Interview with John Croes, May 17, 2021

Interview Summary

Even before attending college, Croes knew that he intended to join the Peace Corps, having heard the call from John F. Kennedy. Croes was also influenced by the images that he saw in National Geographic Magazine. In a remote northern village of Fiji, comprised primarily of Indian farm families, he taught all primary school subjects in English to mostly Hindi-speaking children. Initially conflicted over whether to teach traditional rote memorization information or critical thinking for the modern world, he gradually settled on a combination to broaden the students’ world yet prepare them for secondary school entrance. During his three-plus years there, he initiated the reconstruction of a district-supplied building for a community library filled with 3,000 books provided by the Darien Book Aid and the Kiwanis Club. Croes’ experiences in Fiji set him on his career path as an ESL educator and consultant with refugee and second language immigrant programs in Thailand, the Philippines, and Massachusetts.

Interview Keyword

John F. Kennedy Rote memorization Critical thinking Kiwanis Club Career path ESL educator (English as a Second Language) School Library British colony Colonialism Pre-service training Primary school Secondary school Darien Book Aid

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji Critical thinking Fiji Massachusetts Philippines Thailand Refugees Teaching Education Language and languages Farmers Darien (Conn.) Immigrants Children Students

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Interview Usage

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