Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

Page 10 text:

DED1cAT1oN Man's judgment of man is often harsh, always partial and inevitably faulty, because men see each other only superiicially. Sometimes it is given to a few to see below the surface and to form a more correct judgment of a man because they have seen into his heart, and found the real man there. The Class of 1927 unanimously and proudly dedicates this volume of LaVie to such a man, in partial recognition of the worth of a faithful instructor whose life has for years been inconspicuously devoted to upholding the high ideals of true scholarship at The Pennsylvania State College. A notable scholar, our conscientious and inspirf ing teacher, a real mang OSWALD FREDERICK BOUCKE

Page 12 text:

CSWALD FREDERICK BCUCKE 'By ERWIN W. RUNKLE No one can write the life of a true teacher, for that is embodied in the lives of his students. One may place dates on paper, detail outward changes and circumstances-the spirit, the es- sence escapes. Particularly is this true of the character before us, with powers in their prime, with knowledge mellowed by wisdom, with years of service for the students of Penn State yet to bear abundant harvest. Doctor Bouckc was born in Bremen, Germany, on June 16, 1881. His forebears for five generations have been teachers and his early surroundings were those of rehnement, culture and scholarship. He attended a Gymnasium in his native city, where habits of industry, thorough- ness and Teutonic persistency were laid. The second phase of his youth was that of linding himself in new environments, in contacts with real life. He spent two years in Australia. Upon his return, he found, by a happy coinci- dence, that one of his brothers had just arrived at home from another empire of golden 'oppor- tunity, California. With his brother, he went to San Francisco, and in business, teaching music, in rural ranch life and constructional work, Doctor Boucke learned rich and varied lessons in the school of experience. But none of these things held him, nor stilled the longings for higher education. With thc ideal training of a German classical school as the foundation for a professional career, he en- rolled at the University of Michigan. He received thc degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1905, and the lVIaster's degree in 1906. Then followed additional graduate work at Michigan, High School teaching, and an appointment to a Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Development of eye trouble broke the continuity of his work, and finally compelled a complete rest, so that he spent a part of the year on a visit to his home land. ln October, 1908, he came to Penn State as Instructor in German, but was transferred to History in the second semester. He was absent on leave in 1911-12 under an appointment as teacher and student in Brazil. Here a Portuguese translation of a book on Economics by ,Ievons decided the direction and current of his life work. He returned to Penn State in 1912 as ln- structor in Economics and Economic History. Today as Professor and Head of the Department of Economics and Sociology, he is one of our most effective teachers and productive scholars. In 1916, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation was a study of Changing Costs of Living? Doctor Boucke is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and is in active relations with the various professional associa- t.ions of his chosen field. He has published the following books: The Limits of Socialism, A Critique of Economics, The Development of Economics, .Principles of Economics. Doctor Boucke has also contributed a number of articles to the magazines. Some are titles in his special line, others reveal phases of his life and interests of his mind not known to many of his own Colleagues. He is a devoted student of music and art, and as some of his friends are well aware has a wide acquaintance with literature and literary values. He sees, as certain types of scientific thinkers do not, that qualities endure even though stateable as quantities, and that values inhere not in theoretical, fixed measures, but in plastic, ethical living. Doctor Boucke's class room is a school of character as well as a school of truth, because his standards of life and work do not tolerate insincerity or sham and because he emphasizes thinking as the educational aim., process, goal, project or what you will. The best summary of Doctor Boucke as teacher and scholar at Penn State is in that most frequently heard comment of his students: Doctor Boucke's lectures provoke discussion, hc makes you thinkll' No teacher should covet any greater reward than that, and no pedagogy can better state the objectives of genuine college training. . 9