Homeless children from the Northeast line up in front of a railcar
as they wait to be transported
to find new homes in other parts of the United States. 
Courtesy of Public Information

The traveling multi-media presentation, “Riders on the Orphan Train,” is to make one of its stops here on campus.

The Department of Teaching and Education is sponsoring the lecture at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28 in KIVA auditorium during one of the FANFARE events.  

“Riders on the Orphan Train” is a presentation about the thousands of orphans from 1854 to 1929 that were put on trains and shipped out of New York City to find new homes across the country. It is believed to be the starting point of the foster care system.

Since 2012, the teaching and education department has hosted an event called “A Forum on Milestones in Education” in which they sponsor various public speakers to come to campus.

“The first year we had the descendants of the famous Plessy and Ferguson from the landmark case and last year we invited Ruby Bridges, one of first children and families to integrate schools in the 1960s in New Orleans in public schools,” said Interim Department Head Dr. Cynthia Elliott. “This year we have continued to address diversity by bringing recognition to special populations of children, such as those who may be living in the foster care system or serving individuals with special needs.”

The presentation utilizes music, performance and video, giving the audience a diverse experience.

Elliott hopes this will be a learning experience for teacher candidates.

“It is important for our teacher candidates to not only have the knowledge, skills and disposition to provide Pre K-12 students with a high-quality education, but also to understand the many complexities and challenges students may face in their daily lives,” said Elliott. “This kind of knowledge of the learner is an important part of teaching, and it is a part of our conceptual framework within which we deliver our teacher preparation program at Southeastern.”

Her intentions are for teacher candidates to better understand students’ various backgrounds.

“With a historical perspective focusing on the ‘Orphan Train Riders,’ we are providing our teacher candidates with additional information about Louisiana history and asking them to reflect on the current implications for children in their classrooms who have diverse needs,” said Elliot. Whether the diversity is living in a foster care situation or having a special need such as autism, a physical challenge or a parent who is in the military.”

Another upcoming lecture will be held by Dr. Celina Echols, professor of teaching and learning, titled “Mamma’s Brown Sugar,” which focuses on her personal experiences with adoption. She will also be holding a book signing for the book of the same name. The lecture will be held on Oct. 29 at 12 p.m. in the Teacher Education Center.

For more information about either of the lectures contact Elliott via email at [email protected] or the teaching and learning department at 985-549-2221.