Class of 1972
American Studies (Windham College, Vermont)
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY?
Yes, somewhere else
JOB:
Educator – WSESU, Castleton University, Keene State College
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
It is relatively recent and its background is the York Minster, taken from the wall.
WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY?
There are so many. I spent time developing my educational persona and identity there, in 1974, 76, 78, 80, 82 as a participant in the exchange programme developed by Keene State College’s Professor David E. Costin and St. John’s George Cramer. We stayed on campus at different sites (Upper New was one!), attended classes that encourages and modeled flexibility and the integrated day approach. Later on I developed the White Rose Project – first in 1995 and then with other groups. The program’s intention was to study the British Primary approach to education and use it for educating middle and high school students. It grew into a wide diversity of courses I taught in Cuba, Germany, Northern Ireland, England , Italy, the Republic of Ireland, the USA South (Civil Rights), and the JFK Assassination in Dallas, TX. St. John’s directly moulded my education career. It is showcased in my book – Beyond the Classroom.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I participated oin the exchange program St. John’s had with Keene State College. George Cramer had been at Keene as a visiting professor in the summer of 1973. I took his course as part of my master’s programme.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
I have been a professional educator – 50 years, built on my experience as a 24 year old in York in 1974. Elementary, middle school, high school and college.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
Education – I was asked by an undergraduate professor who proclaimed, “We think you would make a great teacher!”
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The diversity, the professors (there were several at St. John’s), the use of the environment in my instruction. York and its environs are spectacular.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD OYU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Keep your eyes open, take it all in. It is called gaining experience. Experience will be the building block of your career, and life.
Bill has written about York St John and the White Rose Program, a programme developed by Bill, and you can find out more in Beyond the Classroom on Bill’s website: https://billholiday.org/
To hear more about Bill’s time at York St John you can listening to Bill’s podcasts here: