Scrapbook Page 3179

              Josef Wagner, Pianist, Acclaimed by Audience 2/10/40 A program of sixteen numbers, including two of his own composition, was presented by Josef Wagner, German pianist and composer, at a concert held last evening in the auditorium of the Bloomsburg State Teachers College before a large audience. The audience included members of the Bloomsburg State Teachers College Alumni Association of the county j which met for a reunion at the college. The Sonata in A major by Mozart 'opened the program and introduced the audience to an artist of breathtaking power and brilliance. Fulltoned music in the heavier strains as well as a light, quick touch in the delicate passages were characteristics of his playing and proved him an artist of varied abilities. Other Mozart numbers played by Mr. Wagner included "Andante con Variazioni," "Menuetto" and "Alia Turca (Turkish March)". His interpretation of "Sontat Appassionata" by Beethoven was vital and sincere and he followed it with equally earnest and impressive renditions of a group of four numbers: "Allegro: Assai/* "Andanta con Noto," "Allegro, ma Won Troppo" and "Presto." Seldom does Bloomsburg have the opportunity to hear a program of this type of music, presented with such genius, and the second part of the program, which followed a short intermission, continued the high standard of musicianship marking the first part. Six preludes by Chopin was the first number following intermission in which the concert pianist caught the volatility and exquisite of this composer. "Poissons d'or (Goldfish)," by Claude Debussy and "March" by Serge Prokofieff came next on the program. Much acclaim greeted his playing of two numbers of his own composition, "Variations on a French Nursery Song" and "Toccata." The program closed with "Caprice in E major," Paganini-Liszt and "Soiree de Vienne," by Strauss-Gruenfeld. The Passing Throng i-zc-tc THE death at Washington, D, C, of Dr. Clinton Swisher brought to the mind of Dr. David J. Waller, Jr., the very definite part which Dr. Henry Carver played in the lives of many young men. "I never encountered another man like Dr. Carver," remarked Dr. Waller, "and I never met up with such a mar* velous disciplinarian. "Through the year Dr. Carver was directing the construction of what is known as Carver Hall at the College he was absent from the old academy on West Third street much of the time. He made a practice of directing eer* tain students to take care of certain classes and then left for the new building"" Nobody ever thought of taking advantage of his absence and order continued as it prevailed when he was in the room. "I recall that upon one occasion a John M. Clark came to school with a new pipe his father, Robert Clark, had given him. He was so proud of it that he pulled it from his pocket and was examining it as he sat in class. Clinton Swisher???the famous Dr. Swisher of later years???was sitting next to him. He didn't like tobacco and was always quick to act. He reached over, grabbed the pipe and as quickly threw it out the open window. With no remarks passed John Clark got up from his seat, walked from the building, recovered his pipe and as quietly sat down again. There was no commotion. "I recall tat upon one occasion a famed circus was scheduled to appear in Bloomsburg. The parade was scheduledscheduled to pass the old academy. "The boys were determined that the strict discipline ought to be lifted sufficiently to permit the school to view the parade. The boys were especially insistent because the girls occupied the rear row of benches and had merely to turn their heads to view the parade. "The boys appointed a committee to interview Dr. Carver and present the school claims. He listened to what they had to say and informed them he would give his decision at the opening of school the next day. "Then he outlined to them his purpose back of insisting upon thorough discipline: that he wanted them to benefit by the training. When he had finished the entire school saw it as he did. He did take care to admonish the girls they were not to take advantage of the fact that they had merely to turn their heads to view the parade. "The parade appeared in due time. The music of the band was heard, but not a head was turned as the parade pased and every student remained in his or her place. And Dr. Carver at the time wastup on the hill directing the work there. "No, sir," emphasized Dr. Waller, "I have never met up with the equal of that man." Then going back to "Clint" Swisher, it seemed to be Dr. Waller's thought that the occasion when Queer: Victoria received Dr. Swisher in a personal audience and at her request was one of the greatest of the many honors he had bestowed upon him during his remarkable lifetime. Jobless Teachers Blamed on U.S. Economic System ' - C?D Teacher Tenure Law Held Blameless in Situation, Speaker Says The teacher tenure law is not the basic cause for unemployed teachers but rather the present economic system, Dr. C. O. Williams, of the depart- I ment of public instruction at Harris] burg, declared in the opening address lof the service area conference for I teachers of Columbia, Montour, North| umberland and Luzerne counties at f the Bloomsburg State Teachers Col- I lege Saturday morning. Contributing factors toward the i present situation, he explained, were \ the failure of taxing bodies to provide additional funds, for school expansion | programs and in the curtailment of I small schools. More than 200 teachers attended the J general session which was planned I for men and women associated with I scholastic fraternities. Last year the j conference was devoted to the clinical J approach of mentally retarded stu- I dents. The opening session was held in | the college auditorium, with Prof. J Howard Fenstemaker at the organ. Taking as his subject, "The Implica- I tions of Our Rating System for Teach! ers," Dr. Williams pointed out this j system would enable the supervisors j and principles to help young teachers, j The system, he continued, would rei suit in better teachers and was not meant to be a firing card but rather a I rating card. It was designed to supplement tlie tenure system and make \ it more effective. Group sessions were conducted at I eleven o'clock. "Teachers' Problems | and How To Meet Them" was the subj ject of the theme discussed by the ; Kappa Delta Pi Fraternity, with Roy J. Haring, supervising principal of j the Nescopeck High School, as chairman. Participating were: Dawn Townsend, Elizabeth Bowman and \ Karleen Hoffman, of Bloomsburg, and Blanche Garrison and Armina I Kreischer, of Berwick. "Opportunities and Problems in the j Fields of Supervision" was discussed by the Phi Sigma Pi Fraternity. Ray i Cole, superintendent of county schools, was chairman. Dr. C. O. Williams also participated in the general discussion.Topics covered by the Alpha Psi i Omega Fraternity were: "Problems in j High School Plays," William Morgan, I Wanamie; "Dramatics in the Elemen-1 tary Schools," Elizabeth Feinour, Mill- Iville; "Dramatics in the Township Schools," James Davis, Mainvflle; "The Teacher in Community Dramatics," Maynard Pennington, Bloomsburg, and "Problems in Play Production," Jacob Kotsch, Lemoyne. "A Proposed Business Education Curriculum for Secondary Schools in Pennsylvania" was the subject of the panel discussion for the Pi Omega Pi Fraternity, with Dr. Paul L. Cress- j man, of the Department of Public In-1 struction of Harrisburg, chairman. He