European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 the stars and stripes monday january 23,1989 Stuttgart teacher explores Eastern Frontier in history by Joseph Owen Stuttgart Bureau Stuttgart West Germany like most High school history teachers James Heffernan tells his Stu dents about pioneers opening up the frontiers the tur Moil of Many ethnic groups living together and the profound Impact of a nation s revolution. But when Heffernan refers to frontiers he Point cast not West. The country s ethnic groups he refers to Are kazakhs tatars and uzbeks. The revolution occurred in 1917. Heffernan teaches russian and soviet history. As far As department of defense dependent schools officials in Europe can determine he is the Only teacher in the overseas schools system offering such courses. He teaches pre-1917 russian history in the first semester of each school year and soviet history in the second. The 35-year-old Richmond va., native said that during his College Days he took All the russian history classes Virginia tech had to later he won a National endowment for the humanities Grant to study Karl Marx. He has visited the soviet Union three times once Asa part of a five week Ohio state University study tour. Heffernan started teaching russian history 12 year Sago while working at Stuttgart High school then introduced it at Patch a year after transferring there in1979. The reason i started teaching it is that the kid were All Here because their parents were in the military and i thought it was important that they understand who the other Side of the Fence is he said. Heffernan has Little trouble filling his classes. Mostof his students Are College bound and Mosi who take his russian history class usually attend the soviet Oneas Well. I like history. I be done Well in it said Patch senior Dustin Hitt. I want to be a political science or International relations major and i figure russian his tory will help me prepare for the courses i have to take in but students agreed that Heffernan s teaching style which often includes a few jokes is As important As the subject of history in maintaining their interest. He just puts something in that a lot of teachers Don t. He makes the class exciting said senior Eric Bachmann who also plans to take the soviet course next month. For the first time i m signing up for a lass because i enjoy it rather than because i have Heffernan who also teaches . History and psychology said that the soviets hold an Edge in Educa Tion when it comes to history. They study us he said recalling his visit to classroom in Russia. They have a real Good under standing of Basic . History much better than our students have of Basic russian he finds the subject More important than Ever no that major political changes Are occurring in the soviet Union. Forever soviets born after world War ii have is Joseph Owen Stuttgart history teacher James Heffernan urges his students to understand the other moved into positions of Power. These people who Are in Middle management today have no memory of the devastation Heffernan said adding that the latest soviet generation no longer seems willing to tolerate widespread economic inefficiencies. Heffernan said he was uneasy when he first started teaching soviet history at Patch Barracks Home of Neucom Headquarters. He said he lost his apprehension when a High ranking officer approached him at a parents meeting one night and praised Heffernan course observing that you be got to know your enemy before you can kill Heffernan accepted the compliment although he disagreed with the reason for it. Without espousing communist ideology he said he tries to give student insight into the Way soviets regard themselves and their past. I Don t want them to see the soviets As the bogey Man he said. I want them to see their history As a people to see where they re coming from. I think unfortunately we tend to Wmk at the soviets through our own eyes and we make colleges urged to broaden their overseas study programs new York a warning that the competitive status of the United states is at stake a group of educators Early in january urged . Colleges to coax More business majors science majors and less affluent students into study abroad programs. The executive committee of the Council on International educational Exchange at a private meeting also said colleges and universities should encourage students to attend schools in latin America Asia and Africa and not just England or other Western countries. The group discussed How colleges could implement Council report released in december which found that fewer than 5 percent of . College students or about 50,000, study abroad each year while some 350,000 foreign students attend . Schools. The Council report educating for global compe tence stated that if we fail to internationalize sufficiently our educational institutions including expansion of student opportunities for study and work abroad we will irreversibly diminish the world status of the United it urged colleges to at least double the number of . Students studying abroad by 1995 and include More poor students. The preponderance of students studying abroad Are White affluent females from highly educated families according to the report. Most Are Liberal arts majors and spend less than six months in foreign programs. Relatively few students majoring in business Public health science or math take part in such programs said the report produced by a panel led by Thomas a. Bartlett the Chancellor of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Among other problems cited in the report Only 3 percent of . High school graduates and5 percent of College graduates have meaningful proficiency in a second language. Thirty three states Don t require foreign language study in High school and one of every five High schools offer none. The United states is one of the few industrialized countries where students can graduate from College with out studying a foreign language. Thirty four states do not require world history i High school. Dodds Roundup education experts accept conference invitation Wiesbaden West Germany two Amer ican education consultants and a longtime Ca Nadian educator have agreed to provide instruction for the Germany Region s annual administration conference feb. 27 to March 3 in bad Kissinger. Phillip Schlechty president of the Center for leadership in school Reform has agreed to Host a session on education productivity and the reorganization of schools. Schlechty is the executive director of Jefferson county by Public schools. Gordon Cawelti executive director of the association for supervision and curriculum development has agreed to address the conference on the subject of effective instruction. Cawelti s organization which has its Headquarters in Alex Andria va., claims a membership of 100,000. Michael Stremb Litzky who has spent the last 17 years As superintendent of Public schools in Edmonton capital of Alberta Canada has agreed to direct a session on site based manage ment techniques that can be used to allow wider local autonomy. Stremb Litzky is a 33-year Veter an of education in the Edmonton area. More than 200 school administrators and re Gion officials Are expected to attend conference workshops at the Kur Center hotel. Dodds overseas regions plan teacher recruitment Washington eight principals including two each from the department of defense dependents schools Germany and Atlantic re Gions plan to conduct interviews beginning feb. 24 in search of stateside teachers to work in the military s overseas school system beginning inthe 1989-90 school year. The school system did not disclose How Many teachers it is seeking but the Germany Region is seeking at least 150, according to its spokesman. Region officials Are especially interested in recruiting those qualified to teach math science English As a second language Home economics and talented and gifted. In addition elementary teachers and guidance Counselor also will Besought the spokesman said. Forming the interviewing contingent Are Thomas Cavanaugh of Woodbridge elementary England Bernice Johnson of Oesterberg elementary Netherlands Charles Lockwood of Rota High school Spain Fred Drath of Ramstein High school West Germany Lorraine Shanoski of Karlsruhe elementary West Ger Many Charles Renna of Cristobal Junior senior High school Panama Angelo Condie of Kadena elementary Okinawa and Edward Davies of zukeran elementary Okinawa. Plans Call for the principals to attend two to three Days of training in Washington prior to recruiting. They Are expected to Complete their assignments by april 7. Honors music program accepting applications Wiesbaden West Germany Germany "e810n officials Are accepting applications forme 10th annual Germany High school honors music festival and chorus scheduled March 12 to16 at bad Kissinger. School officials including music teachers plan to review student voice and instrumental tapes feb. 2 and 3 in search of 60 singers and 60 instrumentalists. Although primarily aimed at High school students the program is open to All Germany Region students in grades seven through 12. A concert in the Regen Tenbeau the City s con Cert Hall built for the bavarian Kings will High Light the festival. The March 16 concert at 7 30p.m. Is free and open to the Public. R801 Benson at German civilian 06121-for More information
