Hide Article Text (OCR)
serevrI,e i Thnd13a:teDr. Ranch Returns Home After Teaching At Biarritz UniversityTt „ | L tDr. James B. Ranck returnedlast week from I* ranee where hehas been instructor in history at the Biarritz Am or icon University. He hag been Head of the Department of History and Political Science at- Hood College, and! is u familiar figure here.It was on June 14. of last year, just four days before students began registering for his summer course at Johns Hopkins Univer-«T.y!-r•**n.. iaynvhad a call from Dr. Wesley Gewe-hear head of the history department of the University of Maryland, asking whether he would teach at an Army university in England or France, leaving for overses.s July 1, Dr. Ranck acquiesced readily and after Dr. Henry I. Stahr. president of Hood and Dean May arranged a years leave of absehce and Dr. Katherine Gallagher of Goucher agreed to teach his Hopkins course, lie began his “hectic but fascinating introduction to Army life,The introduction consisted of processing at the Pentagon Building and at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, (called the “battle of the Brooklyn Bulge’' by the men). The teachers were civilians, but in officers’ uniforms, with “assimilated” rank ranging from captain to lieutenant-colonel which was given for protection In case they were captured by the enemy, The ranks were removed in 'October of last year,Sailed On QueenThe teachers. who numbered 150. boarded the Queen Elizabeth at 5 p. m, on July 4. Dr. Ranck s regret at leaving U. S. soil ..was quickened by the tickct he had for “Oklahoma'* Lhat he was unable to use that night. After an easy crossing the passengers landed at Gremoch below Glasgow. The teachers then1 fV'? rfrv-n ft -J/-. . ^ i 1 ' V * 11 “• ‘ ‘ “■ham. England, and the others, including Dr. Ranck traveled for three days without sleep cr a change of clothing, crossing the English Channel on the second night. The crossing was enlivened considerably when * the “Exchequer, the ship on which he crossed the channel, shot at floating mines visible in the channel and the passengers saw many more. In the harbor at Le Havre Dr. Ranck was able to get some sleep in the hold of the ship, in seven-tier bunks. On the third night they rode through Normandy to Paris where they stained a week. While in Paris. Dr. Ranck watched the dancing and singing in the streets which marked the Parisian celebration of the first “free” Bastille Day since 1939.iArriving in Biarritz on July 20, Dr. Ranck worked on a study of the history of the university ihere, which he was asked to do until the classic he-gfin on Auc. -0. The first month was rugged, for the university “started from scratch.” Nine sections of studies were offeredHistory. In his classes Were a few WACs. Frcneh soldiers and civilians and British students, plus American soldiers, of course. Despite difficulties such as the deficiency of ‘chairs at the start of the course and the ever-present cold, inside buildings and out, the students were “a constont inspiration'’ to the professor, from •Frederick and whep he replaced 'the teacher of the Constitutional History of the U. S., a subject he hadlie vet ptevjuUMy nu ivuareally “kept on his toes.” University PopularThe university was definitely popular with the GFs *Dr. Ranck said, and one of the principal reasons was the absence of 'chicken' i. e. lack of emphasis upon the rights and privileges of rank.” Everyone was on an equal footing, there was no saluting officers, which naturally was a hit with the enlisted men, Adding to the University's popularity were the many extra-curricular activities including sports, forums, r the most popular being the series on marriage relations) dnd dramatics. The soldier's production of “Richard III ’ was so outstanding it went on tour for two months. The movies were also a popular pastime and Dr. Rancksaid the reactions of the G. I. audience to “hypocrisy and spread-eaglism” were devastating and often more interesting to him lhan the movie.Educational activities did not consume all of Dr. Ranck’s time and the trips he took to near-by Bayonne and St. Jean do Lu/., Carcassonne, Toulouse. Pau. the Mediterranean and his two visits to Lourdes will always be vivid memories to him. One of his visits to Lourdes, on December 0. was especially memorable since it is the anniversary of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin.• r- *. L. lt;- w s‘.\ .ci...../■ r- - r, “~-„ V U . I . I A----IX____celebration by the populace.Now tlie University of Biarritz has closed. The last commencement was held March 8, but as a result of the project, the first and only time the government has ever set up a university, there are several schemes afoot. Dr. Ranck said, which may develop into a plan \q establish a system of interchanging students and leathers from country to country and thus bring about a greater understanding and perhaps liking of the mannerisms and customs of different peoples and so make the peoples better able to live together. ThU is indeed necessary Dr. Ranck believes in this atomic age.During Dr Ranck's absence ins family remained here and Mrs. Ranck tauslit Home Economics at Frederick High School. Dr. Ranck i? enthusiastic about hi.s experiences during the past nine months and equally glad to be home again after taking part in what he termed one of the greatest experiments in the field of education to be attempted in years He will resumefnrmr-r r\r\lt;zri a * T-Jn/'ir?ByAPTl vivt cd war the Alii Croi: It rev i mo\ of Dm bee thisP fC 1 1 V.marparfou:willwhcnoliTrepmaiinyoumejDUgpeaingheaon!-E tha lost tivc malt; girl 1 is \ingl.HiebccfrictosobtoleriSlerbetherevmili 11 wth o Rci u tn/HieburyenRcianc\va.wh[Q\yinI thacor erg err prcDClc•vI: PIC| wh \ corI \v;1I offi dai
Newspaper Details
News
Frederick, Maryland, US
Mon, Apr 01, 1946
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 03 Oct 2019
Other Publications Near Frederick, Maryland
The Frederick News Post
News
Frederick County Leader
Frederick News Post Journal
Frederick News Post Leader
