Teacher turns her passion for penguins into a day of learning

Sharon Bailey loves — really loves — penguins. Since 2002, Bailey has brought that interest and a personal collection of just fewer than 400 penguin collectible items into her kindergarten classroom at Columbia Independent School; she sees the black-and-white birds as an opportunity to teach about nature and geography.

On Friday, the entire school joined Bailey and her students in “Penguin Awareness Day.”

“Learning should be fun, and penguins are fun,” said Bailey, suited in a tuxedo and black ski mask with an orange felt beak sewn on. Others, including many of the children, were dressed in black and white, and the head of the school Trent Amond donned a snappy tuxedo with a bow tie for the day’s events. The students in Columbia Independent School’s lower school made origami penguins and construction paper penguins; they did penguin line dancing; and they listened to the adventures of “Tacky the Penguin.”

The day was a culmination of a two-week study of penguins. “They are good swimmers and they have barbs on their tongues to eat fish easier,” said 6-year-old Tyler Wilson, now knowledgeable on such things.

Bailey shares her passion for penguins with former University of Missouri System President Mel George, who dropped by to show the children photos and video clips of his worldwide travels, including to Antarctica, to see the birds. As he spoke, he was assisted by his wife, who he called “Mrs. Penguin.”

“Before I die, I want to see every species of penguin in the water,” said George, who so far has seen 12 of the 17 species of penguins. “They are beautiful and unusual creatures.”

With movies such as “Happy Feet” and “March of the Penguins” in the public consciousness, penguins are getting a fair amount of press. The students seemed happy to celebrate the penguin, which has an official awareness day sometime in January, depending on which group is promoting it. Bailey prefers Jan. 20.

One of her students, 5-year-old Jane Fan, was quick to say she likes penguins.

“But,” she said. “I like Barbie best.”