Philosophy of Education

General Business Meeting

March 31, 2003

Officers present and Committee Chairs present:  Hytten, Haroutunian-Gordon, Houston, Schrag, Katz, Rice, Alston, Ford, Turner, Burbules, Applebaum, and Covaleskie

Number of Members Present:  50+

1          Call to Order – Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon, 7:30pm

2.         Approval of minutes of 2002 Business Meeting.

Denis Phillips moved to approve minutes, Dave Erickson seconded.  Motion passed.

3.               Announcements

Election Results - Barb Stengel announced that Bob Floden had been selected by the Election Committee as President-Elect, and that Kal Alston was elected to the Executive Board and Cris Mayo was elected to COPA.

New Fellows approved - Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon announced that three new fellows were approved for PES:  Kal Alston, Ron Glass and Kathy Hytten.

Reminders - Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon reminded members to submit papers/responses to Kal Alston, Program Chair, and to send copyright forms.  She also said we will try to get next year's proceedings out before we go to Toronto.

4.               President’s Report  - Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon

Sophie offered numerous thank yous for work done to make the conference a success.  Thanks to Harvey Siegel who took on the challenge of finding a location in Miami, and fact finding about the hotel – he did a wonderful job.  Much applause.  Harvey accepted thanks graciously and apologized to those who thought the hotel was too expensive.  He then thanked Kathy Hytten for helping him with the hospitality arrangements. 

Thanks to Kathy Hytten for helped with logistics, dealing with the hotel on the premises, working through the details of the conference, helping us to move ahead with the legacy fund and with financial issues. 

Thanks the Program Committee and to the various committee members and chairs.  Thanks especially to Kal – we had over a 100 submissions.  Thanks to the election committee.  Barb Stengel was terrific; even members of the committee said that.  Thanks to COPA.  Hilary Davis was unfortunately not able to be here, but the committee did good work.  Thanks to COSW, the Membership Committee, and then to all other committees (in order on the list of the program).  Thanks to the University of Miami and Northwestern University for support.

Two issues were initiated this year that we worked diligently on.  First is the inclusion of a past presidents panel on the program.  Nick Burbules did a great job facilitating this session for this year.  Barb Houston will do it next year.  This panel is a wonderful thing, which, like COPA, enables us to reflect on our place, where we are, and which issues mean something to us.  It helps us to better understand our society and what it is that we are doing.  Next year is the 60^th meeting.  The past presidents panel brought back some people who aren’t always here, which is good; that is what we are trying to accomplish.

The second issue we initiated is the Legacy Fund.  This was really started by a contribution from Nel Noddings last year.  She contributed and inspired us to think about how we could build our resources.  We want to help grad students and other people who would like to come to the meeting.  Our goal was to raise $10,000.  We got ½ way to that goal.  Michael Katz has been very important in helping us to think about the resources of the society.  We had been given $100,000 by Kneller which was sitting in an aggressive growth fund.  We lost $30,000.  So we started to think more seriously about this.  Michael got us connected with new brokers.  They are now managing our accounts.  We placed our money in new funds that are more secure.  The Legacy Fund is an opportunity for giving that will go on.  Next year we will be able to help graduate students who are on the program – we will help them to pay the registration.  We are only going to expend on the interest on the Legacy Fund.  We are starting with this one project to pay registration fees but we want to expand this.  We need to generate ideas about how to encourage contributions to the Legacy Fund.

Sophie thanked everyone working on the Fund, especially Michael Katz, and thanked everyone who contributed.  The Legacy Committee consists of Michael Katz, Denis Phillips, David Hansen, Sharon Bailin, and Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon.  Sophie talked a bit more about this fund, and about how they will be soliciting contributions and ideas for the committee. 

5.               Executive Secretary’s Report – Kathy Hytten

Membership - At the start of the 2002 meeting, 399 members had paid 01-02 dues.  At the start of this meeting, 384 members have paid for 02-03 - we expect more will pay at the conference.  We have 45 new members this year (last year we had 40, in 00-01 we had 51).  13 of these new members are attending the conference.

Financial Status - We are still in the process of reconciling financial figures in the transition to the new executive secretary and the new brokerage firm.  However, the financial status of the society is currently healthy.  The dues increase we instituted last year has generated more funds for the society, so this has helped.  We instituted a policy that emeritus members should pay at the rate that they feel most comfortable.  Kathy reminded members that the dues year begins on July 1^st.

