From: PR

Date:  3-7-2016

Pat Conroy promoted bare feet in school

Last week, the talented American author, Pat Conroy, died.

Many may know him not only for his books but also for the successful films based on them, including “The Lord’s of Discipline,” “The Great Santini” and “The Prince of Tides.”

He also write “The Water is Wide,” based on his own experience as a struggling teacher in a poor and isolated region of North Carolina. That book earned Conroy a humanitarian award from the National Education Association.

Hollywood made the book into the 1974 film “Conrack,” starring Jon Voight.

I loved that film and still consider it one of my favorites, partly because of a moving scene in which Pat, while teaching in his classroom, helps a new student without shoes to feel welcome–by inviting the other students to remove their shoes!

In the scene, the young barefoot girl pensively approaches the school but pauses at the door.

Pat sees her, waves his arm and invites her to, “Take a seat.”

But the girl turns to leave, “I can’t come into this school,” she responds, “Everybody’s got shoes except me. I thought it’s trashy to go around barefooted.”

Pat thinks for a moment, then begins to slip off his own shoes and socks as he turns to his students. “Alright,” he announces, “Everybody, take off your shoes!”

The willing students giggle as they all begin to remove their shoes.

“Let’s wiggle our toes!” encourages Pat as he and the kids wave their feet and flex their toes in the air.

At that, the surprised barefoot girl brightens up and slowly enters the classroom to take her seat.

Great scene.

And what a great way to solve the concern! Pat didn’t look for donated shoes; he leveled the playing field by inviting everyone else to remove their own shoes. And the class gladly complied (with no negative consequences).

You can see the entire movie on Youtube here:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlKVMo_zAtU>

The classroom scene begins around 37:30.

– PR