Interview with Joan Galles, January 10, 2024

Interview Summary

Joan Galles served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1967-1969. She received her degree in History from the University of Portland and continued her studies at Portland State to complete work for an Oregon’s Teaching Certificate. Training occurred at California State University at Los Angeles, with an emphasis on language, teacher training, physical fitness and psychological readiness. Assigned to the town of Bayaguana, she worked with a teacher training program through the Plan de Capacitación de los Maestros; a two pronged approach, one a summer school was held for Dominican Teachers in that District; then during the school year, a master teacher approach was used, visiting the teacher’s and their schools on foot, horseback, Honda 50 and sugar cane trains. Her program was shut down in 1968 after the Cuban Revolutionary Offense took place. After returning to Oregon, she married and worked as a teacher and eventually a substitute teacher while volunteering for many programs with her Catholic Church.

Interview Keyword

Joan Galles 1967-1969 Dominican Republic Teach Training Assaination of President Kennedy Limited options for women Portland, OR, Vancouver, BC, Canada University of Portland, CSC Catholic BA History and Religion Columbia Repelling Community Service Teaching certificate Gymnastics California State Los Angeles Teacher training Spanish Psychological evaluations Ciboa, Coffee plantation San Pedro de Macoris Bayaguana Boca Chica Dominican Supervisor Manuel de los Santos Gripe Mosquito Net Schistosomiasis Indentured servant Dona Consuela Teacher’s school Summer school Horse Dirt bike Sugar cane train Screen door Port-o-Prince, Haiti Thanksgiving Bonao Shut down program in 1968 Revolutionary Offensive Cuba Fidel Castro Radio Guarachita Plan de Capacitación de los Maestros Kent State massacre Portland State Continuing education Slavery Martin Luther King Jr Bobby Kennedy.

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