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Local Head Start celebrates 43 years
Head Start, a subsidiary of Morehouse Community Improvement Organization (MCIO), celebrated 43 years of service to Morehouse Parish Wednesday with its annual Christmas luncheon gala inside the local Head Start headquarters. Former board members were honored for starting this program which provides education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.
Head Start director Ethel Robinson is the only original employee who is still working with the program. She explained why this area needed a Head Start program.
“There were no preschool programs in this area at that time,” Robinson said. “Later on, the state of Louisiana started pre-k programs. We set the standard for pre-schools in Morehouse Parish.”
Head Start president Billy Rabon discussed a little about the history of Head Start.
“This program was started during the Civil Rights movement,” Rabon said. “It began in Morehouse Parish in the summer of 1969 with a budget of $75,000. Our budget for next year is $2.7 million.”
Ivory Smith was the original director for Head Start in 1969. In addition to needing a pre-school program, he remembered the program playing a big role in integration.
“O.L. Harper was the superintendent of Morehouse Parish at that time,” Smith said. “He wanted to train teachers for integration situations. He named teachers, black and white, that he wanted to be in the program. In exchange, he gave us school buildings to use that summer, free of charge.”
Morehouse Parish fire chief Eric Montgomery was at the luncheon to receive a plaque of behalf of his father, Payne Montgomery. Payne Montgomery was one of the original board members of MCIO.
“As a child, I didn’t understand what those trailblazers were trying to do,” Eric Montgomery said. “Now I understand.”
Robinson explained that the Head Start program is important today to ensure that children are successful in the future.
“The first five years of your life are the most important,” Robinson said. “The premises of Head Start is the earlier we start with social, emotional and school readiness skills, the better prepared these children are for school and for life.”
Local Head Start celebrates 43 years
Head Start, a subsidiary of Morehouse Community Improvement Organization (MCIO), celebrated 43 years of service to Morehouse Parish Wednesday with its annual Christmas luncheon gala inside the local Head Start headquarters. Former board members were honored for starting this program which provides education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.
Head Start director Ethel Robinson is the only original employee who is still working with the program. She explained why this area needed a Head Start program.
“There were no preschool programs in this area at that time,” Robinson said. “Later on, the state of Louisiana started pre-k programs. We set the standard for pre-schools in Morehouse Parish.”
Head Start president Billy Rabon discussed a little about the history of Head Start.
“This program was started during the Civil Rights movement,” Rabon said. “It began in Morehouse Parish in the summer of 1969 with a budget of $75,000. Our budget for next year is $2.7 million.”
Ivory Smith was the original director for Head Start in 1969. In addition to needing a pre-school program, he remembered the program playing a big role in integration.
“O.L. Harper was the superintendent of Morehouse Parish at that time,” Smith said. “He wanted to train teachers for integration situations. He named teachers, black and white, that he wanted to be in the program. In exchange, he gave us school buildings to use that summer, free of charge.”
Morehouse Parish fire chief Eric Montgomery was at the luncheon to receive a plaque of behalf of his father, Payne Montgomery. Payne Montgomery was one of the original board members of MCIO.
“As a child, I didn’t understand what those trailblazers were trying to do,” Eric Montgomery said. “Now I understand.”
Robinson explained that the Head Start program is important today to ensure that children are successful in the future.
“The first five years of your life are the most important,” Robinson said. “The premises of Head Start is the earlier we start with social, emotional and school readiness skills, the better prepared these children are for school and for life.”
