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4/12/1974 - The Finale: Some of Current World Comments on the Institute Affairs by Irving J Spitzberg

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS IJS THE FINALE SOME CO CENTS ON The Colleges Crosby THE INSTITUTE OF CUP KENT WORLD State University New York AFFAIRS Buffalo Buffalo New York 14214 April Mr Richard Nolte Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York 10017 Dear Mr Nolte Fellow Readers I liberty addressing newsletter those reading shoulder three years because final newsletter Fellow Institute Even I write I Associate Professor Dean Colleges State University New York Buffalo In final newsletter I moment share other readers explanation institution which generous allow write about educational policy problems three years lbeit quite briefly critical tools educational policy analysis which developed these years activities Institute During tenure Fellowship I reported variety topics education varied combination tools evaluation This eclecticism provided perspective which informed analysis restricting sight another level subject matter education I opportunity explore understand least problems diverse educational systems various parts particular systems This diver experience report other aspect experience quite different fundamental beliefs about approach educational problems first educational problem general temic value context because educational policy problems essentially social political problems other grand ideas discussions systemic solutions little themselves unless couched terms experiences particular institutions dealing specific problems The paradox these observations cannot resolved unless wisdom accepted possible contradictions accepted One comes understand character educational problems comparative perspective context general social political values grand surveys comprehensive problems careful examination experiences particular institutions creation limited solutions those problems which affect relationship between specific institutions larger system The previous forty newsletters illustrated approach I would illustrate again consi dering educational Institute Current World Affairs suggesting place society I ICWA PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE The exact facts about history Institute Current World Affairs completely clear definitive history written In course three years Fellow I developed capsule version history which bears relationship reality which suffer desire brevity story The Institute founded Charles Crane plumbing fixture family Walter Rogers young journalist become The Institute longtime Executive Director The original purpose Institute provide young people promise opportunity educated outside confines formal institutions higher education which Mr Crane little faith himself school after school become educated The Institute Current World Affairs would provide educational opportunities sending unwashed Americans ually unwashed parts world washed others The Institute would nothing Fellows write occasional letter Executive Director order share their adventures opportunity write pedagogical experience about culture society which found themselves So Institute Newsletter In Institute Current World Affairs spirit which motivated other visionaries nineteenth early twentieth centuries value experience foreign countries impor tance written communication affairs But whereas Rhodes Oxford Civilization Crane wanted learn actually living experiencing whole range society foreign country His fellows could learn Oxford learn workers Merseyside Cockneys East End The Institute Fellows return America become affairs which could become after actually experiencing affairs Before Second World War emphasis Institute always learning about society culture particular country larger graphical In Fellows finds John Hazard studying Soviet society Tom Blakem0re writing about experiences Japan After Second World War there still Fellows concentrating geographical although concern often Africa Asia three cases northern world Artlc But certain number Fellows started moving geographical interests becoming concerned policy issues across national borders So Fellows sometimes Sisters studying youth cultures Europe towns number countries At present finds predominance interest general policy problems studies particular geographical areas Each Institute Fellow selected informal exhaustive ritual enquiry interview There stories Walter Rogers which arriving unannounced doorstep potential Fellow putting question If choice places world study would study where would Of course Rogers would previously investigated potential Fellow great detail But scenario seems 1950s television program The Millionaire where agent reclusive John Baresfoot Tipton arrived unsuspecting ficiary entryway offer million dollars The Institute offer quite large although generosity matter record carries almost obligations The communicate selection process report xperiences But quite clear representative I Just before graduating Yale Law School I talking professors about prospect finding financing England where I would study changeover Oxford informal administrative system centuries newly powerful system Vice Chancellor This fessor president foundation New York City lawyer Yale He foundation money exercises cation possible scholarly interest foundation street Fifth Avenue which indulge lucky souls harebrained schemes He lunch member Board foundation before contact Mr Richard Nolte Executive Director In others knowledge about Institute transferred through traditio One seldom hears about Institute through press Indeed Institute seems fetish about anonymnity I promptly contacted mysterious Mr Nolte turned genial smoking Arabist seemed something interesting about everyone every topic under extended first conversation Institute Offices I Mr Nolte about proposal return Oxford where I student earlier years witness expected transformation institution spolicy making structure But I talking Mr Nolte became apparent plans small potatoes What wanted project indicated chutzpah untranslatable Yiddish quality something So I there talking Dick Nolte international study educational policy problems shape I always interested educational problems Columbia Oxford Yale I itten studies various aspects educational problems although I never studied cation I Nolte wanted something grand scale I quite prepared provide By conversation future appointment Fellow After extended luncheon conversations which included members Board informal offer appointment But Dick Nolte I decided Fellowship would productive Mr Nolte seeed intrigued I intend practice I considering acceptnga teaching appointment Claremont Colleges In I applied school I admission officers I would never practicing lawyer I attended school because I thought provided graduate education U S because lawyers usually position translate grand ideas meaningful reality I added experience student parents telling profession student least brieftenure teacher So I accepted appointment Pitzer College The Claremont Colleges After years Claremont I accepted formal offer appointment Institute Fellowhip Spring This brief narrative appointment Institute communicates three Characteristics appointments Institute The appointee first hears about institute friend colleague usually shares former affiliation Ivy League British institution higher education qualification appointment program founded replace formal education The process appointment includes exhaustive evaluation Institute throughout period based mainly personal interviews Mr Nolte other members Board Governors Finally after period courtship liason itself until member family