Sixty-Year Ride through the World of Education

Rudolph H. Weingartner emigrated to New York from Nazi Germany in 1939. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University. His career as a teacher and scholar has included chairing three philosophy departments, serving as dean at Northwestern, and as provost at the University of Pittsburgh. He has written books and articles on numerous topics and has variously pursued his strong interests in music and art.

• Part 1 Preface Chapter 2 Volksschule in Heidelberg Chapter 3 Expulsion and Departure Chapter 4 Two Schools in Manhattan Part 5 I: Some Thoughts About Elementary School Chapter 6 Brooklyn Tech Chapter 7 The Mechanical Course Part 8 II: Concerning High School Education Chapter 9 Interlude in the Navy Chapter 10 Freshman Year in Columbia Part 11 III: On Required Courses for Undergraduates Chapter 12 Mostly Humanities Chapter 13 A Start in Philosophy Part 14 IV: On Liberal Education Chapter 15 Not Studying Abroad Chapter 16 Graduate School Is Different Chapter 17 Out of School Again Chapter 18 All but Dissertation Chapter 19 Writing a Dissertation Part 20 V: On Graduate Education in the Humanities Chapter 21 Launched as a Teacher Chapter 22 On Learning How to Teach Chapter 23 An Adult in San Francisco Chapter 24 Teaching and Writing Chapter 25 The Mission of Undergraduate Teaching Chapter 26 Administration and Politics Chapter 27 The Blowup at San Fransisco State Chapter 28 Vassar is Different Chapter 29 Chairing Philosophy at Vassar Part 30 The Peculiar Task of Chairing a Department Chapter 31 BMOC Part 32 IX: What Liberal Arts Colleges Are Good For Chapter 33 Fellowships Chapter 34 Publish or Perish Chapter 35 Northwestern: Making Changes Chapter 36 Busy, Busy Chapter 37 Out of the Office Chapter 38 Institutional Coherence and Identity Part 39 XI: The True Nature of Academic Administration Chapter 40 Between School and School Chapter 41 On Searching for Academic Administrators Chapter 42 Provost at Pitt, Briefly Chapter 43 Denouement Part 44 XIII: On the Tendency to Transform Universities into Corporations Chapter 45 My Last Philosophy Department Chapter 46 Now with a Bang Part 47 XIV: Retirement as Institutional Necessity Chapter 48 Out of School for Good Part 49 Endnotes Part 50 Index

Rudy Weingartner takes us on a gentle but invigorating ride through the groves of academe. It is a journey that will be of interest to anyone who has worked in a university, and I think it will fascinate many of those for whom a university education has been an important experience. The book also speaks to the centrality of the humanities in the construction of our higher education. Finally, it will fascinate anyone interested in the Americanization of a talented immigrant boy who makes the most of the remarkable educational opportunities available in this country. It is a wonderful read.