Class of 1961
Class Chair:
Mary "Shorty" Friedman Birenbaum 503/342-6668; Email 
Class Notes:
Mary "Shorty" Friedman Birenbaum
I was on campus in October and saw the newly renovated Earlham Hall. There was much discussion about the capital campaign and the need for fine arts and science buildings. I hope you've pledged your generous support to these projects. We've started the countdown to our 50th reunion. Stay tuned for more information and send in any thoughts you have on ways to celebrate.
(Posted October 26, 2009)
Thomas A. Wilson
"Still adding years to my 40 years of professional work to transform public schools into places that make sense for all our children, particularly in cities. My main theme has been the need for research
knowledge that doesn't forget that it is the particularity of each child and school that is important for the work of a practicing teacher. Based on field work in England in the nineties, observing Her Majesties Inspectors at work. At least they dealt with the complexity of actual practice rather than abstract variables. The result is Practice-Based Inquiry, which assures legitimate findings from a professional visit. And then fifteen years of work architecting and implementing a visit system called SALT for the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Chicago Schools Alliance. 350 Rhode Island schools have now hosted a visit team comprised primarily of practicing Rhode Island teachers. The school receives a direct and frank report on how well students are learning, teachers are teaching and the school is supporting good learning and teaching. Its been great. I draw from several lessons I learned while at Earlham, including: the importance of language, Wayne Booth's insistence that you can't criticize what goes on in a book until you understand the point of view of the author and the context of the action and the value of consensus as a tool for approaching closer to truth, rather than reaching political agreement. No moments bring me more satisfaction than chairing a team of school practitioners as they work to figure out the puzzles of life in a real school. Its the closest thing I have found to being in a play, directed by Art Little."
(Posted July 14, 2009)
Mary "Shorty" Friedman Birenbaum
While on a trip through the Panama Canal in April, we were approached by a Japanese couple who had noticed my Earlham t-shirt. The gentleman told us he had been a student of Jackson Bailey and J. Arthur Funston in Japan in the late 50's. He was delighted to make another Earlham contact. I never leave home without my E.C. shirt!
As we begin the countdown to our 50th reunion (2011) please be sure the Alumni Office has your email address. You can submit it via the Earlham website (Alumni Relations) along with your latest news.
(Posted April 28, 2009)
Obituaries:
Donald Farrior
Donald Farrior of Summit, Mo, died on August 29, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Janet Farrior.
(Posted February 17, 2010)
(Correction)
Kathryn Schnur Witzke
Kathy died peacefully at her home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on August 17, 2008, of a malignant brain tumor which was diagnosed just last Christmas. She had just passed her 69th birthday on July 31. Kathy received her A.B. degree from Earlham and then her M.S. in Teaching from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. In addition to raising her three sons, she was an educator and taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, but primarily in the middle school. She was an avid reader until her disease robbed her of the ability to read. She was also a naturalist, a poet and someone who always took care of those around her. She will always be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor and her ability to make others laugh with just her tone of voice or turn of phrase or facial expression. She is survived by Terry, her husband of 41 years, her sons Charles (Amy Wagner) Witzke, John Witzke and Daniel Witzke, grandchildren Leo and Lucia, sister Mary Beth (Bob) Metcalf, and nephews Thomas (Margaret) Metcalf and James (Sarah Barkin) Metcalf and great-nephew Matthew Metcalf. Kathy was a beloved mother, wife, sister, grandmother, cousin, friend and teacher and is missed by all who knew her.
(Posted January 19, 2010)
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