University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook

“" Among the many obligations of a teacher is that of help ing his students achieve the academic, professional, and personal goals they seek " This excerpt from Emil T Hot- man ' s concluding letter to his freshman chemistry class seems to outline a complete and comprehensive education- al philosophy all his own. for Or Hofman is first a teacher, and secondly a chemist He is an expert in educational sci- ence and has brought about a number of revolutionary con- cepts in university education One of Dr Hofman s keys to success in teaching is his identification with the youth of today Like the average freshman, he was uncertain of the course of his career A number of chance happenings brought him to the position he now holds The influence and uncertainty of the depres sion dissuaded him from a promising acting career, and he decided instead to attend Seton Hall A system in the grad- uate school of Notre Dame, in which each graduate student must teach for one year, gave him an acute interest in the teaching profession in 1950. an interest he has never relinquished The most striking feature about this man, and his educa- tional philosophy in general, is his devotion to the student As he puts it. " I feel a very important part of my job with freshmen is to help them find themselves . " Faced with the problem of overpopulation in classrooms in the late 1950 s Or Hofman pioneered a system of large-class education which still retained a great deal of personal contact with the student Although his freshman course is very large. Dr Hofman proudly points out that there is more chance for personal help in his course than in almost any other course in the university While pioneering large-class education, he integrated the elements of personal contact in dormitory and class meetings to complement his academic lectures, workshops, and tapes He considers his Friday quizzes one of the most unifying factors on the campus, since they bring together almost half of the freshman class and develop almost an esprit de corps in the class This unification, he believes, is one of the most important factors in the educa- tional process and in the fulfillment of his ideal university In spite of their post-quiz attitudes, most freshmen will acknowledge one thing, that Emil T. Hofman is a specialist in education He is a proponent of an educational system that is fading away into automation, the personal contact with the student As one who has experienced the same doubts and frustrations as the present students. Dr Hofman is able to identify and understand his students very well Since the future of science will be a permeation of all levels of society, the opportunity that he presents each freshman helps round out his education and greatly aids in his person al development. KARL V. HEUER North Chili. New York B S Biology DAVID F HOESCHELE Nornstown. Pennsylvania B S Physics JOHN G HOFFMAN Erie. Pennsylvania B S Physics. WILLIAM HOLGERSON Taunton. Massachusetts B S Biology DAVID A HORVATH Warrendale. Pennsylvania B S Preprofessional JOSEPH D HUB A Peekskill. New York B S Physics MICHAEL J HOFT Beylah. Michigan B.S Physics JOHN P HUGHES Vestal. New York 8 S Preprofessional ”