One of Seth's Very Best Friends was Killed Today - Thursday, April 15, 1965

One of Seth's very best friends - one of his "group of five buddies" on Long Island - was killed today by a hit and run driver. He got the telegram this afternoon from his mother. He called me at 9:00 to say he wanted to see me, and I've been with him till now (12:30). I guess that's some way to avoid writing a paper - it's going to set me back and rush me more now, but oh well. I'm also in a corner - Seth thinks I like him again (what more could I do). It would be traumatic for me to act "cool" tomorrow ... so! This is something again. The senior steak dinner was tonight. I went to the Maundy Thursday communion service.

Recounted Blessings in Last Letter Home from Park - Wednesday, April 14, 1965

After changing my approach somewhat, I'm finally writing my philosophy of education paper. I have decided to limit it to the linguistics of numbers and am entitling it Two Plus Two is Four - Or is It? Jean doesn't think Dr. Pai will like a lot of long quotes, but I think my approach for it will be okay. Evelyn finished her ethics paper fifteen minutes before she had to give an oral report on it. She's still not back from St. Joseph where the choir has gone three nights this week. My last of many, many letters home from Park College was a means for airing some of my recent "injustices" and at the same time recounting some blessings.

Am to Call North Kansas City District About a Position - Tuesday, April 13, 1965

Recognition Day was today. I received a certificate, along with John Campbell, Leslie Innes, Art Kluge, Barb Page, Glenn Petrie, Liz Ralston, Rog Rikkola, Gary Sorrell and John Van Horn for Who's Who. Leslie and Gary are the Outstanding Parkites. That award would have been nice to get - several have said they thought I would get it. Oh well, there's some compensation in being an "also ran." Furthermore, I can have the feeling now that I am genuinely liked for what I am. My NKC teaching interview went well - I'm supposed to find out within a few weeks about a position.

Tension and Unnaturalness in Philosophy Seminar - Monday, April 12, 1965

It was somewhat colder again today. I wish spring would make up its mind. I went to the library tonight to get some books for my philosophy term paper. I hope this venture doesn't turn into too large a task. We all wrote on Dr. Pai's philosophy question although we had to "find it" ourselves in Mr. Carey's office. It seemed as if there was tension and unnaturalness among us in seminar. I do feel sorry for Mr. Carey whom I think feels just as bad as the rest of us.

Returned to "Normal" About Written Comp Grade - Sunday, April 11, 1965

Friends are wonderful. It is they who have talked me into forgetting my misfortune, and they're right - I had moped around long enough by 5:30 this evening. Since that time I've been "normal" again. I did call Mr. Carey this morning to talk about it. He was very understanding and sounded sorry himself. He told me the reason my paper had fallen down - I completely reversed the two given statements as to traditional and progressive education. (I guess I thought too far and went past the obvious.) This morning I went with Evelyn to the Lutheran church where she plays the organ.

Sobbing and Crying About Written Comp Grade of 74 - Saturday, April 10, 1965

If my written comp grade that I got back today is right and there is no mistake, I feel as if I'm suffering the worst experience of my life! As far as I'm concerned, a 74 is a D on the college scale and I do not believe that if I got a 94 on my GRE and have never had anything lower than a B in any of my education courses, that my comprehensive exam should be of D quality. After lunch I saw Seth and since he wasn't busy he listened to my sob story. I cried again tonight to myself quietly in Evelyn's and my room. The girls I've told are very understanding. Dee got an 85, MaryAnne 80. Evelyn is home this weekend, so I don't know her score. The other grades I've heard are 70-72.

College Oral Score was 84 and GRE Percentile was 94th - Friday, April 9, 1965

My college oral was an experience. In the first place Mr. Wetherill didn't know about it and Mr. Craig and Dr. Lark had to yell down the hill at Mr. Larson to remind him. We then went into Mackay and Mr. Dusing in the faculty lounge agreed to take Mr. Wetherill's place. We went to the dean's office for it and after an interesting and enjoyable session, I came out with an 84. At almost the same moment, I found out from Mrs. Hansmire my GRE score - 94th percentile for which I feel particularly pleased. I got an A- on the social psych test. The LLCs went to the Oak Ridge Manor for a dinner honoring the Johnsons.

Read About Vietnam and Civil Rights in New York Times - Thursday, April 8, 1965

Departmental orals weren't bad, although it's hard to know what Dr. Pai, Mr. Carey and Mr. Chronister thought about what we said. It's quite an experience. I wonder how tomorrow's will seem in comparison. Kathy Olson took hers with me. We started out in the kitchen since there was a faculty committee meeting going on in the lounge, but then we moved in there. Suddenly, on the "eve of the morrow" I wonder how much I really know. Evelyn, Jen, Winnie and I went to the Dari-Sweet again. I went to the library and read about Vietnam and civil rights in The New York Times to be "up" on current events.

We All Misinterpreted First Question on Written Comps - Wednesday, April 7, 1965

The social psych test was almost a written comp in itself, so I feel about written and studied out. I just hope I did well on it. Dr. Pai graded his part of the comps last night. He said everyone misinterpreted the first question. He "failed" two people. That makes us all feel a little uneasy. No one can say that majoring in education is a snap. I'll have to review arithmetic for elementary teachers before my departmental oral tomorrow.

Wrote on Eight Aspects of Education on Written Comps - Tuesday, April 6, 1965

Written comps are over, as we knew that inevitably sooner or later they had to be. This is something that it's hard to believe is over. I didn't think they were too bad. We had to write on two concepts of the mind, attitudes and values, learning theory, and curriculum, organization and administration. I received a letter from the North Kansas City system inviting me to make an appointment for an interview, so I got one for next Tuesday. Now I've been studying for the social psych test tomorrow as if it were another comp.

Feel Ready for Comps as Chimes are Working Again - Monday, April 5, 1965

As soon as I get my hair set I'm going to bed. I feel quite competent about written comps tomorrow, and as the saying goes, "If I don't know it now, it's too late anyway." It doesn't seem possible that that time is finally here. I don't mean "finally" either - it all came so soon. I mean "final" in the sense that others (underclassmen) are now asking me about comps rather than the other way around. This was a sleepy and rainy day - quite appropriate for walking around in a daze. Yay - the chimes are working again.

Went to a Spaghetti and Meatballs Dinner at the Schurrs - Sunday, April 4, 1965

The Schurrs had a dinner for the student council members tonight. Mrs. Schurr's spaghetti and meatballs and tossed salad were delicious. Rather than go to the joint MJC-WJC meeting on a constitutionality case tonight, we concluded that I'm no longer a member since I was replaced by Terri Osuga - at least that was my excuse for not going. The choir concert this afternoon was good. Today I read Dewey's Experience and Education. It's raining a gentle spring rain.