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Monday. Julv 9.1973
University Daily Kansan
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KU Pearson Program Intimidates 'Pseudoprofessors'
The Pearson Integrated Humanities Program, which aroused controversy at KU last semester, is receiving national attention. Russell Kirk, a columnist, applauded the program in the following essay, which appeared in the July 9 National Review.
By BUSSELL KIRK
Suppose that Mr. Gallup or Mr. Harris were to put this question to a random sample of the literate American public; "Where, in your opinion, is the most lively innovation in college programs of study to be found?" I suspect that few in the sample would respond promptly, "The University of Kansas." And vet I might so respond.
It's not that most undergradates at Lawrence, Kansas are roused in mind and conscience by their curriculum: far from it. But some three hundred of them are. They are the students of Pearson College, which has existed within the University of Kansas since 1948. The university particularly to a modest grant from the Natural Endowment for the Humanities.
The three (yes, 3) professors who took Pearson's faculty call their program for
freshmen and sophomores "an experiment in tradition." They remark that their educational convictions were well expressed by the last Mark Van Doren in his book "Liberal Education." They are imprecise, but the matter roughly, what Adux Hulkus taught the perennial philosophy" or what Leo Strauss calls "the great tradition."
THE STUDENTS read certain great books, and discuss them. During the first semester, they take up Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, Aesop, and Aeschylus. In the second semester, the authors studied Homer, Aristophanes, Lucretius, and the prophets of the Old Testament. In the third semester, the months are spent on the New Testament, St. Augustine, "The Song of Roland," St. Francis of Assisi, Chaucer, and various historical works. The fourth semester, devoted to the moderns, finds time for works by John Burroughs, Voltaire, Bunyan, Hume, Rousseau, Goethe, Goethe, Frax. Marx, and others.
Pearson's professors confess to
professing a common view of life and
education, which "may be called 'traditional' or 'perennial' in so far as it follows the common understanding of the Christian Middle Ages and the Old Testament, through Virgil and the New Testament, through the Christian Middle Ages and the Renaissance into our own times." Also they take up the inference that challenges to this perennial philosophy.
This program has caught on, and it is acknowledged even by opponents that the teaching at Pearson is excellent. Opponents? Who wouldn't be delighted by such program of education? I am a graduate of University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences isn't delighted. After a series of "investigations" of Pearson, the assembly of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences voted at the end of March, by a 3 to 2 ratio, that no part of the course of study at Pearson may be accepted as fulfilling requirements for credit in the humanities.
THIS DECISION means that Pearson college students will have to take the whole course.
program, in order to graduate—thus doubling their number of class hours in humanities during freshman and sophomore years. Well, what would they have lost if they hadn't been compulsorily enrolled in the university's standard program? The answer is there in the College of A&S regimen, as reported to me by a friend of Pearson:
"Three English composition and literature courses, where one gets a watery diet of graduate-student instructors and the usual miscellany of books; an elementary speech course, also taught by the graduate students and with much 'interpersonal' communication. In the Program, this taught almost exclusively by graduate students. For years this program has been held in contempt by nearly all students. The readings are mostly bits and pieces, 90 per cent drawn from post-seventeenth-century authors, with heavy emphasis on political theory, which have perhaps made it difficult to give an examination can be passed without reading the texts, by studying a set of notes which has all but official endorsement."
What charges do the adversaries of Pearson bring against its championship of tradition? Many; but chiefly, it appears, that "only one point of view is represented." Indeed? Do they really believe that the views of Plato, Aeschylus, Virgil, St. Paul, and Homer, of Assia, say, were endorsed by Lcurdien or Derreries, Hervé Voltaire, and Marx? If so, these gentlemen and scholars who make up the majority at Kansas' College of A&S ought to be deprived of their posts at the ground of invinible ignorance.
THE UNSTATED charge against Pearson is that it is subversive. True, Pearson's three professors are men of conservative mind; but they're subversive they are undermining the established duality and mediocrity of Behemoth U.
If Pearson College should make headway, the moral imagination of some students might be waked; and then there'd be heaven to pay. What would happen to all the tenured mediocrity of institutions like the College of A&S, if Pearson should survive?
in such entrenched "humanities" curricular,
the pseudoprofessor professes nothing
except a dim ideology of liberal
secularism—which saves him the pain of
thinking. If Pearson should triumph, the
pseudoprofessor might actually find
it necessary to read some of the great books at
which he now smeets.
Pearson College, I confess, is my newfound Utopia. I had written two essays along such lines, recently, without knowing the circumstances of "Decadence and Recovery in American Education," published in *Imprimis*, a bulletin of Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. The other is called "Reforming Human Condition." In "Human Condition," published by the Movement for Quality Education, 1221 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. You can get free copies of either or both addresses above, or to me care of NR.
Pearson hasn't folded its tents yet, I trust the regents of the University of Kansas will make sure that Pearson doesn't fold. How bigoted can tenured mediciity get?
Speed Is Simplest Reading Skill
McCoy Gets Grant To Study Archives
By ANA GABRIEL
Donald McCoy, professor of history, has been awarded a research grant for the 1973-74 academic year by the National Endowment for the Humanities. McCoy will investigate the history of the National Archives and Records Service.
