Mildred Wright and Patrick Cannon oral history interview, 2005 November 18

Digital Record

Identifier: OH-WR0423

Staff Only

Digital Object (sound_recording_nonmusical)

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Dates

Creation: 2005-11-18

Biographical Note

Mildred Wright was a 73-year-old woman interviewed at Thomasboro School in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1933. She earned an A.B. at Johnson C. Smith University and an M.Ed. at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and was employed as a teacher and principal at Irwin Avenue open School, education director for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and director of magnet schools for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Extent

57 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General Note

Mildred Wright and Patrick Cannon discuss their experiences with Irwin Elementary School and open education in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mrs. Wright was a teacher and principal at Irwin Elementary from the 1970s-1990s and talks about the concept and practice of open education in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She discusses open education philosophy and how open education provides children with freedom which also encouraging them to take responsibility. Mr. Cannon was a student at Irwin Elementary, and describes his education and how it helped him achieve success as an adult. Both interviewees discuss diversity of the student population at Irwin and how it enriched the educational experience. Mr. Cannon also speaks about the education of his two school-age children, and Ms. Wright discusses programs at Thomasboro School.