September 22, 2004
Class studies go to the dogs
Ruthie Bailey speaks with WJH students about Iditarod dog race
By
Herald staff writer
For a group of eighth-grade language arts students at Traverse City West Junior High, their study of non-fiction came to life last week when Ruthie Bailey visited the classroom with "Trooper" - one of her 34 sled dogs.
The students, who recently read an excerpt from Gary Paulson's "Woodsong" about the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska, got a firsthand account of Bailey's visit to the Iditarod two years ago.
Bailey told the history of the 1,049 mile race, a recreation of an event in 1925 where sleds were used to bring medicine to a town in the midst of a diphtheria epidemic. With stories and photos, she also shared her impressions of the race and the Alaskan countryside.
"There are extreme conditions out in the wild, you have to be extremely careful," said Bailey as she tried on the raccoon skin coat, ear muffs and mittens she wears while out on the trail with her dogs.
"It is pretty simple, but it is always intense, deep, exciting. I got to know some of the mushers and they are just like we are, just people," said Bailey who was asked to speak by her daughter, eighth-grade teacher Brandy Gallagher.
"We have been studying non-fiction and read the work by Paulson that talks about the Iditarod. I thought, how cool it would be to have my mom come and talk because it is right up her alley," Gallagher said.
Bailey, whose goal is to eventually compete in the Iditarod herself, lives in Benzie county. She started raising sled dogs 16 years ago when she took in a husky mix from a dog rescue.
"This has opened up the opportunity for me to be able to live simply and connect with another breathing being that doesn't speak my language. The greatest lesson I would like to share is to never turn your head away from an animal in need."