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Summer Session Kansan Friday, July 1, 1966
Teachers as dropouts
(Editor's Note: This is an editorial written by a high school teacher enrolled at KU recently in the Publication Advisers Institute sponsored by the Wall Street Journal's Newspaper Fund and the School of Journalism.)
Much publicity is being given today to the problem of the student dropout, particularly the high school dropout. There is grave concern about the student dropout generally; everyone knows and talks about him. But relatively few people seem to be aware of what eventually may become an even greater threat to the nation's welfare. There is also an alarming teacher dropout, especially among beginning teachers.
Between 1955 and 1965, the number of students in the United States from kindergarten through the 12th grade rose 57 per cent. According to a statement issued by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in April, 1966, the number of students in this age group is expected to increase 13 per cent to a total of 55 million by 1975.
WITH INCREASED numbers of students, one can reasonably expect more and more dropouts. More and better teachers, rather than fewer and poorer teachers, are going to be needed.
Today more than half of the beginning teachers drop out of the profession. This waste of trained talent and what lies behind it is explored in a publication on TEPS, "The Real World of the Beginning Teacher." This includes nine papers by professors of education, psychologists, a Peace Corps teacher, new teachers, veteran teachers, and the author of a best seller.
The high school dropout himself usually does not fully comprehend what has happened to him, but he has a vague idea that somehow it is all the fault of the teachers or of some particular teacher.
HOW CAN A TEACHER who is about to become a dropout himself cope with the task of identifying with and coming to the aid of a student in the same predicament? The situation calls for empathy that just is not there, since the teacher sees the student as at least a part of his own difficulties. The student leaves school completely frustrated, followed shortly by a disillusioned teacher.
The student has a bleak prospect ahead, the teacher a devastating backward view of mis-
spent effort and the necessity of making a fresh start. In both cases, society loses.
Why are beginning teachers leaving the profession in such numbers? Inadequate salary is the most commonly mentioned cause, but this is doubtful, since teachers know what to expect and would not invest money and spend years preparing to teach unless they expected to work for the going wages.
LACK OF HELP from supervisors and administrators, and sometimes from their colleagues, is a common cause of discouragement and eventual failure of many young teachers.
Overcrowded classrooms and insufficient teaching materials make for a disappointing teaching experience. The storm of paper work is more irksome than many anticipated.
Heavy extra-class activities come as a surprise to many teachers who had not known they would be selling tickets at athletic events; sponsoring clubs, yearbooks, and newspapers; directing plays; managing myriads of money-making schemes; supervising lunchrooms and policing halls. And someone has to ride the school bus with the football heroes and their wildly vocal supporting cheering section of pep club girls.
TEACHER-TRAINING institutions could acquaint themselves more thoroughly with what actually goes on in primary and secondary schools and then give aspiring teachers a more realistic view of what confronts them. Theory is all right in its place, but actual knowledge of the realities is better.
Everyone in a school system should recognize the fact that a beginning teacher is just that—a beginner who needs personal assistance with many problems that the experienced teacher already has encountered and learned to handle.
Until teachers themselves are enabled to live reasonably happy lives and enjoy a sense of success in their work, they are hardly likely to be able to erase the dropout's conviction that he is a failure and that so is everyone else in the school. And in 55 per cent of the beginning teachers the same conviction holds true; they quit, too.
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS
The student loses. The teacher loses. We all lose.
Ura Plaster
"AN' DON'T TAKE A CLASS FROM PROF SNARF "HERE HE LEPTURES SO LOUD YOU CAN HARDLY SLEEP."
BOOK REVIEWS
AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY, by Paul Hyde Bonner (Dell, 60 cents)—Well, if the cover counted for everything, this one at least would have enough good stuff to keep you turning the pages—looking. Fortunately there is more than that. Diplomacy in the West Inoies is the theme, or is it sex? The semi-political novel is still riding high, and if you can fancy an ugly American in and out of bedrooms then you get why this one is out in inexpensive edition.
本 书 本
ASSAULT ON A QUEEN, by Jack Finney (Dell, 50 cents) — The trade stresses the "movie tie-in" for this kind of book. A fast and entertaining thriller is what it is, and you'll be seeing Frank Sinatra in it one of these
days. If you remember Sinatra and the Rat Pack in the heist of Las Vegas you'll sense some of the nonsense (and fun) here — an old German U-boat and an ocean liner and deviltry afoot.
***
HARTE OF THE WEST, edited by Ned E. Hoopes (Dell, 50 cents) — Seventeen stories by Bret Hartle. This chap hasn't been in paperback much, possibly because he's so blasted sentimental. But entertaining, too, and he was in the West and knew many of the types he describes. It wouldn't make sense to give you the table of contents, but let's just put it this way—Roaring Camp, Poker Flat, Tennessee's partner, Red Gulch, Laurel Run, Simpson's Bar; these are the people and places.
