The first word Gloria Estefan said she ever learned in English was “stupid.”
It was more than four decades ago when Estefan — now known around the world for her music — began first grade in San Antonio, Texas, and she didn’t speak a word of English.
Stupid, she said was “what the kid next to me called me because I couldn’t communicate in his language.”
“Needless to say, six months later, I wrestled away the reading award from his hot little hands,” she said, because of her teacher’s dedication.
Estefan, who has been an advocate for music in schools, told the story of her educational background — including the importance of music and humanities courses and teachers — as part of her testimony to the American Academy Commission on the Humanities & Social Science at Miami Dade College on Friday.
Estefan was one of 12 local educational, cultural, business and philanthropic leaders to testify in front of the national commission about the importance of humanities and social sciences in education.
Estefan stressed the need to fund art and music and classes that “make students think
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/14/v-print/3002846_humanities-commission-focuses.html#storylink=cpy
More: http://everitas.univmiami.net/2012/09/14/opening-a-national-dialogue-on-the-humanities/
From left to right: UM President Donna E. Shalala; MDC President Eduardo Padrón; UM alumna and international superstar Gloria Estefan, who was a panelist; and Leslie Berlowitz, president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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