WOMEN EDUCATORS GATHER, DISCUSS LITERACY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Concern about literacy tops the list of issues being discussed this weekend by 250 women educators.

Members of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international association of women educators, are meeting here this weekend for their annual state conference.

The three-day meeting began Friday and ends today. Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup will speak at today's meeting.

Mary Ann Pensel, president of the Omega chapter in Cape Girardeau and a teacher at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, said the organization last held its annual meeting in Cape Girardeau in 1985.

"Literacy is a big issue we are working on," Pensel said. "Because we are all teachers, we also are interested in school funding and teacher involvement in government."

"Literacy is one of our big issues," agreed Berneil Drake. Drake is director for the southwest region of the association, which includes all the western United States and five foreign countries.

Drake said: "Now since both parents are working, many don't have time to read to their children. Some children come from homes where they don't own a book."

The organization, she said, is supporting legislation in various states aimed at early childhood education and legislation designed to beef up library facilities.

Delta Kappa Gamma began in 1929 with 12 women, Drake said. Today, the organization has 165,000 members in 13 countries. Missouri has about 4,400 members in 90 chapters, including one in Cape Girardeau which is sponsoring this weekend's conference.

"Our purpose is to further women in education and to support their personal goals. We also discuss problems and issues that we all face.

"We hold forums to discuss these issues. We give each other support and ideas."

In many ways, Drake said, the organization operates like a support group.

"It's comforting to know someone else is facing the same problems you face," she said. "And they may have a different idea or approach."

Pensel said that with nearly 5,000 teachers across the state, "It's possible to get lost in the numbers.

"Delta Kappa Gamma is designed to recognize key women educators and help them continue to grow to become better people and better educators."

In addition, Pensel said, the organization gives financial aid to women educators. On Saturday, Delta Kappa Gamma scholarships were awarded. Some scholarships are given to encourage women to go into the field of education. Others are given to help women already teaching advance their education.