Liberal Arts News StoriesA stunning 38 percent of local K-8 teachers would not encourage others to enter the teaching profession. And, another 29 percent remained indifferent on the subject, according to a recent survey conducted by Dr. Philip Kovacs and Dr. Jason Smith, assistant professors at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Alarming too was the nearly 30 percent of teachers who either agreed or strongly agreed with the survey statement, "I am considering changing professions." But, perhaps more disturbing of all the responses received, was the cry of despair from one respondent: "Please help us!" "The broad coalition who initially supported NCLB had no idea what the incidental consequences would be, but after six years the coalition has crumbled, " said Kovacs, assistant professor of education. Smith, assistant professor of sociology, said the survey didn’t ask administrators about encouraging others into teaching or if they (the administrators) were considering a career change, but he and Kovacs did ask them to discuss the legislation. "Close to 60 percent of administrators surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed the education law is not a positive step for national reform," Smith noted. "And, nearly 72 percent of teachers expressed the same opinion." Kovacs and Smith say there are very few advocates of NCLB and the dismal responses by local educators and administrators echo their peers on the national level. Smith said the education policy is flawed, "mainly because it is a nationwide program. In a nation as diverse as this country, trying to apply a single policy or measuring stick is going to create problems. School conditions in Maine are far different from Alabama; challenges in California may not exist in Idaho," he explained. "Furthermore, much of the promised support for NCLB (in terms of funding demands placed on schools) has not been delivered — this creates more problems, and increases the opposition." When asked if NCLB could be saved, Kovacs gave an emphatic No. "With NCLB there is no middle ground. Students are either proficient or they’re left behind …. they either pass or fail, there is no in-between," Kovacs explained. "When you go into a department store, there are thousands of sizes and brands to choose from. Under NCLB, we get one." Kovacs said there are many reasons NCLB is such a nightmare for local school systems, but he underscores point one of the law: the achievement gap. "There are at least 10 other gaps including economical, social, and environmental that need to be closed before that can happen," he explained. "Finally, this is something that should really resonate with Huntsvillians … NCLB outsources our children’s education by forcing teachers to rely on prepackaged materials and examinations. For example, the state of Washington spent $57 million dollars last year alone on tests and materials that it purchased from private companies," Kovacs said. Kovacs and Smith ended the survey with an open-ended question, If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be? The two researchers categorized respondent’s answers to "themes" earlier identified in the document. Nearly 120 responses mentioned something related to NCLB, testing, or accountability. "Another important issue that educators addressed was teachers’ sense of professionalism," said Smith. "We are now examining the effects of NCLB on teachers’ sense of professionalism, particularly as it relates to their opinion of encouraging others into the field, and their own thoughts of leaving it." "Watchdogs or Lap Dogs? Politics and the Alabama Press" discussed during forum at UAHuntsville How local and regional print media handle hot-button news stories will be examined during Scott Horton’s talk "Watchdogs or Lap Dogs? Politics and the Alabama Press," on Tuesday, April 22 at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville). Horton, a writer for Harper’s Magazine and an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, will give a presentation at 7 p.m., in the Shelby Center, room 107 on the UAHuntsville campus. The North Alabama Media Reform Group (NAMRG) and UAHuntsville sponsor Horton’s visit. The event is free and open to the public. "Scott Horton is coming to UAH to address some critical concerns about Alabama media," said Dr. Clarke Rountree, Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Arts. "Most prominently, the local press’s coverage of the Don Siegelman case, which appears to have lagged behind the national media in failing to scrutinize the possible role of politics in trying, convicting, and sending a former governor away in shackles." "Given the radical consolidation of our news media over the past two decades, concerns have arisen over a conflict between corporate interests and the public interest, and between the national orientation of these corporations and the local interests and concerns of their listeners and readers," Rountree explained. "Media commentators like Scott Horton offer a critical lens for thinking about the implications of those changes in media ownership." Horton’s interest in Alabama politics stems from his roots: his family is from Lawrence County, Ala. Recently he has appeared on MSNBC, National Public Radio, Democracy Now! and other national programs to discuss the political prosecution of Alabama’s former Governor Don Siegelman. Rountree added that the NAMRG, which is the primary sponsor for Horton’s visit, has been working for a couple of years now to try to bring balance to the news media. Additional sponsors for Horton’s visit include the UAHuntsville Communication Arts and Political Science Departments, Humanities Division of Calhoun Community College and Alabama A & M Political Science Department. North Alabama area high school students to participate in UAHuntsville annual Liberal Arts tournament Nearly 400 North Alabama area high school juniors and seniors will test their knowledge of history, political science, and art at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Liberal Arts Tournament on Thursday, April 17. The purpose of the annual tournament is to motivate students to study the Liberal Arts and