By GORDON D. FIEDLER JR.

Salina Journal

Wanda Clark's mother and her four aunts were all teachers, so it wasn't a big surprise that Clark ended up in front of a blackboard.

"That's all I ever wanted to do," said Clark, who turned 90 Christmas Day and is still teaching, although not in a traditional classroom.

Age has slowed her and diminished her mobility, so these days she tutors students from her apartment.

"Mostly now they bring the kids to me rather than me going to the kids," she said.

In her prime, she was a dervish of activism: a costumer at the Salina Community Theatre, historical interpreter, Cub Scout leader and most recently, a participant in the weekly Creative Writing Project at the Salina Senior Center.

This is where she came to the attention of project leader Mary Johnson, who spotted an unusual individual in her biographical writing.

"She has done so many things to help people," Johnson said. "She doesn't get enough credit she deserves."

That seems to suit Clark, who said she enjoys helping others, particularly students who need an extra boost in the "3 Rs," which she said has never gone out of favor.

"If you can't read, if you can't work simple arithmetic, if you can't write in a readable hand, there will be more doors slammed in your face than you know there are doors," she said.

Born in Lovewell, she and her parents moved to Belleville when she was a child.

Her dad was a carpenter and didn't have the money to send her to college.

"He gave me one year. That's all the budget would stand," she said.

Her dad told her he would at least pray for her. Clark said his prayers were more useful because she new he had more of them than dollars.

"I was taught by both my parents to be independent stubborn," she said.

The parental lesson paid off. She eventually acquired a teaching certificate and launched her career in 1939 in one-room schools in Republic, Jewell and Washington counties. Her top salary: $45 a month.

She taught until 1946, when she married and had to quit teaching. Only unmarried women could teach in those days, she said.

She moved to Salina in 1972 and soon heard of a teacher who had some young elementary students who hadn't learned to read.

"I was in a position to do something about it," she said. "I asked if she needed some help. I've been helping ever since."

Aided by an aluminum walker and the OCCK transportation vans (Clark never learned to drive), Clark said she'll continue to offer her services.

"As long as I get a kick out of the kids, as long as they'll tolerate me, I'm going to keep doing it."

nGordon D. Fiedler Jr. can be reached at 822-1407 or by e-mail at gfiedler@salina.com.

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