PCC Courier, February 19, 1958

Schedule Your Blood Donation Now Educational Similarities ^ ^ # Itemized by President (rCs Су C (У14у14/€^Су Editor’s Note: Below is the second of two articles written as a reply to critics of the American education system by Dr. Wil¬ liam B. Langsdorf, president of Pasadena City College, at the request of the Courier. The Courier wishes to express its appreci¬ ation to Dr. Langsdorf for the very fine reply he has made. Part II The most authoritative analysis of Russian education in the English language is the National Research Council 1955 publication, “Soviet Professional Manpower, Its Education, Training and Supply.” This is available in the PCC Library. Some characteristics of Soviet education which are of interest in a study of our own are: 1. From grade school on, classes are conducted at least six hours a day, six days a week. 2. The American system of competition and rewards has been adopted in Russian education, though in few other aspects of Russian life. 3. Screening of the more able and industrious students is repeat¬ ed many times until only the very select are allowed to pursue advanced study. 4. There are no electives in the Russian system. 5. Heavy emphasis is placed on mathematics and science, and little on cultural subjects. 6. Class procedure emphasizes memorization and recitation. 7. Class size is generally much smaller than in the United States. 8. Teachers are among the highest paid workers in Russia, and no lack of teachers exists or is likely. Teaching, Party activity, and sci¬ ence are among the few occupations where financial rewards are heavy. 9. A much higher per cent of Russian national incomes goes to education at all levels than in the United States, for Russia feels it is thus investing in future power and world dominance. As we in this country examine the Soviet system, we may well ask ourselves questions about American education. 1. Is it rigorous enough? Should so much time be allowed for recreation and outside work, where the latter is not absolutely es¬ sential for support? 2. Has the elective system bean carried too far? Should there be a larger body of required work? 3. Should not all students, through college, be required to take mathematics and science? 4. Can class size be reduced? 5. Can inducements to teachers be increased so that teaching becomes a more remunerative profession? 6. Can more special attention be provided for the gifted? 7. Do American students truly appreciate and use to full advan¬ tage the great apportunities which our education makes available? At Pasadena City College we are now answering some of these questions better than do many institutions. 1. Six units of mathematics or science are required of all stu¬ dents prior to graduation. Perhaps we should require more, designate particular courses, or institute a mathematics proficiency test. 2. PCC maintains relatively small classes (average size of 31) contrasted with classes numbering hundreds in some colleges and universities. 3. PCC screens students in university type classes and requires remedial and refresher courses of those who have not demonstrated subject matter proficiency. 4. PCC provides many advanced courses and special opportuni¬ ties for the gifted. 5. Each semester several hundred students are placed on proba¬ tion and many are dismissed from college for failure to take their work seriously. We of Pasadena City College have an obligation to study these and other questions further. The administration and faculty will do so. However, answers to some of them can only be provided by the students themselves. The parents and other citizens of this community and state are providing in Pasadena City College free educational opportunities unsurpassed anywhere in the world, and equalled in few places. In return they expect students to make the most of these opportunities or make way for others who will. All of us at PCC need to rededi¬ cate ourselves to hard work, for education is a serious business. If we have been inclined to forget this, Sputnik П, still passing overhead, mpy serve as a grim reminder. VOL. 8, NO. 2 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 19, 1958 Circle К Schedules Annual Blood Drive for Hardy Students Students at PCC are given the opportunity to help stockpile for defense when Circle К once again sponsors its annual blood drive on campus. The Red Cross Blood Bank mobile unit will be in the Band Room of the К Building February 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A quota of 200 quarts ■has been set by Circle К mem¬ bers. All students under 21 who de¬ sire to donate blood must have a parents’ consent card. These cards may be obtained in Dr. Robert Haugh’s office, 111C, or from any club president. Appointments may be made any time before next Tuesday at the- desk in the main hall of the C Building. Circle К members will be working all this week making appointments and receiving the blue slips. A contest is being held among the various clubs on campus with two trophies to be awarded. One will go to the club which has the greatest number of members do¬ nating and the other to the run¬ ner-up, thus giving the smaller clubs an opportunity. There is al¬ so a trophy for the off-campus sorority or fraternity which do¬ nates the greatest number of pints. Last year, Caduceus Club won the trophy, and Circle К had it for two years previous. The trophy is sponsored by the Inter- _ club Council. Lancer ' Teahouse 1 Filled with Cosmopolitan Cast Iranian, Chinese, Polish, Japanese, Korean and American students will combine their talents to construct a famous tea¬ house in