ENPages
1
509 E. 6th Lt. San Antonio 2, Tex
28 Mar., 1945
President Donald B. Tressidder Stanford University, Calif.
My dear Mr. Tressidder:
Thank you for your interesting letter, dated March 1945. In answer to your questions
1) I do hope to return to Stanford for additional graduate work, over and above my Ed.D- which, I fervently hope, will be conferred in absentia in the very near future.
2) I shall want work that will be a refresher in the particular field of English literature which I hope to be teaching, if and when I secure a position. Incidentally, since I was in the midst of my graduate studies at Stanford when I joined up, I have no
2
position to which to return after I leave the service. I should very much like to know how much help in securing a suitable position I may expect from Stanford, when the time comes.
3) The work in English literature should not differ materially from the pre-war program. I feel very strongly, however, that Stanford, & all other institutions of higher learning, must use all their influence to preserve the [continue?] all of cultural subjects in high schools, junior colleges & state colleges. There is going to be a strong trend toward so-called utilitarian type courses in English, at the sacrifice of what is truly worth-while. Unless this trend is strongly resisted by universities, junior colleges and high schools will degenerate into trade or commercial schools. Academic standards are
3
in far greater danger in the type of schools I mention, than at the university level; and I feel that it is Stanford's duty to resist such tendencies with every means within its power.
4) As for housing, I shall need inexpensive quarters for myself & wife.
5) Most of us long for rest more than anything else (I have had no leave in 3 years) so, for extra-curricular activities all I can think of is outside the usual thing. For example, week-ends at Yosemite, Sequoia or some other beauty-spot. But I think also of such things as the theatre, opera, the symphony - if possible, at rates we could afford. Most graduate students always have to think of expenses in terms of two - theatre tickets - RR fares - meals at hotels etc - for themselves & their wives.
4
I am sure we should also enjoy discussion groups - and participation in policy-forming - that would attept to find solutions for social maladjustments, economic dislocations, and political activity growing out of the war, and the return from war to peace.
At present I am assigned to the AAF training program for Chinese Officers and men. For the selected trainees sent us by the Chinese government, we are attempting a broad program built to the same standards followed by our own air-crew trainees but approached by different methods. I am stationed at SAACC, San Antonio, Texas, but shall of course return to California as soon as I leave the service.
Yours very truly,
Chas. W. Rossier 1st Lt., AC
