Ethel Ross taught sixth graders at Shelby Elementary School in Shelby. In an effort to meet the need for community services in the impoverished area where she lived in, Mrs. Ross developed the Little Lamplighters program. Sixth graders in this program paid regular visits to a local nursing home and establish meaningful ties to the elderly residents through cultural activities. Working with their own grandparents and with nursing home residents adopted as "honorary" grandparents, the children collaborated on a quilt project which is on display at the nursing home. "The program," explained Mrs. Ross, "has a twofold aim: it gives the students a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and it enriches the lives of the nursing home residents." In her classroom, Mrs. Ross promoted cooperative learning as a means to productive citizenship. She also served as facilitator for Practical Parents Partnerships, a preventive program "designed to support adults in their roles as educators and nurturers of school-age children."