6.               Call for Reports from Committee Chairs as needed

Educational Theory - Burbules handed out information about the journal and proceedings.  Journal subscriptions are up, and there has been an 80 day average turn around time for submissions.  Educational Theory is a little behind in the cycle, Winter 03 edition is at the printer.  We will be back on cycle by the summer 03 issue.  There has been a change in managing editors; the new managing editor is Joyce Atkinson.  She reports to Jim Anderson.  We have had many requests to sell the journal to a private company.  There is a new proposal to subcontract with Blackwell that is being considered.  Blackwell would take over sales and distribution, on-line publication, and facilitate putting back issues on line.  This would combine three of four major philosophy of education journals under one publisher, increasing possibilities for joint collaborative work.  This is not Nick's decision but he will be in on the discussions.  Nick is on sabbatical next year.  Ralph Page will delay his retirement to take over for 6 months.  Then they will seek a position at Illinois for the person who will be the next editor.

Hospitality Committee - Harvey Siegel mentioned that he hoped members had a good time in Miami.  No official report.

Program Committee - Kal Alston thanked all the members of the program committee for their efforts, as well as other PES members who helped make the program a success.  She commented that best part of the program was to see so many graduate students and new people to come to this years meeting and do so many great papers and sessions.   

COPA - No official report.  Harvey Siegel reminded the society that we had voted to continue work by McClellan and Arnstine about testing - we should do something with this. 

COSW - Gayle Turner mentioned that COSW provided a forum for discussion of a topical issue on the program:  feminists facing war, peace and militarism.  It was a good session that will give people different ways of thinking about a current crisis.  COSW also provides a welcoming place for graduate students and that is something they are going to continue to do.

CSFE - John Covaleskie offered that it is important that we continue to be a member.  They represent the umbrella foundations movement.  We need to keep the voice of foundations going - it is important.  CSFE mostly involves just paying dues.

Jobs for Philosophers - Barbara Applebaum said that regretfully the committee didn't do anything on the program this year, but they met and brainstormed at this year's meeting, and there will be something on the program next year.

Membership Committee - Michael Katz said that we have 45 new members and gave thanks to Craig Cunningham (our webmaster) as almost half of our new members joined off the website.  Randy Curren will be the new member of membership committee (replacing Chris Higgins who is rotating off to become the program chair).  The committee is going to make a push to take information about the society to other conferences. 

7.               Old Business

Fellow status - This issue has been raised many times.  The Executive Board decided to keep the current structure unless someone provides a rationale and motion to change it.  There is a concern that we don't have a list of current fellows.

8.               New Business

Dues Concerns - Some emeritus faculty were concerned with the new dues structure.  The Executive Board decided that we will suggest they pay at the rate they feel comfortable, with $30 being the lowest dues category.

War Resolution – Jim Garrison made a motion that PES condemn the current war in Iraq as unjust.  Estelle Jorgensen seconded.  Nel Noddings said we ought to think about mechanisms for doing this.  Larger organizations have done this, for example by passing around a list or a mail ballot, etc.  Lynda Stone said we should have some kind of statement, yet we need to canvas our membership if we are to truly reflect the society.  Fran Schrag said he will abstain and invites others to also, saying that we usually spend considerable time debating things very seriously, looking at principles and things with a fine tooth comb, it seems problematic to decide in minutes that something is unjust.  He would want something in writing prior to voting, adding it seems irresponsible to say that something is self evidently unjust.  Joe Meinhart said we should add to the resolution something about the effect of war on social services and education.  Denis Phillips echoed Fran’s concerns, saying that as philosophers of education we shouldn’t do something like this without long discussion.  Some responded saying we have all thought about this.  Ron Glass mentioned his session at last year’s conference where he found war on terrorism to be unjust.  It was a well attended session and nobody refuted the basic arguments.  He thinks they apply to the current circumstances and with force. 

Maureen Ford offered that this resolution is important for us to act on now, especially as it would be irresponsible to allow business as usual to go on when democracy is being challenged.  She said she will vote on this as a moment in history in order to speak against what is atrocious.  Lynda Stone mentioned that at lunch there was a discussion about an alternative approach, saying that maybe we could all agree that there was a travesty of communication and democratic processes, and that the U.S. government has not listened to anti-war protests.  That is, maybe we could agree on something a bit tamer than the current resolution.  Ilan Gur-Zeev spoke, saying that maybe he is the most experienced person on such issues.  In Israel, they address this issue at every meeting.  The challenge of responding to unusual situations is always present there.  His constant view is that we as members of PES have responsibilities as human beings, citizens, and as involved intellectuals.  Nevertheless, he said we shouldn’t do it like this (quickly and without much discussion).  With such declarations, because the issue at stake is so serious, you just don’t treat it like one item on a list of many others on the program.  He said it was not too late, and that the society could decide to have a discussion about this at the meeting still and suspend other things, at least to give us a chance for an hour or two to discuss it thoroughly.  He suggested that either we don’t do anything or we give it more time, adding that it is wrong for us and our self-esteem to go on as if we have no real serious problems.  Because the issue at stake is so serious, we shouldn’t do it this way. 

