Large white letters painted on the front window of a fine brick residence in St. Louis’ historic Carondelet neighborhood read “G.E.D.” Below is a telephone number to call for information about the “G.E.D.,” the General Educational Development program offered inside this 1910 manse-turned-classroom. Soft-spoken Joan Filla, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 1958, who heads the program she began in the community ten years ago, says it isn’t unusual for people driving or walking by to notice the sign in the window and stop, especially if they have dropped out of high school and want to earn their “equivalency” diploma.

All the students this day seemed to be giving their full attention to the workbooks open on their desk. Tacked to a corkboard on the wall behind them, in large letters, are the words: “You can get your G.E.D.”

Another sign read, “Yes, You Can.” A radio playing quietly in the adjoining front room formerly a parlor, is tuned to a classical music station to provide a tranquil background.  “We have an open-door policy here,” says Sister Joan. “Other things going on in their lives dictate how much time our students can spend here – most stay two or three hours. Some come every day, others only occasionally. We’re here to help, whatever their time.” She adds that although the students’ hours may be limited their expectations are often high. In any given year about 100 adults take part in the program.

She recalls the man who prompted her to establish another G.E.D. program, a Mexican named Armando Salais, who had been in the country for 20 years but could barely speak English, couldn’t read, and was “very reclusive.” It was 1990, and as a volunteer with Carondelet Betterment, a neighborhood improvement program that promoted literacy, Sister Joan was assigned to Salais. “I worked with him at the convent (a few blocks east), and as he learned to speak English and read he became more and more outgoing,” she said. “I decided that if I could change a life like that, an adult literacy program was worthwhile.”

Several of the students on hand this recent morning readily agreed. Among t hem was Ray Anderson, 53, who had left high school a year short of graduating. He is currently working on a factory assembly line but hopes to soon “get into heating and air conditioning,” he said. Smiling, he added he is “good at math, but without the G.E.D. getting a good job is hard.” Naisha Tomas, 23, said she left school in the 10^th grade, now has six year old twins, and with another set of twin babies due to arrive later this year, has little free time. But she has been coming here whenever possible for the past three months, and says the flexible hours make working toward the G.E.D. do-able. Shirley Dunlap, 24, who dropped out of high school as a freshman, is also determined to finish the program and says shyly, “I like that I’m learning.”

Sister Joan says to those who express an interest in the program, “if you com I’ll help. I’ll test you to see what you remember (from school days), and when you’re ready I’ll help you fill out the application (for the G.E.D. exam) to send to Jefferson City (MO) for processing.” Students then go to one of several local universities for the exam, which tests their knowledge of social studies, science, language and writing, language and reading, math with a calculator and math without a calculator, she explained If a student can’t afford the $20 application fee or $20 exam fee, Sister Joan has been known to help out.

Originally from St. Louis, she has a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics from Fontbonne College (now University) here and a master’s of science degree in education from Indiana University. She taught high school math until the 1980’s, when she “started dong literacy work,” she says. “In 1982 there was an opening for two sisters at our order’s mission in Haynesville, Alabama,” she said. “Our work there for the next four years involved living among the local people and getting acquainted with their culture – which was like stepping into a time warp.”

Five families owned all the land in the rural county, she said, and the rest worked the land and lived poorly, knowing little about their “rich African-American heritage.” Their living conditions were primitive, with only tar paper siding on their houses, no glass in the windows, no running water and no central heat, only wood-burning fireplaces. In that setting, where education among the locals was low priority, Sister Joan started an after school program for the youngsters. Despite all, however, she was shocked to learn that none of her first six students, all fourth graders, could recite the alphabet. “We helped the kids with their homework, gave them an opportunity to read and do better at school.” She said. “And we also involved their mothers, requiring that they come at least twice a month, and t hat ay many of them also learned to read and write.”

Sister Joan’s next assignment (1986-1990) was to a women’s shelter in Atlanta, where she “could put to use” the literacy program she had developed in Alabama. The only available room was small, but she filled it with books for the children and tables she painted bright colors, and there “established a quiet atmosphere, as calm is important for healing and learning,” she said. From Atlanta she returned to St. Louis, where the province house for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet is located, to serve as director of Hosea House, an outreach center that provides food and clothing to the poor. During this time she also helped established a G.E.D. program, with Armando Salais her first student and success story. Six years later, in 1996, she left Hosea House “really wanting to work in Carondelet,” a working class neighborhood where dropping out of high school was not unusual, and many of the residents were immigrants who did not speak English. “I was educated to be an educator,” she said. “I prayed to be of assistance to people, because I believe that real freedom comes with education.” She adds that a literacy program in Carondelet had the potential to be “racially explosive,” but she “had years of experience in interracial work and workshops and was capable of establishing order, helping dismantle any racial problems.”

Locating an appropriate site for the program was not easy. But finally in 1997 she was allowed the use of a classroom at a local Catholic school (a generous donor provided the first twelve months’ rent that was required) and the following year began the program. She has since had to move it three times, and now rents the historic red-brick home which belongs to and is adjacent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Sister Marianne, Sister Joan’s assistant, says she “has been involved in adult literacy” for about 15 years, as a tutor with the St. Louis Literacy Council and Urban League, and as coordinator for adult education with the St. Louis school district. She joined Sister Joan in the G.E.D. program in Carondelet in 1999, bringing “what she know” about teaching adults. Previously, she had taught elementary school for six years, then high school English for 20 years in several states, she said. Sister Marianne adds that she, too, also has taught many “English as a Second Language” adults who have come to St. Louis form Romania, Mexico, Russia, Albania and elsewhere. The Sisters also help G.E.D. grads find jobs, and says, “We teach them the language and that takes them so much father in life.”

Sister Joyce, who has also done pastoral work with the elderly, says she began teaching E.S.L. students in her native Wisconsin, but “came here ten years ago when she heard Sister Joan needed help with the G.E.D. program.” She has taught adult students from Poland, Cambodia and Mexico, among other countries, and said she “loves this type of work, loves working with adults.” “When a person speaks no English, we begin working with them using pictures,” she said. “It’s a challenge, but I am amazed most are so eager to learn.” High school drop-outs typically earn their G.E.D. within a year she added. E.S.L. people take longer, usually there to five years. Learning to speak English is difficult, writing it even more so, especially when it isn’t used in the home she says.

Another problem, says Sister Joan, is that many of these adults, E.S.L.’s and high school drop-outs, are not familiar with success, and sometimes have trouble coping with it. “What’s most important is how they feel about themselves,” she said. “Many are nervous when they first come, but they son relax because here there is no failure.” She says with a smile, “I am a cheerleader, helping them believing in themselves.” She “loves the one-on-one work,” but says that “the best part is making a difference for good in people’s lives.”

“That, after all, is what the history of our order is about,” she adds. “Since its founding 350 years ago we have called to ‘serve the dear neighbor.’”

Sister Joan Filla’s G.E.D. program is located at 6522 Michigan in St. Louis. She can be reached at 314-481-6090 or 314-352-1510.

Vocations and Prayer

The Catholic Magazine on Vocation Ministry

July – September 2008, #73 Vol. XVII No. 3