CIE On Campus

School of Education Marathon Conference/Reunion:
A chance for CIE Graduates to reconnect

by Michael Simsik

The years 1968-78 were a special period for the School of Education. Under the direction of Dwight W. Allen, the School fostered creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking. Alumni and faculty have had a far-reaching impact on the field of education and on many other aspects of society. The Marathon Conference in October 2001 was a time to recognize these leaders' contributions and provided a venue to engage in serious dialogue on issues critical to educators at all levels.
As part of the conference CIE hosted an afternoon social to bring together alumni, students, as well as past and present faculty and staff, to exchange their experiences and interests in international education. People gathered at CIE in Hills House to experience again the feelings of a Tuesday meeting! combined with a happy hour.

More than thirty people including alumni with a rich and varied background attended the social. Some of the alumni in attendance included: Cynthia Shepard-Perry, who served as American Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Rwanda, and who has recently authored a book about her diplomatic experiences; Gordon Schimmel, Superintendent of Schools in Storrs, Connecticut; Priscilla Angelo, now working with Partners for Global Education in Rhode Island; Carla Classon-Hook, currently teaching in Springfield; Beverly Lindsay, the Director of International Programs at Pennsylvania State University; and Peter Higginson, a long-time employee with UNESCO who has recently moved back to Paris from Maine. Other CIE alums present at the conference included Phil Christensen and Charlie Jenkins.

The gathering gave people the opportunity to catch up on the news of former colleagues, learn about the various professional activities of CIE alums, and for students, it was an opportunity to make acquaintances and consider career options once they graduate from the center. Peter Higginson shared his experiences about having worked in the South Pacific as well as in Paris for UNESCO. In particular, he spoke of the difficulties faced by international educators in the age of globalization, where national economic development in many countries of the South relies increasingly on large numbers of low-skilled, low-wage labor rather than on the mass education of their citizenry. Gordon Schimmel spoke of the challenges of being a superintendent and of his recent work on creating a curriculum to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903

Anna Donovan who has come back to help out at CIE part-time, was the hostess. Bill Fanslow a retired professor from the School of Education and long-time associate of CIE, also attended, and talked of his recent consulting work in Namibia. Professor Emeritus George Urch was also present, and it seems that 'retired' is not the appropriate term to describe his situation, as he too is staying very active working with the Malawian students now at CIE. David Schimmel came down the hall to reminisce with old friends from the early days of CIE and Bob Miltz unveiled a video he had made of photos from the CIE archives, while poster boards around the room displayed pictures of CIE activities and retreats from over the years. Also attending were current CIE faculty members Sally Habana-Hafner, Gretchen Rossman and David Evans.

Cynthia & Anna

Gordon Schimmel

Bob Miltz &
Bill Fanslow

Peter Higginson

Beverly Lindsay

Priscilla Angelo

Colombian Environmental Educators at CIE

A group of 12 Colombian community leaders involved in various environmental education and action programs, visited CIE and spoke at a recent Tuesday meeting. They are here participating in a three-week training program at ITD http://www.itd-amherst.org/ and directed by Alberto Arenas, a CIE faculty member who is from Colombia. The Colombian participants are a group of veteran community leaders with experience in environmental issues.

The participants (seven men, five women) include two members from the Organization for the Education of Environmental Protection, a director of a national park, and nine members from three communities near Bogota: one urban, one semi-urban, and one rural community.

In their presentation, enlivend by pictures and graphics, they each spoke briefly of the challenges n their work including making do with few material and financial resources, dealing with corrupt municipalities, and overcoming the fear imposed by the guerrillas and paramilitaries. The main environmental issues being faced by their communities include: inadequate solid waste disposal; deficient recycling strategies; contamination of local rivers and waterways; lack of access to safe water; erosion; and misappropriation of natural land reserves for construction and cultivation (generally by larger companies but also by poor people). These problems are all exacerbated by one of the largest unemployment rates in Latin America (around 20 percent).

Tag Sale on the Town Common