DELTA SCHOOL EDUCATOR RECEIVES `PIONEER' TITLE

DELTA -- Mary Maud Hosea, a teacher and principal in the Delta school system for over 40 years, calls herself an instigator just trying to make things better for her students.

But the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calls Hosea a "Pioneer in Education." She was one of six Missouri educators honored with the title this month.

"I never thought of myself as a pioneer," Hosea said. "But I guess that's what I am. I've been at this a long time."

Hosea began teaching fifth and sixth grades in Delta at age 17. Becoming a Delta educator was always her goal.

"My mother was a teacher here," Hosea said. "And my dad was the depot agent. They made sure I got my education. I never considered another career except teaching.

"I was a teacher-principal at the old elementary school for several years," Hosea said.

With the reorganization of the school district in 1958, Hosea became Delta's elementary principal, a position she held until retiring in 1980. The school was renamed the Mary Maud Hosea Elementary School in her honor.

"I was thrilled that they asked me to be principal," she said. "and I was thrilled to be the first principal out at the new school. At that time I was an instigator."

She is credited with adding many programs to the curriculum.

Under her leadership, Delta began offering kindergarten and instruction in art, music and physical education. She was responsible for adding special education, remedial reading, summer school and learning disabilities programs.

"I was interested in adding whatever we could," Hosea said, reluctant to take credit for the major changes she instigated.

"When we built the new building and were out there alone, we had a chance to begin these different programs," she said. "I just helped to get them started. We did the best we could."

She admitted curriculum changes were important for her students.

"It meant a great deal to the students. You know that's true because these are things that have stayed with the school."

While she has not been active in education for a decade, Hosea has been following educational issues in the state and nation.

"What I see kind of scares me," Hosea said. "It's all together a different ball game today than it was years ago."

Hosea is concerned about the future for rural school districts like Delta.

"Like all the other schools, Delta is fading fast," she said. "When I was there, we had 420 students. That included the junior high. But now they have less than 200 students. The population in small towns is really dwindling."

Hosea said adequate funding is also a concern. "Money is always a problem in education," she said. "It was back when I was principal, but it was not like it is today; things are so much more expensive."

For example, Hosea's picture and a plaque hang in the school office, but the sign outside still reads Delta Elementary School. "They have not put up a new sign because of lack of money," she said.

Hosea said that families are different today also.

"In so many cases both parents have to work. I think that is a lot of our trouble in education; they do not have the time to spend with their children. But today it really takes two people to make a living. I don't know what we are going to do, but I believe it is harming the children."

Each year since 1974, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has selected a few individuals to be honored as Pioneers in Education in recognition of their distinguished careers and contributions to public education either at the state or local level.

The other 1991 Pioneers are Raymond B. Doerhoff of St. Elizabeth, Lena Pierce of Ava, Edna Staples of Eminence, Robert R. Wheeler of Kansas City and Mildred M. Winter of St. Louis.