PHILOSOPHY of EDUCATION SOCIETY
PES Business Meeting
March 28, 1999
Call to Order
President Emily Robertson called the meeting to order at 5:15 PM.
Approval of Minutes of March 29, 1998 - Robertson
Robertson noted that, in the absence any suggestions for change to the minutes posted in the July 1998 Update, those minutes would stand as written.
President's Report - Robertson
Robertson thanked Bob Floden for his service as Executive Secretary, noting that the incoming Executive Secretary, Barbara Stengel, should be thought of as a successor, not a replacement.
Long-time PES member and supporter George Kneller passed away this year. His support has extended to a bequest to PES to endow the George Kneller lectureship. PES will be getting more information as Kneller's estate is settled.
Executive Secretary's Report - Floden
Floden noted that paid membership in the Society has continued to rise, reaching 472 for 1998-99. That is up from 297 for 1994-95. He noted, however, that neither the increase in membership nor the 1996-97 increase in dues has generated enough revenue to cover the costs of PES publications and office.
The Executive Board discussed several proposals for bringing the budget into balance. Proposals rejected were reducing payments of CLSE dues and increasing dues at this time. Instead the Board unanimously approved the motion that:
Rather than raise dues, PES should charge members $25 for the Yearbook and free on-line access to web site. The web site would be password protected for a moving 3-year wndown of recent Yearbooks. Garrision seconded the motion. It passed without objection.
The Executive Board also supported the Executive Secretary's suggestions for moving some of the regular mailings to electronic form.
In the discussion of this report, members encouraged the Executive Board to keep graduate student fees low.
[Note: The motion was revised at the Second Executive Board meeting to continue to give graduate students the Yearbook as part of their membership fee.]
Report From the Membership Committee - Deborah Kerdeman, Chair 1998-99
In October 1998, the general membership of PES voted to amend the sections of the Constitution which deal with procedures for admitting new members into the Society (Article III, Sections II, VI, and VII. See the PES Newsletters from Summer 1998 and October 1998 for details). As a consequence of this change, the work of the Membership Committee is being transformed. Whereas the Committee once spent the bulk of its time processing membership applications, it now is channelling its energy into two other types of activities. These activities may be thought of as "outreach" and "inreach." Outreach was the Committee's focus during 1997-98, when a concerted effort was made to recruit new members into the Society. Chair A.G. Rud sent mailings to AESA and INPE, tooK out ads in Ed Researcher and Ed Studies, and placed an announcement in the proceedings of the APA. Forty-nine new members joined PES as a result. During 1998-99, the Committee concentrated on inreach, helping new members feel welcome at the annual conference. Two informal strategies were announced in the February 1999 Newsletter and tried in New Orleans. First, on each night of the meeting, a notice was placed on the bulletin board in the registration area, inviting interested individuals to join representatives from the Membership Committee for dinner. Second, Committee members tried to be as visible as possible throughout the meeting. To facilitate this effort, each member of the Committee was identified by name on our conference badges. Both strategies seem to have been successful. Dinners were well attended every night. New members told us how much they appreciated sharing a meal with people they might not otherwise have met. A few veterans joined us as well. They, too, had a good time.
Identifying Committee members by name on conference badges invited questions and conversation. ("I see you're on the Membership Committee. May I ask you something?") While this year's Membership Committee took the lead in healping individuals feel welcome at our annual conference, it is our hope that in the future, every veteran of PES will make a conscious effort to notice and meet newcomers.
This raises some interesting questions regarding the future direction of the Membership Committee. Should the Committee continue to experiment with informal inreach activities at the annual conference? Should these activities be expanded and/or formalized, and if so, how? Should outreach in the form of recruitment continue to be part of the Committee's responsibilities? How would this work? Are there activities other than inreach and outreach in which the Committee ought to engage? More broadly, in the wake of the changes regarding admission of new members, what is the Membership Committee's purpose and function?
The Constitutional amendment affects new members only, not Fellows.
Discussion of the report ensued. Kohli suggests that volunteers to focus on meeting new people, for example, at reception for new members and grad students. Boyer suggested that members be assigned to provide introductions for new members.
Ed Theory and Yearbook -- Burbules
Education Theory figures remain stable. The number of submissions is consistent. About 25% of submissions are accepted. The 60-day goal for average turn around time was met again this year, with a 51 day average. The pattern of subscribers is shifting more towards domestic. The total is fairly constant. Wanda Pillow is new book review editor. Thanks to Kal Alston for her service in that role.
Burburles brought up two topics for discussion:: Puting the journal on line and thinking about the content of the 50th Anniversary issues.
For on-line access, Burbules would like to make information available, but is concerned that free electronic access would erode subscriptions. He plans to recommend to the Ed Theory Editorial Board that all articles be put up on the web, but that there be a five year window that requires a password, which would be given to paid subscribers. The PES Executive Board has no objection to these ideas.
Summer 2001 is 50th year of the journal. Burbules is considering either a retrospective analysis or a look to the future. Stone suggested that the issue might accommodate both. The Board suggested that Burbules consider special marketing for this issue.
Burbules noted to Ed Theory production costs have risen to almost $11, which the PES per-issue payment remains at $10 In a year or two, the journal will have to talk about raising charge to PES for members.
