[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 35 (Sunday, March 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING DELTA M. JACKSON DORSCH EDUCATOR, VIRGIN ISLANDS TRADITION 
                 BEARER ON ATTAINING HER 90TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 20, 2005

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Delta M. 
Dorsch on attaining her ninetieth birthday. Ms. Dorsch is one of the 
outstanding educators of the Virgin Islands educational system, and a 
``Tradition Bearer'' of our oral cultural ``Anansi'' stories, which is 
a continuation of the African oral tradition.
  Ms. Dorsch was born and raised on the island of St. Croix, where she 
received her elementary and secondary education in the local public 
school system. Ms. Dorsch traveled to the U.S. mainland to further her 
education and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and 
Education at Central Michigan University. Before returning home she 
received her graduate and post graduate degrees at New York University 
and Columbia Universities respectively, with an emphasis in Supervision 
and Administration of Schools, and also studied International Education 
at the University of London in England and at the University of 
Heidelberg in Germany.
  Delta Dorsch served for more than thirty-eight (38) years as a 
teacher in the Virgin Islands school system and in a supervisory 
capacity as Deputy Commissioner for Curriculum and Instruction. She was 
also an Instructor of Elementary Education in both undergraduate and 
graduate programs at the University of the Virgin Islands; and was 
Chairman of the Board of Directors for the St. Dunstan's Episcopal 
School. In addition to addressing educational components in her various 
positions, she also used them to stress the importance of preserving 
our traditional values and cultural heritage to parents, teachers and 
students.
  This dedication to duty and approach to life combined in having Ms. 
Dorsch as the recipient of numerous service awards from civic and 
community organizations. The most noteworthy to her was having the 
Elena Christian Junior High School's Honor Society named in her honor.
  The Anansi stories, part of the African oral tradition, have been an 
integral part of Virgin Islands culture and tradition for centuries. 
These stories were told around campfires in slave quarters and later 
on, in yards and villages, by giving insects and animals human 
qualities to weave an interesting story that always had a moral ending. 
The stories have always been enjoyed by our youngsters, the moral 
lessons staying with them throughout their lives, and unfolding as 
morals tend to do, when we experience the lessons of life. This was an 
aspect of our folktale culture and tradition that was on the verge of 
extinction. The fact that they are still a vibrant part of our culture 
today is due to the efforts of Delta Dorsch in keeping them alive.
  In recognition for preserving this part of our culture and tradition, 
Delta Dorsch was among the Tradition Bearers from the Virgin Islands 
that participated in the Smithsonian Institution's Senegal Folk Life 
Festival that was held here on the Mall in Washington, D.C. in 1990. 
This event enabled her to proudly communicate our tradition and culture 
to many visitors from around the world that attended the Festival. Ms. 
Dorsch's recent contribution to Virgin Islands History was authoring 
the book ``The Role of the Storyteller in the Preservation of Virgin 
Islands Culture'' and its accompanying video.
  There is an old adage that behind every great man there stands a 
woman. This was proven true in the marriage between Delta and Frederick 
D. Dorsch. Mr. Dorsch served and enriched our Virgin Islands community 
in many capacities: Humanist, Educator, Dramatist, Civic Enthusiast, 
School Superintendent of the Virgin Islands, and as Chairman and Member 
of the Virgin Islands Municipal Council.
  On behalf of the Congress of the United States of America, I salute 
Delta M. Jackson Dorsch on attaining her ninetieth birthday, for her 
dedicated service to the United States Virgin Islands as an Educator 
and Preservationist of our Tradition and Culture.

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