Kutztown University - Keystonia Yearbook (Kutztown, PA)

Page 11 text:

Governor of Pennsylvania DAVID L. LAWRENCE Superintendent of Public Instruction CHARLES H. BOEHM BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE. KUTZTOWN From loft to right: Mr. Karl F. V obor, Dr. Alvin F. Komp. Mr. Charles V . Eisohhord, Dr. Milton F. Klingamon. Jamos W. Berfolot. Esquiro. Prosidont; Dr. Q. A. W. Rohrbach. Mrs. Honry R. Christman. Mr. Potor Mohologo, Vico-Prosidont; Mr. Williom A. Thomson. In tho background: Mrs. Sarah R. Koim, Stonographor. Absont whon tho picturo was mado woro Mr. EIRoy P, Mestor. Socrotary-Troasuror. and Mr. Earl K. Witwor. 5

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THE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT ROHRBACH EDUCATION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL Teachers and students here have a lingering reeling that human values, other than those that can be measured exactly, may be important. Re- cently. highly placed spokesmen in America have stressed the humanities and advocated the need for educational balance. The National Defense Educa- tion Act of the 85th Congress placed emphasis upon guidance, foreign languages, anad learning aids side by side with technology. It is hoped that emphasis in the language area may provide insight into other cultures and literatures which may not handicap military personnel to find their way around Karachi. Conceived in liberty. the nation's educational philosophy needs to emphasize individual freedom. Yet. how does one plan freedom, citizenship, and the teaching of values? Can these really be taught? Will teaching them enslave or liberate learners? Special guidance, if imaginative, may release the creative potentital of the individual. Help toward the solution of this problem may be found in the leading spirit of science. In this age of indetermination and probability when new doors are unlocked and new mysteries uncovered, there is small room for complacency or dogma. Before the awful expanse of the unknown, the scientist stands in dedicated excitement and humility. It is probably only the layman of limited vision who believes that human personality may be planned and programmed. Teachers, counselors, and educators will truly ed- ucate for the freedom of the individual if they can approach the unknown and the unique potentialities of each learner with the same humility and dedi- cation as the scientist who studies the mysteries of life, time and space. The trustees and the faculty rededicate them- selves to help the students of the'college to teach children as individuals. In doing this, human values are recognized and learners are not automatons but beings who have personalities. Quincy A.'W. Rohrbach '12 President May I. 1959 4

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GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWTON W. GEISS Our General Alumni Association congratulates each member of the 1959 class upon graduation from this college. Teaching, with its high ideals and purposes, offers opportunities to mould the thinking of a community and to direct the destiny of man. Our schools need your help in training children to think, to act, and to live significantly in our American democracy. You can do much to vitalize our schools by instilling in the communities where you teach a strong desire for more and better education. You can, in turn, accomplish this most successfully by vitalizing yourselves and by working together. Your community school has the duty of working to improve community living, a big task which calls for your enthusiastic sharing of responsibilities. Your community itself becomes a better place to live in as you bear at least your share of the load in helping to formulate well defined goals which have the backing of those individuals and groups who ardently strive for a better place in their town. Your school can not alone produce the town and country that you want. A largo part of your job, both directly and indirectly, is to help make a community in which children can grow up to be demo- cratic. intelligent, disciplined, reverent, and altruistic. Although it is true that the public schools have now become everybody's business, you will become more than ever a key figure—educator, part of the guidance program for every one of your students, and a daily ambassador from the gown to the town. In addition to supporting all of these functions, you must learn to become an integral part of your community, taking part in its activities and supporting its welfare. As teacher of whatever subject or level, you will have, among others, the difficult task of encour- aging critical thinking. You should become a convinced and convincing teacher, not only of the how’s but, even more important, of the why's. Facts you will recognize as significant chiefly in the building of all-important relationships, attitudes, and understandings. As you go on in teaching your increased personal experience and your broadened critical readings will add to your value and self-confidence as teacher-critic-citizen. Teaching, you will have the greatest of opportunities and responsibilities. You can do more than statesmen or conquerors. You can create new visions and liberate new powers. Such are your chances and such our challenge to you. Sincerely yours, Newton W. Geiss, President General Alumni Association.