Michael Katz said that although he would support the resolution as a concept, to do this in 7-10 minutes is not a good idea.  He moved to table the motion, suggesting we should proceed with a more rational discussion and bring this issue to the Executive Board.  Denis Phillips seconded the motion to table.

It was discussed that the Executive Committee should take it up this issue and determine a procedure for reflecting on the motion that is on the table as well as the options we could take.  There was a concern that this would delay the motion.  A motion to table was called – 22 in favor, 14 opposed, 5 abstentions.

John Covaleskie offered a point of order question.  Can the membership direct the Executive Board to have a resolution?  He moved that the Executive Committee draw up a resolution that substantively expresses what Garrison said to give to the membership for approval.  Denis says we should table that motion.  Harvey Siegel clarify Denis’s point by saying what we need to do is establish a machinery to deal with such issues.  That is what the Executive Committee needs to be charged with, in general.  Maureen Ford was concerned that we already have a mechanism, the business meeting, and that there is already a resolution on the table.

Siegel’s motion is to charge the Executive Board to develop a machinery to deal with this process.  Jim Giarelli seconded.  Discussion ensued.  Giarelli said he wanted to speak against the motion we just seconded, arguing that the business meeting is the machinery.  There is no other machinery.  This is where we talk about things.  We have existing machinery.  Denis Phillips agreed with Harvey that we need to have a machinery for the process of discussing important issues.  Nel Noddings mentioned we are not the only organization facing this issue.  The National Academy has no process for passing resolutions of great social import.  Most of us feel at least that this thing should be put to a ballot.  It is a momentous social issue.  We might ask whether a simple majority or even more is needed on such an issue. 

Al Neiman said he was sympathetic to Jim Garrison, Denis Phillips, and John Covaleskie.  He said he would like to set an expectation that the Executive Committee put something on the website for members to think about.  We should then discuss it over the web and then vote.  He was concerned that this issue wasn’t brought to the membership earlier.  Ron Glass offered that it is ridiculous to think we have not deliberated about this within our own communities and that we are not adequately prepared to do a resolution – that says something about our own ethical inadequacy.  He didn’t see any problem with creating a mechanism, but said that we also have a business meeting, and this is a mechanism.  He was concerned that we were shirking our duty here.  Sophie offered that we are not shirking our duty; rather, we are trying to proceed in a reasonable fashion.  Fran Schrag said that since the original motion came from Jim Garrison, we should invite Jim to the meeting so he can help us form resolution.  Jim agreed to attend.

Sophie called the question that the Executive Committee should come up with machinery to deal with substantive issues of this sort.  Many in favor, 2 opposed, 4 abstentions, motion passed.  This issue was passed on to the Executive Committee.

Resolutions Committee - As part of the resolutions, Al Neiman instituted a new ritual of presenting the outgoing president with the tacky, kitschy, native souvenir portrait award.  This was met with pleasure by the membership.  He then read the resolutions.

Other - Scheduling conflicts.  Harvey Siegel reminded us that we need to make sure our meeting doesn't conflict with Pacific APA, something the society had agreed to.  Ilan suggested we consider moving this meeting closer to the meeting time of British PES so one can go from one meeting directly to the other.  Sophie mentioned that we are also trying to avoid Easter, Passover, AERA, etc., and thanked people for the suggestions which we will be more mindful of.

            Daniel Vokey complemented the COSW session on Friday night to talk about the war.  He asked that the membership explicitly thank the coordinators of that session, Maureen Ford, Gayle Turner, Karen Sihra, and Jennifer Logue.  Applause ensued.

9.               Passing of the Gavel - from Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon to Fran Schrag

Sophie passed gavel and wished Fran best of luck.  The first thing Fran did was to invite the membership to have a moment of silent reflection to help us realize how very fortunate we are on this planet.  He then said it is a great honor to follow Sophie, thanked the executive secretary, and announced that next year the conference will be in Toronto, saying “you will need heavier clothes but lighter billfold.”  He said that Chris Higgins will be the program chair, and that the slate of the program committee was almost set.  The Kneller lecturer will be John Kekes of SUNY-Albany.  Dwight Boyd invited the membership to Toronto next year.  Fran then adjourned the meeting.

Meeting adjourned 9:15pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Hytten

Executive Secretary