Birchwood Alumni Association presents an interview with Birchwood School co-founder Helene Debelak, known affectionately to her reading and social studies students as “Mrs. D.”
Let’s start with the most action-packed place in the school — the playground. What is your favorite recess game?
Four-square.
Which historical character would you most like to have met?
Abraham Lincoln. His wisdom, compassion and humor. I believe he would have taken time out to talk to me.
Which books have you read aloud from most frequently over the years?
Peppermints in the Parlor, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
Between reading and social studies, which do you like better?
This is a cheater answer. I liked reading historical fiction.
If you wrote a book purely for enjoyment, would it be a collection of poems, juvenile fiction, a historical novel, or a professional development text?
Yikes. I am working on each of those a little bit. I have been writing more poetry. I am dabbling on something that is a cross between a memoir and a children’s story. Mr. D and I are starting to publish some of the programs at Birchwood.
Over the years, we’ve had openings everyday, five days a week. We’ve accumulated enough character lessons to make an anthology for teachers. The book will come out during 25th anniversary celebration next year. We always felt if we could learn anything we would want to share it, to give back to education.
Teaching has changed a lot over the past 25 years. What are some methods that you have stuck with?
We never threw out phonics. You learn to read by reading, you learn to write by writing. Some of these things that are as old as the hills.
We didn’t throw away grammar either. The education bandwagon would say “Teachers, put away your red pens. That hurts a child’s self-esteem.” But we looked very carefully at what was research based and time-tested.
Who are some teachers who inspired you?
My mom was always a reader and enthusiastically guided my reading childhood…We would walk to our local library and she would recommend authors to me. She’d make me feel my selection was important. She read to me every night. She read poetry and Laura Ingalls Wilder. My love of reading, I have to say, she was my prime influence.
I had my dad as a teacher in 7th grade at a parochial Lutheran school. His standards of character and how children responded to him. He had a lot of humor. Somehow he had the mix of “ You really wanted to behave in his class” but you enjoyed his presence.
He also directed the best choirs in Illinois. I learned whatever you do, you do well.
Growing up or while studying to become a teacher, did you ever have the aspiration to start your own school?
I was always teaching my little brother and sister. I was always making them do plays and be in my school.
But it took being married to Chuck to start talking about Birchwood.
You’re a grandma now. How has that changed your life?
It keeps me giggling and delighted. I’ve started to dabble in poetry for children.
What does it mean to you that Birchwood School has endured and grown for a quarter of a century?
It’s exciting that what began as an experiment.. to see that certain things did work and are true.
It also means a lot to work with families who share the same values and to see what together we could do to help children grow and realize their potential.
It’s been a worthwhile, never-regret- it adventure.
Any plans for retirement yet?
We always say “We’ll teach til we fall over or until we get gently nudged out.”
We have begun plans for transition. It will take ten years. It will take a lot of work to make what we have done sustainable.
Mrs. Debelak spoke recently with Joe Parrino, one of her social studies disciples. Joe was a third grader during Birchwood School’s inaugural year and graduated in 1990. He is now a staff writer for a daily newspaper in western Kentucky.
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