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Emily Griffith
Emily Griffith is the founder of the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver, CO. She was born on 6-15-1847. She started her teaching career in Broken Bow, NE in a sod schoolhouse. In this teaching job she also taught parents of her students to read and do simple math. Many of them could not read their bibles or tally their mercantile bill.
She moved to Denver in 1895 and started teaching at the Central School in the Auraria area. She also envisioned founding a school where immigrants could learn English and basic voacational skills. In 1915 at a Denver Post clothing charity drive she mentioned her dream to the feature writer, 'Pinky Wayne.' Soon word of an opportunity school began its rounds in Denver.
The Denver Board of Education gave her the condemned Longfellow School at 13th and Welton. A year later her dream became a realization when the school opened. There were no admission or age requirements and no grades were assessed to the students. She hoped for a few students but 1400 signed up the first week!
Vocational skills, English as a second language, telegraphy, typing and many other skills were taught. The school adopted its motto 'for all who wish to learn' and is a Denver tradition even today.
In 1933 Emily Griffith retired and moved to Pinecliff with her sister, Florence. In 1947 Emily and Florence were found dead in their home by their sister, Ethel. It is still a mystery as to who killed them.
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