Costs for the Yearbook have gone down because cut in production run. The Board agreed to reduce the production run down another 100 more next year, bringing it to 750 copies.
Starting this year, the Yearbook team changed from hiring a full-year 25% GA to hiring a summer 50%-time assistant. Additional work beyond the fall was done by hiring a GA on and hourly basis.
Curren has done a terrific job as Program Chair/Yearbook Editor this year. Has resusitated the guide for Yearbook editor. That will help keep the project on schedule, reducing costs to the Society..
Burbules presented a suggestion for moving the PES data base to Ed Theory. The Board felt that it was important to keep the data base with the Executive Secretary, but encouraged the Executive Secretary and Education Theory to work toward better coordination.
It was noted that the Ed Theory index of subjects, titles and authors is available on the web site. It is searchable by keyword.
COPA -- Stone for Alston and Howe
COPA is looking at a series of topics for next year's session(s) including the ethics of educational research. In addition, COPA will take over responsibility for PEN, determining it focus and purpose and assisting in the development of articles/materials.
CLSE - Kohli and Tozer
CLSE is exerting significant influence at NCATE. One major category in the new NCATE standards is a program's conceptual framework. Foundations faculty are often drawn on to address this standard.
Kohli and Tozer report an increased presence of Foundations faculty at ATE and AACTE meetings. Tozer gave an invited ATE talk on standards, noting that the performance-based assessments require interpretation of practice.
Tozer is pushing for a change in the CLSE name, to something like National Association for the Study of the Foundations of Education. Suggestions were offered from the floor, calling for a simple name and a good acronym.
Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession
No report.
Jobs for Philosophers of Education Committee -- Stone
The Committee presented the following report:
Now that information about jobs is more readily available on the Web, the committee is reconsidering its role. The committee would like to do more. They will meet Saturday morning to discuss possibilities. Possibilities include a survey of faculty and sessions at PES aimed at helping junior members get jobs and succeed in them.
Members encouraged the committee to consult the PES Constitution as it thinks about its future activities. The feeling of mismatch between number of jobs and number of student PES members was discussed. Burbules questioned the claim of mismatch, since those graduating seem to be getting jobs. Perhaps the question is how to make more jobs that are already available suitable to folks like us. The Jobs Committee should support wider basis of training than philosophy of education, because most jobs aren't straight philosophy of education jobs. Members reported that, in some recent searches, there has been a terrific applicant pool in philosophy, history and sociology of education.
Someone suggested that the Committee do a survey of students to get demographic data.
Election Committee Report - Katz
Susan Laird has been elected to COPA and Frank Margonis has been elected to the Executive Board. Katz also announced that Nick Burbules will be the PES President Elect.
PES Resolutions Committee 1999- Al Neiman
(Resolutions Committee Members are Al Neiman, Dilafruz Williams, Victor Worsford)
We, the resolutions committee, resolve to be serendipitous, complimentary, and short.
Whereas we are in a state of nature and thus have some time on our hands, we see no need to multiply the "whereas's" endlessly.
Hence, with Noddlingsly care, but not forgetting Robertsonian reason, we resolve
1) to celebrate the life of our recently departed colleague, Harry Broudy, prolific writer and speaker on a wide range of topics in education. We are grateful for the many contributions he made to this Society and to the scholarship in general education, teacher education, and art education. We honor him as a teacher, a scholar, and a friend.
2) to express our sense of loss at the passing of our colleague, George Kneller, a very long time member and supporter of this Society. A prodigious writer on a wide range of topics in the philosophy of education, Kneller made many contributions to this Society. We are grateful for his financial support including a generous gift at PES's 50th anniversary. We honor him as a teacher, a scholar, and a friend.
3) to express our gratitude for the distinguished service to our Society of Robert Floden, Executive Secretary of PES. Thorough to a T, Bob's communications , like the man himself, have always been succinct and unpretentious.
4) to acknowledge the ability of Diane Beckett to keep our feet on the ground and our toes to the fire. We are thankful we have such a distinguished non-philosopher as caretaker of the feats of registration, and fiscal manager for the journal, Educational Theory.
5) to recognize Diana Dummit and Ginger Reynolds for exhibiting patience, hardwork, and care necessary to effect another outstanding Philosophy of Education Yearbook.
6) to thank the Committees, Representatives, and others who have added so much to luster of the society, for their hard work, their commitment, their attention to detail, and their perseverance. We commend them - one and all- for retaining their sanity over the last year:
7) to thank the hotel Monteleone for its good sense in being located in the French Quarter, and to the management and workers for making our stay bright, comfortable, and pleasant.
8) and finally, but equally important, to honor our President Emily Robertson for being a rationally reflective and effective scholar and leader. With mathematical precision, and love and logic, she has led us splendidly. We hope she will discover that there's life after presidenting PES and beyond "sardine can openers". We welcome her to the ranks of distinguished elder statespersons of our Society as she rides into the sunset of distinction.
Passing of the Gavel - Robertson to Garrison
Robertson almost forgot the gavel. She acknowledged the wisdom and support of Past President Ann Diller and offered a warm welcome to incoming President Jim Garrision. Garrison responded with thanks.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.
CONTACT: PES Executive Director Jeff Milligan
850-644-8171; milligan@coe.fsu.edu