Northwest Offers Willie Morris Study, Tour Class for Educators

Teachers who are looking for ways to enhance their Mississippi Studies or English classes can get a firsthand look into the life and works of Mississippi author Willie Morris this semester. The Northwest Mississippi Community College Division of Continuing Education is offering an Author Study and Tour, featuring the works of Morris on three Saturdays this spring.                    

The classes will provide inside knowledge of Morris gathered from stories he wrote or told by scholars and people who knew him. The class will meet once a month during February, March, and April. The first two classes will meet from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the R.C. Pugh Library on the Senatobia campus. The April class will consist of a day tour to Yazoo City.

On Feb. 21, participants will discuss “My Dog Skip,” “Good Old Boy” and “Good Old Boy and The Witch of Yazoo.” The class will be led by Maggie Moran, director of Learning Resources at Northwest, and Jesse Kelley, the Instructional Resource Center librarian at Delta State University, who will provide ideas for teachers to use these books in classroom settings.

Dr. Kate Cochran, who has published articles in several Southern literary journals, and who knew Morris personally, will lead the March 21 class. Participants will discuss “North Toward Home,” and “Conversations with Willie Morris.”

On Apr. 11, participants will leave campus at 7 a.m. to embark on a tour of Morris’ hometown, Yazoo City. While there, participants will tour the museum, walk the cemetery grounds, eat at the famous Ubon’s Barbecue and watch “My Dog Skip.”

Students will be expected to read four short books and handouts prior to meeting dates and then be prepared to discuss readings as a group with an emphasis on incorporating information into future classrooms. The fee for the class is $75, and covers all books and materials. The deadline to register is Jan. 25. The class is worth 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

For more information, call Pam Wooten, coordinator of Continuing Education at (662) 562-3349 or email pwooten@northwestms.edu.