Sexson Auditorium. Twenty-eight PCC collegians have been cast and are preparing the broadway hit, “Teahouse of the August Moon” for presen- - : - : - — Courier Photo by Don Moore IT REALLY DOESN’T HURT . . . but it’s going to take a bit of talking on the part of Katherine Kane to convince Doug Stone. He’s about to donate his pint of blood to the Circle К Blood Drive, being held here on campus next Tuesday, Feb. 25. •Art Show Artistry unlimited will grace the third floor show rooms in the C Building starting tomor¬ row, when the Freshman Art Show will commence. Fresh¬ men alone have organized the show, and their work will be displayed. The public is invited. •Campus 100 The Campus 100 will meet for the first time this semester to¬ day at 3 p.m. in 200C. Officers will be elected. All representa¬ tives from 9 o’clock classes are to attend, and the meeting is open to all interested persons. Language Group Sponsors Festivities Joining with other schools all over the United States, Pasadena City College will celebrate the second annual National Foreign Language Week from February 16 to 22. Organized to stimulate interest in the study of foreign languages and foreign countries, the week’s observance was plan¬ ned through the efforts of Alpha Mu Gamma, national honorary foreign language society. Here at PCC, all the foreign languages which are taught on campus will be represented dur¬ ing Foreign Language Week through the medium of displays in various wall cases of the school and a display of foreign language books in the library. On last Monday, Feb. 17, in keeping with the slogan “Mon¬ day is Fun Day,” the language classes demonstrated their knowl¬ edge lyrically for the various guests who attended the casual open house. In addition, French, German, and Spanish films were shown, students dressed in the costumes of foreign lands, visit¬ ors were introduced to the intri¬ cacies of the Language Labora¬ tory, and coffee and cookies, do¬ nated by students were served. Administrator Grinstead Retires After 37 Years “To me, he’s one of the very best!” states Mrs. Geody Orr when sizing up former Dean of Admissions Roland W. Grinstead. Mrs. Orr, still in the admissions office, was secre¬ tary to Dean Grinstead for over a year until his retirement in January. _ _ Dean of admissions since 1954, Roland W. Grinstead Grinstead retired prematurely due to ill health resulting from a heart condition. After teaching at Pasadena Ju¬ nior College for ten years, the economics instructor took over a counselor’s post here. In 1944 he became secondary curriculum co¬ ordinator for the Pasadena City Schools. Enjoying being in an advisory capacity, the former counselor re¬ turned to Pasadena Junior Col¬ lege in 1950 as registrar from which he stepped into the posi¬ tion of dean of admissions. Aside from holding down these administrative posts, Grinstead got his MA degree at USC, and has done post graduate work at the Universities of Columbia and Missouri, Claremont Graduate School and USC. Also in his spare time, he and his wife have en¬ gaged in extended travel. tation March 13 and 14. Director Don Liercke covered a good portion of the globe when he chose the large and variable cast created by John Patrick. One member is yet to be cast, accord¬ ing to Liercke, and that is Lady Astor — a goat. At least two more children are needed also. Iranian-born Hossein Ghafari will keep the audience informed as Sakini, the interpreter for the U.S. Occupation Troops. A native of the Okinawan village where the play is set, Sakini conveys messages from Captain Fisby, who will be portrayed by Chuck Crafts, to the people of the village. Captain Fisby is sent to Tobiki by Colonel Wainwright, played by Jerry Overland, to set the village on its feet after the war. Two other Army officers complete the list of Americans in the story. They are Sergeant Gregovich and Captain McLean, portrayed by Toni Cuppari and Leslie Perry, respectively. Adding glamor to the produc¬ tion will be Cynthia Shu as Lo¬ tus Blossom, a geisha girl who is given to Captain Fisby as a present by one of the villagers. Sylvia King as Miss Higa Jiga heads a comical group known as the Ladies League for Dem¬ ocratic Action, which includes Claudette Ross, Nancy Higgin- son, Penny Bell, Sally Ryan, Claire Watson, and Sandra Tay¬ lor. Men of the village range from a wrestler to an old man who is the only person in the village besides Sakini who can speak English. The men are Roman Pochylski as the ancient man; Som Srour as Mr. Hokaida; Glenn Johnson as Mr. Omura; Tadaaki Fujita as Mr. Sumata and Bo Bai Kim as his father; Clarke Bell as Mr. Keora, and John Holmstrom as Mr. Oshira. Additional villagers are Dean Stewart, Don Maddox, John Hol¬ loway and Doug Perry. Student director is Glenn Johnson. Crew members are still needed. Anyone who is interested should contact Liercke in 6C. Committee Plans for Graduation Plans for the 69th annual Rose Bowl Commencement ceremony, to be held on June 19, are now under way. The first meeting of the Commencement Committee was held last week. According to Dr. Catherine J. Robbins, there will be 2648 grad¬ uates this year, 1100 of whom are from PCC, together with 30 nurses and 17 cosmetologists. As in the past, H. Leland Green will be the coordinator of music for the production, and Miss Su¬ zanne Macauley, chairman of the Women’s Physical Education De¬ partment, will supervise’ the marching and distribution of di¬ plomas, assisted by Mrs. Lor- rayne Calkins of John Muir High School and Mrs. Jessie Chitten¬ den of Pasadena High School. The final rehearsal is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18.