University High School - Bisbila Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 9 text:

Dr. Emma Birkmaier. prolVswor of modern language education. Dr. Edith West, professor of social studies education. Senior Professors Take Active Role Some of the familiar faces around U High expanded their school-related activities to include membership on an executive committee working on matters involving curriculum research and the formulation of departmental policy. The committee, made up of Emma Birkmaier, professor of modern language education; Clarence Boeck, professor of science education; Donovan Johnson, professor of mathematics education; and Edith West, professor of social studies education, worked with Gerald Firth, director of University High and chairman of the group. Members of the senior professional staff along with Dr. Firth have found that the problems of secondary education have been easier to focus on now that a full department, including University professors outside of school, has been organized. The program has been in progress for two years and is concerned with a broad overall policy which considers such questions as what requirements or standards must a teacher meet to be certified and what constitutes a mtyor. To keep the executive committee more in touch with U High’s basic problems and needs, an advisory council composed of the heads of various subject areas assists the group. They are concerned mainly with instructional demonstration and school operation.” An example of this is a laboratory that was set up this year by Dr. Boeck and Dr. Eugene Gennaro, science area head, for the purpose of teaching instructors and pre-service teachers how to use lab equipment. Dr. Clarence Boeck. professor of science education. Dr. Donovan Johnson, professor of mathematics education. 5

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ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. Standing Mr. Dwight Lindbloom. oMistant principal; Mr. Wichit Srisa-an, curriculum intern. Seated:Dr. Richard Hill, principal; Dr. Gerald R. Firth, director. Administrative Duties Expand with School Dr. Gerald R. Firth, director of University high school, was concerned largely with the overall development of the institution and its program of curriculum research. In addition to formulating policy with the executive committee, he related the high school to the Department of Secondary Education of which he is chairman. Dr. Firth is a professor of secondary curriculum and supervision in the College of Education. Dr. Richard Hill, in his first year as principal of U High, was involved in many activities. Around school, he was generally responsible for instructional demonstration and concerned with student and teacher personnel procedures. He was also chairman of the advisory council of area heads which serves as a legislative branch of the school. Dr. Hill taught various courses in the College of Education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Mr. Dwight Lindbloom, assistant principal of U High since February 1966, again resumed the responsibilities of dealing directly with students and student affairs this year. Mr. Lindbloom, who has previously taught in France and Turkey, is an administrative intern having a broad range of responsibilities from tardiness to social events. Mr. Wichit Srisa-an, continued as curriculum intern under Dr. Firth. On leave from Thailand where he was an instructor and administrator at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Mr. Srisa-an's duties at U High were twofold. He assisted Dr. Firth in planning curriculum courses at the graduate level and also helped coordinate the research activities at U High.

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Counseling Staff Stresses Communication In attendance at one of the Counseling area’s weekly meetings were Mr Donald Houge. Mrs F.lnorn Huyck, Dr I-orraine Hansen, guidance director, and Mr. Otto Wirgau. Work with students and the inter-related concerns of their parents and teachers was again the primary objective of the Counseling area this year. This was done not only with conferences and consultations, but through new and varied programs which were planned during part of a weekly area meeting. One of the new programs, which was actually a renewal” of an old service to students, was the newsletter Personnel-ly Yours.” This publication was revived in hopes that it would strengthen communication between the counselors, students and their parents by making them aware of the activities going on in the Counseling area. An example of activities publicized by Personnel-ly Yours” was National Vocational Guidance Week which offered contests and events of interest to promote the importance of career opportunities. The counseling staff welcomed three new members: Mrs. Laurabeth Hicks, Mr. Donald Houge and Mr. Otto Wirgau. They worked primarily with the individual needs of students, which ranged from helping solve a personal problem to interpreting a test score. However, programs such as the senior women’s and grade level seminars were also established to help students as a group. Mr» l iurabeth Hicks, n returning U High counselor, was on leave of absence from Southern University 6