Word: botstein
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Panelists Edwin O. Reischauer, professor of History, Leon Botstein, President of Bard College and Steven Fischer, chief counselor at Bernard Haldane Associates, a career-counseling organization, presented their views on liberal arts education, its private and public consequences, and even debated its existence...
Last night Botstein questioned the existence of a true liberal arts curriculum in America today. Using Harvard as an example, Botstein said that people should not confuse a general distribution program, which he described as "an agglomeration of courses," with a truly coherent liberal arts curriculum that "guides students in areas that will help them to deal with present and future society...
However, when asked how he would go about devising such a core curriculum, Botstein gave no specific groundworks for a plan...
...perfect users of words." The line was more hopeful than prophetic. Today, many believe that the American language has lost not only its melody but a lot of its meaning. Schoolchildren and even college students often seem disastrously ignorant of words; they stare, uncomprehending, at simple declarative English. Leon Botstein, president of New York's Bard College, says with glum hyperbole: "The English language is dying, because it is not taught. " Others believe that the language is taught badly and learned badly because American culture is awash with clichés, officialese, political bilge, the surreal boobspeak of advertising...
...Botstein has encountered no special problems because of his youth, partly because his manner and bearing are those of an earnest 35-year-old, partly because he possesses enormous energy. Soon after becoming president, he took on the duties of the dean of the faculty. He also teaches courses in Greek philosophy and music composition and conducts the college chorus. For relaxation he practices on his violin or viola−favorite pieces include works by Brahms and Mozart−or plays table tennis. On taking office, Botstein said that he might retire while still in his 20s, "to start from...