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Photo of Margie Barker courtesy of The Star Democrat
Each month the Democratic Club will highlight a club member and how they are exemplifying the Democratic principles expressed by the party. This month we honor long-time Club Member, teacher and volunteer, Margie Baker; and we celebrate her as part of our tribute to Black History Month.
One of the first questions asked of newcomers to Chestertown is how they came about living here. Like many, Margie Baker found life’s twists and turns bringing her here. As a recent graduate from Elizabeth City State University in teaching, Margie began her search for a job. At the advice of a teacher she accepted an interview outside her desired North Carolina for “interview practice”. Taking a bus from her home in Pitt County North Carolina she was met at Queenstown by the Principal of Garnett School and driven to Chestertown for an interview. As soon as the interview was over she was back to Kent Island and on the bus home. Before she caught her breath from the whirlwind trip, the Garnett job offer arrived in the mail. That was the only interview Margie ever did for a job!
For over 40 years, Margie taught science and math at Garnett and at Chestertown Middle School, starting with a split class of 5th and 6th graders. She loved her job and her students loved her. She used innovative thinking to teach science and is remembered by her students for the hot dog cookers they made to learn about electricity. The best experiments are when food is the end result! When she heard about a new method of teaching math, she took summer courses at Towson so she could introduce New Math to her students. She didn’t have text books until mid year but they learned despite the lack of books. She wanted her students to be current.
Beside “New Math” Margie was part of another major education change in Kent County – integration. In 1968 Garnett became an integrated elementary school. Margie continued to enjoy teaching and can only recall one instance when she experienced racial discrimination. As she had done in all things, she addressed the issue firmly and fairly, and no more was made of it.
Margie continues to be an active member of the community, although during this past Covid-restricted year she misses the interaction with the people she loves to work with and help. She does what she can and continues to donate food to the food pantry, serve on boards and commissions, and work with the Democratic Club. This past fall every Saturday morning Margie was at Headquarters putting yard signs together as fast as other members were handing them out. There was a lot of laughter and chatter as Margie shared stories, especially about her most admired civil rights and humanitarian leader, John Lewis. Margie was so proud when Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were elected. The perfect pair for the most needed time for our country, per Margie.
She has received a number of honors for her work including Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and an honored teacher in the 2017 Legacy Day Parade.
The ground swell of dialogue around racial injustice has required Margie to reply to questions of how best to help, how to talk with children and what can be done. Her answer is how she has lived her life. “Work for justice for all, see the beauty in everyone and see and treat everyone as you would like to be seen and treated, and have an attitude of gratitude.”
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