Donated books teach Texas culture
MARBLE FALLS — Though it’s named the Lone Star State, Texas didn’t become what it is today by going it alone.
And a local insurance agency wants to help Marble Falls Middle School seventh-graders learn how several cultures helped make Texas a leader in the nation and the world.
Eddie Tisdale, vice president of Watkins Insurance Group in Marble Falls, presented Principal John Schumacher with 300 copies of the book “Texas Cultural Heritage” Aug. 20.
“One of the companies we represent, Hochheim Prairie Mutual, gives these books to us so we can distribute them to the school,” Tisdale said. “Hochheim is one of the oldest insurance companies in Texas and they want to help students learn about the state’s heritage and culture.”
Schumacher said the books will be given out to the school’s seventh-graders because they will be studying Texas history this year.
This is the fourth year Tisdale has presented the books to the middle school.
“We want to continue to be a part of the community and one of the things we find extremely important is education,” he said. “And (giving the books) is one way to help the students appreciate Texas and its culture.”
Though the middle school provides students with learning materials for Texas history class, Schumacher said any additional resource such as “Texas Cultural Heritage” adds to the learning experience.
“Our teachers do a great job,” he said. “This is just something else the students can take home with them and use to reinforce what they learn in class.”
The book uses words, timelines and pictures to tell the story of Texas and its people.
“The information is presented in a way that students can understand,” Schumacher said.
Tisdale said the donation was a good way for his company and Hochheim to help the students learn how many cultures helped form Texas.
“I think it’s really important for students to know how many cultures and people from other countries contribute to Texas,” he said. “It’s good to know about the people and how we came together to become Texas.”