Jackson Free Press

Jannie Johnson teaches children in the same one-room Madison County schoolhouse that her grandfather built 85 years ago. Inspired by her late father, herb doctor Seth Ballard Sr., and the philosophy engraved on his tombstone—"do right and go straight"—Johnson decided to meet a need: to ensure that neighborhood kids received education despite segregation.

"I teach kids how to be winners at the game of life by pre-arming them with the simple truths. My job is to tell the truth as objectively as I can," she says.

In 1975 she developed the Caring 'n' Sharing program, which focuses on everything from self-esteem to an appropriate response to current events. "There's an art to living," Johnson says. "You have to know how to live to stay out of trouble."

When asked if her program has proved effective, Johnson says: "Do children learn to read? If a child can learn to read, she can learn to live. They only go to school seven hours a day, but they have to live 24 hours a day, don't they?"

Johnson's platform is simple: bridging the gap between church and school. "The church needed what the school had, and the school needed what the church had, but everyone was too scared of offending or breaking the law. I want to be that bridge," she says. " Seems people are either educated, but their morality's down, or very religious, but their education's down."

Johnson grew up in a family of 10. Her father, a vegetable farmer, raised the food, while her mother raised the kids. But her father was also an educator, and all eight children followed in his footsteps. "It was all blacks could do," she says, bluntly. "At the time, we were allowed to be either teachers or nurses. A lot of us who experienced (the Jim Crow South) don't want to talk about it. It's my history, you know, I can't change it. It's my choice to let it be a burden or turn it into a workable tool for today."

Born on the land where her schoolhouse stands, Johnson attended Burgess High School in Flora before finishing at Piney Woods and going on to college in St. Louis. She and her husband of 45 years, Rev. Lem Johnson, have one son and four grandkids, and, at 67, Johnson is nowhere near slowing down. Beyond educating, she's a local columnist with The Clarion-Ledger and makes occasional TV and radio appearances. She does much of her writing from what she calls her "office", the southwest booth of the Madison Burger King. Today, she's brought along a cupful of fresh figs. "For the workers here," she says, removing placards from her bag. Spread on the table, they read "think", "truth" and the big one—"change."

Previous Comments

ID

82637

Comment

Ms. Johnson, an outstanding contribution to this community. I was fortunate enough to take a class under her stern, precise, leadership when I attended upward bound at Tougaloo College. She taught me "The Measure of a Man". Wow! Brings back memories. I remember thinking I got to learn this or she'll make me write it over and over. She wanted it recited word for word. Now, I truly understand the level of discipline she was trying to enforce. I will never forget it. Power and Peace Ms. Johnson.

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-07-20T16:10:22-06:00

ID

82638

Comment

I took a class under her at Upward Bound at Tougaloo also. I also used to be in the same religious denomination as her, the Church of Christ (Holiness), U.S.A.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-20T16:29:05-06:00

ID

82639

Comment

I have enjoyed her columns for years. Even clipped a few to keep. Good to see her featured and my heartfelt gratitude for all the common sense great sharing she has given us.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-07-20T18:30:25-06:00