Another Way of Looking at It

by
 John A. Beineke
A Monthly Column on Issues in Education

   In the 1970’s William Van Til wrote series of articles which he entitled “One Way of Looking at It.”  These pieces were published in Phi Delta Kappa and prior to that in Indiana State University’s Contemporary Education.  He later called his autobiography My Way of Looking at It which is now in its second edition.   With Dr. Van Til’s permission (and encouragement), I am initiating my own series of thought pieces under the title “Another Way of Looking at It.”  This web-based column will look at issues of education from a number of perspectives ¾ including, but not limited to, the historical, the social, political, cultural, economic, and esthetic points of view.   And it will examine current practices.  Using William Heard Kilpatrick’s definition that “all life thoughtfully lived is education” these articles will attempt to spark discussion, raise issues, stimulate and provoke thought, and illuminate both educators and non-educators.  In Dr. Van Til’s 1968 column “Why Educate” he set forth the challenges facing educators in those turbulent times:

                        The challenge to help young people to cope with the social
                        realities of our times.  The challenge to relate learning to
                        the motivation and concerns of the learner.  The challenge
                        to develop commitment to humane and decent values
                        based on mankind’s winnowed and reconstructed experiences.

              While 1968 was a unique year, each generation can be considered turbulent in its own way.  And while not attempting to imitate Dr. Van Til’s style or philosophy, I do hope to borrow from him his passion to make a difference in our society through the process of education “thoughtfully lived.”  (And, on occasion, I would very much like to publish his original pieces on this web site.)  I have edited two newsletters where I expressed my thoughts in “back page” columns.  I enjoyed sharing my views with others with these columns and receiving feedback on my ideas from readers.  Often my ideas have not always coincided with the conventional wisdom or with those in other offices of responsibility in the educational or political arena.  That is why I have used the variation on Dr. Van Til’s moniker and called my pieces “Another Way of Looking at It” with the emphasis on “another.”   I am sure that my philosophy will emerge, but with any luck the viewpoint will be unique to each topic under discussion. 

            By way of introduction, readers may peruse my web site for additional information on my experiences and current position.  If you have thoughts you wish to share with me, my email address is also available on the site.  The opinions are, of course, mine and I am not speaking for Arkansas State University or any of the entities it contains.   There is no more important task that we can be about than educating the next generation of citizens in our democracy.  These articles are one educator’s attempt to do that using the technology of the day.  

For information about this page contact John Beineke