The average reader is capable of reading at least two to three times faster than he does, and one University of Kansas professor said that the most average students to learn to do so.
Oscar M. Haugh, professor of education, said that speed was the easiest of all skills to teach. He teaches Ed. 228, Teaching Drama in the Schools in the Junior and Senior High School.
IT IS NOT unusual for students to double
their reading speed if they are in reasonably good command of the basic reading skills.”
Haugh said that basic reading skills included the mastery of vocabulary and the ability to comprehend. He said that speed without comprehension was futile.
"ON THE ONE extreme, a person can read difficult material slowly but sure," Haugh said. "He can then adjust himself to read at least twice as fast if the reading
"A good reader is a versatile reader in that he has many reading speeds" he said
The first annual George L. Anderson Award for Excellence in History has been awarded to Surendra Bhana, former KU graduate student from West Africa. The award was presented by the award in cooperation with the Endowment Association and with Anderson's family.
W. African Wins Award
Bhana, who will receive a check for $100 and will have his named inscribed on a plaque, won the award for his Ph. D. dissertation, "The United States and the Development of Puerto Rican Autonomy, 1936-1968."
Anderson was a member of the history department from 1945 to 1968 and was chairman of the department for 20 years. He taught until his death in 1971.
Spanish U. Honors Prof
KU Organist Syndicated
Moeser's broadcast combines organ music with informal and informative discussions. Listeners may even call with questions.
Moeser's organ music will be performed on the KU organ or will be taped from other organs throughout the country. The music of other artists will also be featured.
James Moeser, associate professor or organ, will have his weekly KANU program, the Art of the Organ," broadened in the art class in 42 states starting in September.
Dr. Santiago Grisolia, chairman of the biochemistry department at the University of Kansas Medical Center, has been given a prize in the Graduate Program of University of Madrid, Grisolia was one of four to receive the first honory degrees ever given by the university. Others who received the honorary degree last week were Linus Pauling, the Nobel prize winner; Rachel Baldwin, professor at Brooklyn Polytechnic, and G. C. Amstutz of Heidelberg, Germany.
Law Resources Increase
The Lawrence National Organization for Women will hold a pot-luck dinner at 7:30 tonight at the United Ministries of Higher Education Building, 1204 Eurea, honoring everyone attending should bring his own plate, utensils, drink and one dish to share.
A weight lifting program for men and boys has begun at Lawrence High School. The high school's weight room is open weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 on Saturday and July 27. The area will be staffed by counselors. The program is sponsored by the parks and recreation department in cooperation with school district 497.
Official to Be Honored
The KU Law Library has been designated an official depository library of the Commission of the European Communities, which has headquarters in Brussels.
Barbell Program Begins
The depository greatly increases the University's ability to support effective primary research in the area of European studies, according to Bernard Reams Jr., assistant professor of law and law librarian. Depository libraries receive one copy of all periodical and monographic publications of each institution of the commission.
KU will be the only depository of the commission between St. Louis and Denver.
Haugh said that skimming was a reading skill and its effective use depended upon what the reader was looking for and upon the difficulty of the reading material.
Haugh said that rapid reading was essential in our society.
material is of average difficulty. He can read relatively easy material three to four
Haskell May Consider Own 4-Year Program
By CHRISTI ALLEN
And DEAN FORD
Students at Haskell Indian Junior College have begun to express interest in a four year study program, according to Jerry Hutchinson, assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Kansas.
In the last few years, the emphasis of Haskell has changed from one of vocational-technical to one of both vocational-technical and also liberal arts." Hutchinson said.
The transition to liberal arts options has been slow at Haskell, but the junior college now has a full-fledged academic program ending in an associate arts degree.
Hutchinson said there were from two to twelve people in an exchange of faculty program with Haskell, but that the student exchange with the junior college,
Phil Humphrey, director of KU's Museum of Natural History, said there were no Indian programs being developed by the museum right now.
"We have hoped and are still hoping for a cross-mixture of studies to be developed into a full-fledged program," Humphrey said.
According to Tom Beaver, Lawrence graduate student in radio-TV film, there are not any American Indians in staff positions at KU.
Beaver said that somewhere there was a breakdown between Haskell and KU.
"It is not important exactly who is at fault, but we must realize that sufficient communication channels must be set up anytime anything can be done." Beaver said.
"In the old days, kids were taught to read slowly but surely," he said. "But with our modern society, we have to learn to read many things rapidly."
The Committee on Indian Affairs (CIA)
is responsible for five American
individuals at KU.
Beaver said that he would be surprised if he heard anything about an Indian studies program.
"There is nothing offered here for Indu-
ce," he said. "No faculty, no program,
no accreditation."
Beaver also said that he didn't know what would happen when Indians did begin enrolling at KU in greater numbers, particularly if they perceive needs that are left unfulfilled by a lack of an Indian studies program.
Beaver is an assistant to William Bafour, vice chancellor of student affairs, and also aids Indians when they enroll with the university.
Seth Irving, Haskell administration officer, said that Haskell used to be involved with KU but that the government thought it was time for Haskell to own its own staff without using KU instructors.