help prepare for future collegiate studies. During the 12th annual competition schools will provide teams for the subjects. Women’s studies have been added to this year's contest. The event begins at 10 a.m., in the Chan Auditorium. At 11:45 a.m., testing is completed and students are encouraged to take tours of the campus and enjoy a complimentary lunch. The tournament awards ceremony begins at 1 p.m., in the Chan Auditorium. Each student has the opportunity to win an award based on his or her performance. Individual plaques will be awarded to the top 10 individual scorers for each test. Team plaques will be awarded for the first, second, and third place American history and world history teams. Individual winners in each contest will be awarded a $500 UAHuntsville scholarship. Students participating in this year’s tournament include Johnson, Catholic, Randolph, Ardmore, Madison County, Covenant Christian Academy, Columbia, Brewer and Athens. The UAHuntsville College of Liberal Arts, the History Department, and the UAH Offices of the President, Provost and Development sponsor the annual event. For more information, please call Beverley Gentry at 824-6310. UAH inaugural concert to feature new faculty member Sarkis Baltaian, international concert pianist George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue will be performed by concert pianist Sarkis Baltaian during week-long inauguration festivities for David B. Williams, fifth President of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). The inaugural concert will be presented Tuesday, April 8. The premiere performance of Baltaian, UAHuntsville’s new assistant professor of music, will also include the university’s jazz ensemble under the direction of Don Bowyer, chairperson and associate professor of music, and the concert choir led by Michael Conran, assistant professor of music. The performance will be at 4 p.m., in Roberts Recital Hall, after the College of Liberal Arts Convocation, which begins at 2 p.m. Baltaian has gained an international reputation as a concert pianist, chamber musician, recording artist, and pedagogue. He has been compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1999, and has performed extensively throughout the United States, Australia, Germany, Austria, Holland, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria. A dedicated teacher, Baltaian’s students have won various national and international competitions and continue to establish themselves as respectable musicians. Baltaian attended the University of Southern California where he received the bachelor of music, master’s of music, and doctor of musical arts degrees. Baltaian serves on the keyboard faculty at the California State University, Los Angeles. In August, 2008, he will join the music faculty at UAHuntsville. "Instrumental Extravaganza" concert at the Von Braun Center An "Instrumental Extravaganza" concert will be sponsored by the UAH Music Department on Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m., at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. The concert will feature the university's premiere instrumental ensembles, the UAH Wind Ensemble and the UAH Jazz Ensemble, with special guests Ken Watters, Carolyn Sanders and Margery Whatley. The UAH Wind Ensemble conducted by C. David Ragsdale, will present a program that includes Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and world premieres of new compositions by UAH Music Department chairperson, Don Bowyer, and student, Xavier Roberson. The UAH Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bowyer, will feature Watters on trumpet as well as works by UAH Music students, Jody Stiles and Mitsuru Kitade and alumni Andrew Palmer and Newt Johnson. For ticket information, please contact the UAH Department of Music at 256-824-6436. Tallulah Bankhead topic of UAH Honors Forum lecture Passionate, bold, and kindhearted all describe the many moods of Hollywood legend and Huntsville native Tallulah Brockman Bankhead. The life and times of Bankhead will be discussed during a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Honors Forum on Tuesday, March 11 at 11 a.m., in the Frank Franz multipurpose room. The guest speaker will be Dr. David Bowman of Sewanee, Tenn., president emeritus, of the Tallulah Bankhead Society and former columnist and writer at The Huntsville News. Bowman’s talk is entitled “Remembering Tallulah Bankhead.” During the lecture, clips from some of her movies will be shown to the audience, as well as vintage copies of magazine and trade publication articles and interviews. Bankhead’s career spanned more than five decades. She was featured on the cover of LIFE magazine March 1939, for her performance as Rebecca Giddens in the movie, “The Little Foxes.” Bankhead was also on the cover of the November 1948, edition of Time. Bowman will also read from Bankhead’s autobiography TALLULAH published in 1952. Bankhead actually talked in a Dictaphone about her life and had it transcribed for the book. When Bankhead’s film career waned she turned to radio and TV. Her last memorable major movie role was in “Die. Die. My Darling!” in 1965. Bankhead was born on Jan. 31, 1902 in Huntsville. Less than one month after she was born, Bankhead’s mother, Adelaide died from complications of childbirth. Bankhead’s father, William Brockman Bankhead served in the United States House of Representatives and was Speaker of the United States House of Representatives until his death in 1940. President Franklin D. Roosevelt attended his funeral in Jasper, Alabama. When she was a teenager, Bankhead entered her photo in a movie magazine beauty contest and won. Bankhead was Hollywood bound. Over the next 50 years, Bankhead had movie roles in “Reflected Glory," "Dark Victory," "Forsaking All Others," "The Little Foxes," and "Skin of Our Teeth." She was the recipient of the New York Film Critics Award for her appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's "Lifeboat," in 1944. Bankhead’s bold, raucous behavior is legendary in Hollywood circles. Little known facts about Bankhead include she was terrible at remembering names and that’s why she greeted most everyone with her