Although tradition has it that Friday the l3this unlucky, last December 13, 1991, I was fortunate in being able to present an overview on collecting glass insulators to 30 fifth grade students at Brewster School. 

Brewster School is located in the South Texas rural community of Linn-San Manuel, about 20 miles north of the city of Edinburg. Brewster School provides public education to approximately 253 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students. The population is predominately Hispanic. The principal is Mr. Cipriano Pena. The fifth grade teachers are Mrs. Beatriz Garza and Miss Norma Escobar. I am the school counselor.

A display area was set up in the school library. The display was made of approximately two dozen insulators of various consolidated designs. Included in the display were samples of wood, rubber, formica, plastic and porcelain insulators to compliment the variety of glass insulators.

The display also included some sample copies of Crown Jewels, photos of my collection. colored inserts from Crown Jewels, and the two volume resource books by John and Carol McDougald. 

The impromptu presentation was started by holding up a CD 257 and asking "What do you think this insulator is called. What does it's shape remind you of?" Someone answered, "Mickey Mouse!" This correct response was followed by a resounding chorus of the Mickey Mouse theme song. The children sang well. I sang loud! 

It was mentioned that there is a "Pluto" insulator that would make a great stocking stuffer for the school counselor! The students were excited until the price of the "Pluto" was disclosed. Then dead silence. Undaunted, I suggested "If you were to start saving your money now...." Oh, well, I tried.

A photograph of a close-up view of a telephone pole with its crossbeams and insulators was used as a backdrop in explaining what insulators are, why they are made, and how they are used. This enlarged photograph was taken near Sinton, Texas, by my friend, Balde Ibanez.

A "sombrero" was used to share a little about suspension insulators. It was demonstrated that a "sombrero" insulator would not fit properly on one's head as "un sombrero" (a hat!). 

Since many of our students travel back and forth between Texas and Mexico, a sampling of foreign insulators was introduced. The foreign insulators included samples from Australia, Canada, France and, of course, Mexico. Information was presented about the different materials from which insulators are made.

A few moments were taken to discuss my specialty -- California made insulators. Snuggled next to a miniature band member of the California Raisins were a CAL egg and a Castle (or pineapple) insulator.

Lots of lively questions and discussion followed, and personal experiences were shared by the students. Most of the children and their families live on ranches. Some ranches still have old telephone and electrical lines with a variety of common pony and beehive insulators, as well as, common Armstrong, Brookfield and Hemingray insulators.

A cadre of students who collect cards (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, Marvel Magazine, Looney Tunes, Card Ball, Star Trek....will it ever end?) were keenly interested in the monetary value of the more "prized" insulators. The insulators may look nice, but what are they worth?!? 

The presentation on insulators lasted about one hour. Then the students came up to the display tables to get a closer look at the insulators and resource materials. More specific questions were asked and additional experiences were shared. The presentation provided an informative awareness experience for the fifth grade students.