Teaching Family

“Teaching” in the title of this web site is both an adjective and a noun.

First, the Liberacki family is a family of teachers; we are a teaching family.¹

Second, using the letters, photographs, journals, and other documents published here as a starting point, I will teach history and research methodology by teaching family.

As one of their decedents, I care very much about Alex Liberacki, Rachel Wilcox Liberacki, and their relatives. However, my students will not be researching the Liberacki family per se. Instead, the family documents will serve as vehicles into twentieth century history and effective research techniques.

During the 2008 Winter semester, students will begin annotating the letters and using the materials on the web site as inspiration for their research papers. Some of the students will focus on the letters to Lillian. Others will focus on the letters from George.

As the semester progresses, their work will begin to appear on the web site and future classes will be able to build upon it.

If you would like to know more about this project or be informed as the student work becomes available, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Steven L. Berg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English and History
Schoolcraft College

¹Both Alex and Rachel Liberacki were teachers. Three of their four children—Julia A. Liberacki Berg, Rita Liberacki Luks, and Bruce Liberacki—taught in the public schools. Son Andy Liberacki taught electricity at General Motors.

Rachel’s mother, Oma Mudge Wilcox was a teacher as was her aunt Maude Glasner. Maude’s two daughters Lillian Glasner Spinning and Helen Glasner were teachers.

Judy’s husband, Lorain Berg, was a teacher and their son Steven L. Berg is currently on the faculty at Schoolcraft College. Son Mike Berg has worked for the schools and his wife, Janice Havens Berg, is currently working as an occupational therapist for the West Branch-Rose City School District. Son Christopher worked for the University of California. Mike also taught survival training and Christopher taught music lessons in his home.

Andy Liberacki’s daughter, Shelly Liberacki Scott, was an elementary teacher and counselor.

Lorain's brother, Calvin R. Berg, taught at West Point.

Rita has two daughters who are teachers: Susan Luks was on the faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy and Beth Luks Vonck is currently teaching in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her daughter Patty Luks Miles was an aide in a special education classroom.

Bruce’s widow, Sherry Nichols Liberacki, continues to work for the Unionville-Sebewing School District.

Other family members have also taught or worked for schools or colleges: Shirley Cederwall, Mark and Pam Liberacki, Mary Ann Uhlmann, Agie Uhlmann, Susan Haunes Morley.

Julia Liberacki Berg has designed a Schoolhouse Quilt to honor the teachers in the family. Photographs of the quilt and more information about the teachers in the family can be found in the quilt section of “Down by Berry Patch.”

Steven L. Berg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English and History
Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty
Livonia, MI 48152
734-462-4400
sberg@schoolcraft.edu

This page was last updated on 12 January 2007.