Letters to the editor of Summer Kansan
Dear Editor:
For the record, I would like to make some minor corrections to the article about the Minutemen that appeared it the Kansan of June. 24. It was a good article, but I feel that some important points were omitted unintentionally.
The girl mentioned in the article as a Minuteman "spy," was identified by several Minutemen and former Minutemen, and not just by Brooks alone. Her husband was also identified by more than one source and was tricked into acknowledging his own membership in the organization over the telephone in the presence of two witnesses. There is other evidence that has been presented to the Federal Grand Jury that is substantially more than hearsaay. The Grand Jury is not concerned with th membership in a political organization, but rather with violations of federal laws, in particular the Federal Firearms Act which prohibits untaxed possession of fully automatic machine guns, silencers, and sawed-off shotguns, among other things.
Their denial of membership in the Minutemen was to be expected since the organization imposes severe penalties upon members who break discipline. It is significant, however, that they refuse to discuss the matter with me or to comment upon the "evidence." I must admit that
I was reluctant to believe it myself at first, but the evidence is there for anyone to check into.
The harassment mentioned in the article is also a matter of public record—the Lawrence police docket—and not merely a "claim" made by myself. The two men sent over to Lawrence mentioned in the article were identified as Minutemen—one is a member of the Minuteman Council and the other is a team captain—and they were only pursued after we recognized them as such. No threats were made against them and the riot gun was carried only for protection. One of the Minutemen was armed but he was not searched by police.
The police could see who the "good guys" and the "bad guys" were, so to speak, and the Minutemen were asked to leave town and not bother us anymore. The detective, who is familiar with some of the harassment we have experienced, was sympathetic but did suggest that we notify the authorities next time we get forewarning that an incident like this is in the offing.
It is natural to expect Robert DePugh, the Minuteman leader, to poo-poo Jerry Brooks' testimony. DePugh is even denying that Brooks was a member of the organization.
the death blow to any organization. But individually, or in small autonomous groups, the Minutemen do represent a serious threat. Many members of the organization are highly unstable, some are definitely psychotic. There are a large number of Klansmen who are also Minutemen, as well as American Nazi's. Acting on tips from informers like Brooks, federal authorities are picking up Minutemen almost weekly now, the violations range from theft of government property (breaking into armories), interstate transportation of stolen property, illegal machine guns, and even threats against the President. Interestingly enough, we have uncovered no case where these violations were official Minutemen policy, but rather individual Minutemen acting alone or in small squads.
As an organization, the Minutemen are a farce. The organization has begun to splinter, which is
My own position is that the
Minutemen should not be outlawed. Only specific violations of the law should be the concern of the government. Freedom of association and other civil liberties guarantees of the Bill of Rights must be extended across the board. This does not mean, however, that Minutemen politics should not concern other private groups, such as the organizations that they are trying to infiltrate.
I hope that this letter cleared up a few points. Again, congratulations on a good article.
Laird M. Wilcox
To the Editor:
It seems to me that Mr. John Nugent's problems as described in the article "Overdue Book" in the Summer Session Kansan of June 21, 1966, do not all stem from students' inconsiderateness. I received two overdue notices for books I had returned to the chute
I have also been wondering why the employees of the Interlibrary Loan department try to discourage graduate students from ordering books, be it by general unfriendliness or be it by procedural complications. Are they simply lazy, or do they want to save Watson Library additional expenses? By the way. Interlibrary Loan is a wonderful facility for which I am grateful.
next to the circulation desk in time. Each time I went to the circulation department and informed one of the girls about the error. But to no avail—for a few weeks later I received a bill of $10.00 for one of the books. Although I notified Mr. Nugent of this new error, I am now wondering whether my name is on the Business Office's list of students with unpaid fines and whether I will be made responsible for the carelessness or incompetence of some of the library staff.
Summer Session Kansan
For 76 Years, KU's Official Student Newspaper
KANSAN TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Newsroom—UN 4-3646 Business Office—UN 4-3198
The Summer Session Kanan, student newspaper at The University of Kansas is represented by National Advertising Services. 18 East 50 St., New York, NY 10017. Students are required to complete a second class passage paid at Lawrences, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Accommodations, goods, services and employment advertised in the Summer Session Kanan are offered to all students without regard to color, creed, gender, race, ethnicity or disability.
The opinions expressed in the editorial column are those of the students whose names are signed to them. Guest editorial authors are necessarily editor's. Any opinions expressed in the editorial column are especially those of The University of Kansas Administration or the State Board of Kansahs.
The interior of the library building could hardly be arranged to any more disadvantage for the student. In order to get to level four e.g., one has to go down to the basement entrance, shove his briefcase or pile of books through the turnstile, go up to seven and then down to four. But that is in full accord with our nonfunctional though beautiful campus where a disgustingly overambitious police prevent you from utilizing readily available parking space.
S
Sunda
Wilhelm H. Grothmann