About the diary writer

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Kansas City, Missouri, Alexandria, Virginia, United States
~ About: A 1961-65 Park College Diary ~ As a high school girl and then a college coed in the first half of the 1960s, I wrote nightly entries on the pages of one-year diaries. In January 2010 I began transcribing the entries into a blog and gave each one a title. I grew up on three farms within 30 miles of Iowa City and the University of Iowa with its Iowa Writers' Workshop. As the oldest of four daughters, in my diaries I sometimes referred to my sisters as "the kids" or "the girls." We helped our parents, but we also had good, wholesome fun - a characteristic I took with me to Park. Park is 300 miles southwest of West Chester, Iowa, in Parkville, Missouri, on the Missouri River 10 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, and across the river from Kansas City, Kansas. In 2000 Park College became Park University. Today Park's flagship campus is in Parkville and there are an additional 41 campus centers across the nation. Park was one of the first educational institutions in the United States to offer online learning. My last post was on May 22, 2018. I may be followed on Twitter @BarbaraMcDWhitt.

We Want to Sponsor a Remedial Reading Program - Monday, November 23, 1964

I'm back to my old ways of having to do a paper at the last minute. This just has to be a rough draft, but then for me rough drafts are all but finished products. After much consideration, I'm going to get up at 5:00. I want to give it the best possible under the circumstances. I typed our letter to parents, their survey, and the explanatory letter to the teachers for the remedial reading program the education department wants to have this summer. It took Evelyn and me all afternoon to help Mrs. Ground run them off, staple them, and deliver them to the three Park Hill District elementary schools.

Have Put Together a Remedial Reading Survey - Sunday, November 22, 1964

Goodness, I slept till five till 11:00 so I didn't go to church. I miss church when I don't go. I don't see how so many kids can "never" go. This afternoon I read music. I'm trying to decide what to write for the rough draft of the paper Mr. Chronister wants on Tuesday. I wrote up our remedial reading survey on the basis of Mary Sue's and Dee's suggestions. We just didn't think it was necessary to try to get it done yesterday and run off as Dr. Pai had suggested.

Am in Who's Who Among Students - Saturday, November 21, 1964

I haven't told anyone, but I received a letter saying I have been accepted for inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. This is a tremendous honor. I guess my contributions to Park College have meant something to the people responsible for this, at least. Evelyn and I spent the day in KC and nearly shopped the town out. I got a brown and a tan sweater, flared dark plaid skirt, and Christmas presents for my sisters. My Stephens and senior pictures were done, too. I saw Lilies of the Field and then went to the LLC Brig party.

Teaching and Editing Efforts Were Appreciated - Friday, November 20, 1964

So I've finished my student teaching. I don't believe how fast those ten weeks went! The class and Miss Dyer had a party for me - punch and cookies - at 3:15. They also gave me letters they had written and they are so sweet. I'm really going to miss them. I can imagine how attached one can become to her own students after a year. I went with Karen and Bruce and Kathy and Tom to the Gold Buffet - "compliments" of the business office for the work we did on the Narva. Tom drove my car.

Starting Yearly Salary Next Year Will be $5000 - Thursday, November 19, 1964

It was neat going to school in the snow. We've gone in all kinds of weather now. Beauvais' tomahawk mended perfectly and the handle even covers up the crack. I won't know what to do with myself after tomorrow. The feeling is bad enough now, the fact that tomorrow is the last day. We went back out for a faculty meeting at 4:00. That school is really on the ball. Mr. Fincher said their starting [yearly] salary next year will be $5000! Pre-registration for my last trimester at Park was today. I played LLC basketball tonight and made 4 of our 10 points.

Dr. Pai Came to Observe Again - Wednesday, November 18, 1964

It's snowing. I hope we can make it to school in the morning. We've been lucky as far as weather has been. I don't know why it took me so long to do one set of lesson plans and grade language papers tonight. Miss Dyer didn't seem very concerned about the broken tomahawk. Dr. Pai came to observe again. They weren't at the best by any means, but I'm not too concerned. I don't think he's too keen on it being "unreal" either. It will be interesting to know if he has any criticisms.

Beauvais' Indian Tomahawk Was in Two Pieces - Tuesday, November 17, 1964

My first day of "teaching" was a wonderful experience. Nothing out of the ordinary happened until after the first buses had gone. Then some of the kids were up by the Indian table - others were helping me with the bulletin board - when I heard a terrible crash. Beauvais' Indian tomahawk had been dropped and was in two pieces! I hope that the cement that Judy and I went to the Red-X to get tonight holds it. And my day was so nearly over! Well, tomorrow is another day and Dr. Pai is coming to observe. I've been working on my Northwest Indian worksheets.