average work is not enough The School of Educa tion at Harding University continued its outstanding program of teacher education at both the baccalaureate and graduate levels, striving to graduate professionals with a genuine Christian cornrnittrnent. Dr. Bobby Lee Coker, dean of the School of Education, served effectively and responsibly at the state and national levels as well as at the local level. He was appointed by the State Board of Education to the 19-rnernber Teacher Education, Certification, and Evaluation Committee. With the move of the School of Business into the newly constructed J.E. and L.E. Mabee Business Center in the fall of 1982, the School of Education was able to locate all of its resources in the American Studies Building and to begin developing a strong curriculum laboratory under the direction of the late Dr. Mary Ann Harris. After the death of Dr. Harris, Marilee Coker became director of the curriculum laboratory. An indepth study was made of the general education program for teacher education in view of the overall general education requirements of the University which has maintained a strong general education program for all programs for several decades. The School of Education undertook a complete review of its curricula during 1985-86. Involved in the study were representatives from all facets of the University who are part of teacher education. New standards for admission into teacher education and the student teaching semester were implemented. These raised the G.P .A. required for admission from 2.20 to 2.25 and for admission to student teaching from 2.25 to 2.35 overall and from 2.40 to 2.50 in the student's major field. A minimum grade of "C" was required in each education course and in six hours of freshman English. All students who certified to teach had to take the National Teacher Examination in professional knowledge and in the specialty area of the student's major and achieve the minimum scores set by the State Department of Education. With the exception of one student all of the approximately 150 Harding students who completed the teacher education program during 1984-85 passed the examination, placing Harding among the top in the state on the NTE. The retirement of Dr. Edward G. Sewell, who had taught at Harding for 37 years, and the death of Dr. Harris, who had taught for seven years, constituted a major loss to the teacher education program because each had won the Distinguished Teacher Award and each was hi9hly recognized throughout the Block business. Mrs . Marilee Coker, head of the curriculum lab , works on an instructional display board with senior Kaye Goodson from Jackson , Tennessee. Goodson , like many others , spent much of her time in the curriculum lab during her teaching block. -photo by Karen Roseberry. state and surrounding states. Although it was known that each had a health problem which each fought valiantly, their separation from Harding carne rather sudden. Fortunately, Dean Coker realizing such could happen at any time had two capable teachers with excellent backgrounds in public school teaching and administration pursuing doctoral study at the University of Arkansas. Both received the Ed.D. degree in May, 1985. Dr. Lewis 'Tony" Finley wrote his dissertation on "History of Harding Academy, 1924-84" and Dr. Jim Nichols wrote his dissertation on "History of Harding College, 1924-84." To assist further in the replacement of Dr. Harris, Dr. Dan Lucas was added to the faculty of the School of Education. With the Ed.D. degree in reading and language arts from Montana State University, Dr. Lucas carne to Harding from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama, where he had served as cha.irrnan of the division of education after seven years of elementary and secondary teaching in the public schools of Indiana and Montana and nine years of college / university teaching at Montana State University and Berea College. He had chaired several important committees and studies at Faulkner and was used widely as a speaker in Alabama. All members of the faculty of the School of Education were active in learned societies and professional involvement of various kinds. Dean Coker, assisted by Dr. Wyatt Jones, director of graduate studies, conducted 12 workshops for approximately 800 area teachers to help them prepare to take the Arkansas Educational Skills Assessment Test required by the State Board of Education. Dr. Wade Bedwell was appointed a member of the Advisory Board of the Annual Edition Texts for "Human Development" of the Dushkin Publishing Group, helped validate the state teachers examinations, attended the Phi Delta Kappa Workshop in Little Rock, and was elected president of the Phi Delta Kappa Three Rivers Chapter. Dr. Finley was elected vice president of the Three Rivers Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa in charge of programs, worked during the summer with the Searcy American Legion baseball team, and worked with the Bison baseball team as pitching coach. Dr. Richard Duke was the immediate past president of the Three Rivers Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, served as the chapter's delegate to the Tulsa District Conference, and attended the Arkansas Department of Education Testing Conference in May. 4 School of Education 281
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