Annual Dinner Features Seymour Sarason
The GSE's annual dinner, celebrated on October 9th, brought together faculty, staff, students,
and friends with members of the Educational Alumni Association and Phi Delta Kappa. The Great Hall at the Faculty
Club afforded a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with festive table decorations provided by EAA board members Ronni
Gravitz and Kristina Seher. Following EAA president Rick Bardellini's welcome and Dean Garcia's introductions,
everyone participated in honoring selected emeriti, faculty members, and students.
The 4th Annual EAA Scholarship awards were presented to GSE students Denise Bacchus and Adair Fox. PDK president
Anna Blackman made a presentation on the activities of the Berkeley Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.
The highlight of the program was Seymour Sarason's controversial talk, "Can We Rescue the Educational System?" on
the state of education in the United States. The Yale professor emeritus pointed out that in recent history
educational leaders have been largely unprepared for changes mandated by the courts or by the government. He
advocated a more sophisticated understanding of education, otherwise, "The more things change the more they stay
the same." Sarason concluded that only through meaningful reflection about the troubles facing schools will policy
makers and teachers achieve critical self-evaluation and consequent reform.
The next alumni dinner is tentatively planned for Friday, September 24. Mark the date and come and join the excitement.
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 Seymour Sarason
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