signature, “Hello Dahling!” And, she was the first white woman to appear on the cover of Ebony, the oldest African American magazine. On May 18, 1963, Bankhead returned to Huntsville for the dedication of Bankhead Hall on the Redstone Arsenal. The building memorializes Senator John Hollis Bankhead of Alabama (her uncle) and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives William Brockman Bankhead (her father). In 1993, a musical ‘TALLU’ chronicling the life and times of Bankhead premiered at UAHuntsville. The musical was also performed in Jasper, and Birmingham. For more information about Bowman’s lecture, please call the UAH Honors Forum office at (256) 824-6451. UAH Global Studies forum to feature distinguished historian of West African culture Jean M. Allman, one of America’s most distinguished historians of West African culture will give two public lectures at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) next month. Allman is professor of History at Washington University in St. Louis. She was recently named the inaugural holder of the prestigious J.H. Hexter Professorship in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences. Her visit is sponsored by the university’s Global Studies Program, and is free and open to the public. On Thursday, Feb. 21, she will address the Honors Forum at 11 a.m. in the Frank Franz Hall multipurpose room. Allman’s lecture is entitled "The Disappearing of Hannah Kudjoe: Nationalism, Feminism, and the Tyrannies of History." Later the same day, she will give the talk "Nuclear Imperialism and the Pan-African Struggle for Peace and Freedom: Ghana 1959-1962," at 7:30 p.m., in room 109, of The Shelby Center for Science and Technology on the UAH campus. The UAH Global Studies Program provides on-and off-campus opportunities for students interested in pursuing in-depth study of the world outside the United States. The program offers a multi- and interdisciplinary cognate designed around a core of courses that provide a strong foundation in global studies, while also allowing students the choice of electives to tailor the course of study to their individual needs and interests. The Program also administers faculty-led study abroad courses and programs and promotes other study abroad opportunities for UAH students. Allman’s research work and interests focuses on African history through a range of thematically diverse, yet overlapping topics -- nation and national identity, gender and colonialism, fashion and the politics of clothing, and the modernity of indigenous belief systems. She is concerned with the ways in which African women and men, in their homes and communities, through their belief systems and material cultures, have positioned themselves as central actors in the making of the modern world. Besides a prolific publication record, Professor Allman has exhibited exemplary administrative service to her academic institutions and to her academic discipline. She directed the Center for African Studies at the University of Illinois from 2003-2007. A Title VI Center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Center is one of the largest and most distinguished African studies programs in the country. Allman has also chaired the American Historical Association’s Joan Kelly Memorial Book Prize Committee, has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora and for the African Studies Association, and has been a panelist for the NEH, ACLS, and SSRC. Allman’s publications include TONGNAAB: The History of a West African God (with John Parker), Fashioning Africa: Power and the Politics of Dress, and Let Your Fashion Be in Line with Our Ghanaian Costume: Nation, Gender and the Politics of Clothing in Nkrumah’s Ghana." She began her academic career at the University of Missouri before moving to the University of Minnesota and the University of Illinois. She speaks Twi, French, and some Talen. Allman studied at Northwestern University and earned an undergraduate degree in history and an undergraduate certificate in African Studies. Additionally, she holds a graduate certificate in African Studies, and a Ph.D. in African History. UAH sponsors theatrical performance: "I’m Not Getting On, Until Jim Crow Gets Off" "I’m Not Getting On, Until Jim Crow Gets Off," an interactive theatrical performance will be performed Tuesday, Feb. 12 at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UA Huntsville). The event is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Honors Program and Student Affairs and is free and open to the public. The performance begins at 11 a.m. in Frank Franz Hall on the university’s campus. Awele (pronounced ah-WAY-lay) Makeba, an award winning internationally known actor, storyteller and educator, presents stories of teen and women activists involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott through a talking timeline. Makeba has mesmerized audiences from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. to the University of Alaska at Anchorage. Additionally, she has performed in Russia, Australia, Taiwan, France and Canada. She invites audiences to wrestle with complex and emotionally laden issues that teach us about our common humanity, potential, and our purpose for “being” in the world. Her performances have been featured at national conferences such as: The National Association of Multicultural Educators and The Coalition of Essential Schools and The Oral History Association. Makeba is a featured storyteller in Scaretactics, a national PSA in the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign sponsored by The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Makeba earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Webster University in St. Louis, and a master’s degree in elementary education from San Francisco State University. She is a recipient of numerous awards including the Excellence in Arts Leadership, ABC Channel 7 African American Heritage Salutes, and Master Storyteller Award Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival. For more information about “I’m Not Getting On, Until Jim Crow Gets Off,” please call OMA at (256) 824-6822 or email oma@uah.edu. |
UAH Home | Disclaimer