"As far as the Indians are concerned, the administration sees only one minority."
"the reason we used KU instructors was that school was starting and we needed people to work for us right away, living on the street or hire, so we leaned toward KU for help."
HAUGH SAID studies have shown that the student who could read rapidly usually made better grades in college than the student who was an average reader.
Mary Michener, director of the Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics Institute, 95a Iowa St., said that she offered a money-back guarantee if a student failed to increase his speed by three times after completing the course.
MICHEREN SAID that the Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics Course taught the individual to read with purpose; to read without hearing or saying every word mentally; to read smoothly down the page, as well as from left to right; to adjust the speed to different kinds of material; and to make permanent recall records.
She said she became interested in the course after reading a newspaper ad. She took the course and improved her reading speed from 400 words per minute to 2000 words per minute with 80 per cent comprehension.
Haugh said the Reading Dynamics course was filling a need that classes at the University did not. There was a reading and study skills clinic at KU until several years ago, when funding was cut. Haugh said he hoped the Regents wouldn't cut former Chancellor Raymond Nichols' request for funds to reopen the clinic.
Nita Sundbye, professor of education,
said that it was possible for people to read
twice as fast if they were already good
teachers. She teaches courses in remedial reading.
"Good reading skills are the basis for rapid阅读," Sundaye said.
SUNBYE SAID that she worked with children who had basic reading skill deficiencies and that she was not interested in teaching their speed.
"The last thing I need to teach them is
Award to Honor KU Law Grad
The Endowment Association has established an award fund in honor of Russel "Rusty" Leffel, a 1973 graduate of the School of Law.
One of Leffel's achievements while a KU student was to create students Concerned for Higher Education. The award fund will honor such concerned students.
"There are many people concerned about higher education, but they need a push to keep them going." Leffel said. "Hopefully the award will help to promote that."
Irvin Youngberg, executive secretary of the Endowment Association, called Leffel "an outstanding young man who was much respected by students in Kansas and the University of Kansas."
Leffel was active in all aspects of student government and University relations and was a graduate teaching assistant for the Western Civilization program.
"That's the most exciting part about it—responsible students involved in University programs. People who are concerned about education—what it's all about, where it's situated," said Mrs. O'Connor, a doctor. "It's a matter of actually doing things, not just sitting passively by." he said.
president of the Student Senate, said, "I thought it was one of the nicest things they could have done for Rusty. I think it really touched him.
They collected $400 in two days to establish the award fund, after getting the go-ahead from the Endowment Association. Donations were from Leefel's friends. Elsei said.
Nancy Archer, Anamosa senior and vice-
Caseye Like, Kansas City, Mo., graduate student, and Jeanne Gorman, Kansas City, Kan., graduate, devised the award just two days before graduation. They decided that an award fund in Leffel's honor would make a perfect graduation present.
"His philosophies and ideas for concerned students will be promoted through this
award because whoever receives the award will be contributing to it to this university.
About the award, Leffel said, "This award belongs to all of the concerned students. We're all in this together, and the sharing comes together also."
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speed," Sundyble said. "Speed is the last part of the reading skills. It can't be the first."
Alice Owens, speed reading teacher at Lawrence High School, said that she made
no promises to her students about what speed level they could attain.
Campus West Grows Up
" BUT I HAVE found that if a student works, he can double his reading speed," O'Connor said.
KU Research Expansion Prompted NASA Grants
By DARRYL SERPAN Kansan Staff Writer
The University's involvement in research has expanded in the last decade, prompting an expansion of campus research facilities. The research site, located west of wiowa The university has a facility under two names and Nichol Hall, where the Space Technology Center is located.
The research site started in the early 1960's with one building, the Center for Research Engineering Services (CRES). At this time, it was used as an area for scientific research.
As new complex fields began to generate demands for more scientific research, the University decided more and better facilities were required.
In 1966 a proposal was submitted to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials for a grant to construct, in cooperation with the state of Kansas, a new space research center at KU. In April 1967, KU received the grant from NASA in 1967, the dedication of the Space Technology Center in Nichols Hall took place.
Greater demands upon CRES to handle the necessary paperwork that goes along with a research project came when the space center opened. In order to meet these demands, a new and larger legal body needed to be developed.
The new body produced was the Center
for Research, Inc. (CRINC). CRINC is actually the old CRES, in the same building and with the same function, only on a much larger scale.
CRINC's main job today is paperwork, both in legal aspects and concerning other important data pertaining to the research projects carried on in Nichols Hall.
Participants Lacking In Library Tours
Fewer than a dozen persons have participated in the tour this summer, Jones said. The highest attendance is at the beginning of each regular semester.
The tours last 50 minutes and are held regardless of the number attending. There are no restrictions.
Watson Library tours are given each
thursday at 3:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
courtesy of the Library.
Ten years ago tours were included in orientation but because of the increase in students this is now impossible. The guided tours were begun several years ago.
Recently, new students have been issued a printed walking tour. Instructions for the 15-minute self-guided tour are available at the reference desk in Watson.
An outline of the library's facilities is provided in a directory inside the front door.
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