Repeating third grade was the best thing that ever happened to the Rev. Larry Bullock.
Bullock related the story to French Academy students on Friday as part of the History Makers program, a national archive of black leaders who visit schools to tell their stories and urge children to make a serious commitment to their own education and success.
He came home with his final report card, and his teacher had promoted him to fourth grade, but his mother took him back to school and told the teacher he hadn't earned that promotion and she wanted him to repeat third grade.
"I made a decision that never again was I going to play in school," Bullock said. "Never again was I going to disrespect my teachers. Never again would I not do my homework. And do you know what happened? When I got to sixth grade, I was president of the class."
At that, the students applauded, and again when he told them he was also class president in eighth grade, and captain of every sports team he was a part of.
He was the first black student accepted to Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., graduated in 1969, and went to law school. He holds a master's from Roosevelt University and today sits on its board and has served in the Illinois House of Representatives. Read more...
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