchildren. Johnson’s husband Herbert is a member of the Prometheans.
This is a social group founded about 35 years ago.
They have always worked with the community assisting at the Annie Malone Children’s Home and donating Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to families various city schools recommended.
They now receive names from 10-15 schools and give out over 100 baskets each holiday.
The Prometheans turned their attention more directly to St. Louis school children several years ago.
They felt that people “say that inner city kids can’t achieve; they’re latch key or one parent family.” Many of the Prometheans came from poor families but they were able to achieve because their parents pushed them.
They wanted to tell the kids that they can succeed. “It doesn’t matter if your parents have to work and are not there when you come home. You can succeed if you have one parent.” The Prometheans began to work with boys in grades 4 and 5 at the Irving School. Speakers from the group would come to classes and tell children how it was when they were growing up.
They hold assemblies twice a month.
This year Mayor Bosley will be invited.
The Prometheans hope to expose the boys to many careers.
They work toward the Science Fair by having workshops led by a former teacher who also worked at the Science Center.
The Prometheans also provide one-on-one assistance.
The teacher will explain the particular needs of a boy •and a Promethean will work with him.
The group wants to help the boys develop feelings of selfconfidence and self-worth as well as discipline.
The men always review the boys’ report cards with them every 5 weeks. Teachers look forward to this. One side of the report card deals with academic achievement.
The other side covers attitudes and behaviors.
If this latter side is satisfactory, the academic could be rectified.
The Promethean volunteers will find out why boys are talking in class or not bringing their homework in.
They tell them that they’re unhappy if a boy is disrespectful and others can’t learn.
The Prometheans who participate are retired and this project holds a very special place in their life. Many keep in touch with some of the boys for a long time.
Each year the Prometheans escort the youngsters they are working with to Jefferson City.
There they meet the governor and other officials and tour Lincoln University as well as the state prison.
They always close the school year with Fun Day.
A street is closed off; there is a cook out with barbecue pits and of course games, sock races, and volleyball. What does this have to do with Ruth Johnson?
Her husband is a Promethean, in fact the current chairperson.
She took a very strong interest in the program at Irving School and decided to do something there for the girls since the boys were getting so much attention.
She too brings in speakers and she tries to stress moral and spiritual values.
She also teaches the girls sewing, some cooking techniques, crafts, etiquette, and poise.
She also arranges story telling for grades K-2.
She and several other volunteers help the girls learn “What You Need to Succeed from A to Z.” Johnson admits that when she retired she “never intended to leave the children.
The greatest thing is to make them happy and see them succeed.” Johnson makes sure that the girls get to go to Jefferson City too. Irving School was the oldest in the city and its physical condition was badly deteriorated.
The school is closed this year. So Ruth Johnson and the Prometheans have begun working with children at Jefferson School. Johnson came back from the first day and said it was just wonderful. Johnson’s concern with public education in St. Louis does not end with her work with the Prometheans.
She is a board member of a new organization called CHANGE.
The group was begun by former Mayor Schoemehl in the last months of his term.
It has taken root and is now incorporated.
It is dedicated to working with the school board and the school system to bring about change in order to make things better for the kids. Members of the school board are attending CHANGE’s meetings and Johnson is very optimistic.
She would to like to see schools where all were magnet schools.
It would attract people to the city, Johnson is a member of the Board of Trustees at Kingsbury Square and has previously served as president.
She represents Kingsbury Square on the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council where she serves as secretary.
She works with Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration each year. And she is active at her church, St. Phillips Lutheran.
She has been a Sunday school teacher and secretary for community involvement.
She also serves as usher. She’s volunteered with the literacy program and helped a 45 year old man learn how to read. Finally she’s part of Delta Sigma Theta sorority which is working with Habitat for Humanity to build several homes here. Johnson and her husband Herbert have been married forty years.
They have two children and two grandchildren. Ruth gives a great deal of credit to her family, in laws, and friends for encouraging her through the years.
She owes a great deal to her parents, William and Elizabeth Blanchard who were always firm believers in education.
Her mother is now 82.
It certainly was a very special inspiration that keeps Ruth Johnson so active, especially on behalf of young children who should not be written off.
Original photograph caption
Ruth Johnson. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 6; PDF page(s) 1, 6.