accumulated experience appropriate opportunities thenew association Some Fellows already started least career before taking their Fellowships Once takes Fellowship difficult aspect complete freedom One master There demands other those writing occasional newsletter which least represented The other invested experiencing learning This freedom first quite exhilerating becomes strange burdensome I I usefully employed although employed probably correct This psychology Fellowship explains predilection accept assignment local ganizations Inspectors Schools Counci England Board Adult Education Kenya I available resource tapped local agencies personal institutional altruism because these groups contributed obligation Institute write letters education The writing newsletters Institute Fellows Meeting requires terms written known Institute newsletter As other activities Institute there substance style But there audience served which particular Fellow drawn those active substantive interest Fellow general Fellows drawn cross section mainly Eastern establishment types interesting collection people number other countries The usual Fellow served these audiences writing general reports which supposed appeal whole Before I Fellowship I consciously rejected traditional newsletter because I happy examples I Instead I decided write newsletter particular audience people special interest background problem under consideration newsletter might overly simplified generalized report about particular problem However I write report which would understandable general audience newsletter itself directed particular group Whether I successful matter debate But seems matter debate whether tradi tionai newsletter still serves useful purpose either education Fellow audience readers Given resources invested Institute Fellow would expect Fellow newsletters provide source specia knowledge available elsewhere which means written specialized journalism tradition The newsletters should provision useful knowledge about subject although written audience specialists By writing Mr Nolte always exceedingly informed layman every subject intelligibility writing But Fellow primary audience always those whose immediately served insight which allows offer through research writings This atypical newsletters informed forty I would argue should inform writing others service parti cular general audience becomes others better I This change direction Institute newsletters reflects appropriate Institute There exist other institution I which offers Fellows flexibility Institute This characteristic Institute maintained But resources committed which provides maximum continuing return investment people which represents The Insti evaluated terms future contributions which Fellows I would argue future measured continuing tribution which Fellows during their Fellows societies which themselves those especial concerned ticular interests Fellow This emphasis contemporary contribution current Fellows elevates importance newsletters requires about their contribution literature knowledge Fellow subject Most newsletters contribute advancement knowledge In future contribution should important Institute In order encourage enlarged contribution subject matter discussion Fellow newsletters I would suggest Institute appoint Board Editors Fellow which would drawn those working Fellow interest The Fellow would choose particular topics after conversation Board Board would review Fellow writing improve usefulness subjects written about Fellows I should quickly collection Boards would supplant review which Executive Director gives newsletters because still judge quality writing needs larger Institute audience There further problem present operation Institute which important implications access Institute Fellowships At present illustrated informal network knowledge which often called system order existence Institute Although Institute listed various publications there really little public knowledge about existence activities Institute This public profile meant Fellowships awarded mainly white middle class males there exceptional female black excep someone special connection network If Institute opening access significant social educationalopportunities develop recruit Fellows various minority majority women groups The first inform larger groups promising young people about existence Institute Fe ships which require Institute indulge selective publicity about activities There increase formality selection procedure include certain application dates public compe tition But formality approached because oneof In stitute greatest strengths flexibility which informality brought If years injustice Institute increase justice activities providing notice about opportunities those access Justice fairness requires burning school favor public notice affirmative recruitment those participated Institute The Institute Current World Affairs stands important alterna institution world foundations institutions education Its flexibility informality teach bureaucracies which control other foundations institutions furth education But order alternative institution effect larger institutions clearly communicate success failure dealing problems supposedly dealt larger systems The Institute successful providing small number people superb educational experience If offer opportunity small number drawn large diverse population combine education contribution vancement knowledge others traditional success terms flexi bility offer large bureaucratic institutions Viewed alternative institution therefore evaluated terms impact other institutions systems terms internal criteria Institute would pursue activities public manner would choice about future institutional change S would Institute contributing systemic change seems encumbent alternative institutions seriously defining And seems quite consistent ideas Crane Rogers early Institute My comments present fture Institute Current World Affairs important lessons which I learned three years exploration educational policy problems various countries first alternative institutions provide effective changing larger social systems alter native approaches which institutional framework affect larger systems classrooms Great Britain neighbor offices United States second these alternative institutions justifiable terms internal operation larger systemic impact reference important socia political values which provide norms evaluating larger social system The insights lessons suggest Institute Current World Affairs distinguished record contribution future require significant changes which maintain flexi bility which increase contribution future justice neighboring institutions increasing justice affair The evaluation Institute allows conclude stating clearly components account normative policy analysis clear conception modes socia change account values which important society Only reference elements comment particular institutions The conceptual tools available analyze elements still quite simplistic hopefully In stitute Current World Affairs contribute analysis substantive improvement policies through future Fellows their activities I association Institute better contri bution future And thanking Mr Nolte fellow readers patience support during three years I submitted comments In exchange I would appreciate receiving evaluation fellow readers newsletter since Fellow regularly readers And perhaps myreaders comments would helpful Institute charting future decade They certainly would charting To friends England Scotland Wales Denmark Sweden Norway Germany Israel Kenya Tanzania United States three years meaningful thanks future Cordially Irvin Spizbg Received New York April