====================== HES POSTING =================== 
 
[I am forwarding this to HES because the conference organizers are 
particularly interested in drawing several historians of economics into 
the conversation about the use of core texts in undergraduate curricula. 
Even if you cannot present, they are interested in your attendance since 
there will be plenty of time for discussion.-- RBE] 
 
Dear Colleagues: 
 
This letter invites you to the Third Annual Conference of the Association 
for Core Texts and Courses (ACTC), April 10-13, 1997 in Philadelphia. 
Many of you know that ACTC advances and promotes core text 
curricula and the careers of those teachers, scholars, and 
administrators who have dedicated part or all of their professional 
activities to general education grounded in required core texts. 
 
Last year we grew from our original 23 schools to 53 from across the 
continent.  This year we expect to double individual and institutional 
participation.  Comprised of individuals and universities, colleges, and 
community colleges from state, secular, and religious traditions, ACTC 
draws upon all disciplines and all heritages. 
 
The Third Annual Conference's theme is: 
 
        TRADITION AND INNOVATION: THE FULL AND OPEN DISCUSSION 
 
ACTC believes that the debate and discussion over canon and core can be 
conducted more productively.  ACTC "brings together colleges and 
universities to promote the integrated and common study of world 
classics and other texts of major cultural significance. . . . ACTC is 
committed to the education of free citizens, equipped [with] . . . the 
best that has been thought and expressed in Western and other 
traditions" (ACTC Organizing Statement). Hence, in its purpose, 
activities, and conference ACTC faces the problems and offers the 
real, wide ranging, diverse and practical solutions that an enormous 
variety of schools 
have brought to problems of building cores and using texts that unite 
faculties and student.  Since no tradition can exist without 
innovation, ACTC's third conference focuses on these two topics as 
complementary sources of strength in curricula, individual courses, and 
texts, which institutions and individuals have incorporated into 
undergraduate education across North America. 
 
In short, the discussion about core and canon is happening at ACTC and, 
in our five plenary sessions, we have the speakers who are equipped to 
lead that discussion: 
 
                IN A FRIENDLY DEBATE 
        On Core Texts in the Arts and Humanities: 
 
        GERALD GRAFF, University of Chicago, author of "Beyond the 
        Culture Wars: how teaching the conflicts can revitalize American 
        Education," 
                        and 
        ROGER SHATTUCK, Boston University, author of "The Innocent Eye: 
        on modern literature and the arts." 
 
In addition: 
 
The Interdiscipline of Core Texts: 
        LOUISE COWAN, Former Dean of Humanities, University of Dallas; 
        author, "The Fugitive Group: A Literary History." 
 
Science and Technology in Core Texts: 
        ROBERT L. FREY, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Charleston 
        University; former editor of the "Lynchburg College Symposium 
        Series: Science, Technology, and Society." 
 
Social Sciences and Core Texts: 
        HAMID DABASHI, Columbia University's Chair of the Core; author of 
        "Theology of Discontent: the ideological foundations of the Islamic 
        Revolution." 
 
Director's Address: 
        STEVE ZELNICK, Temple University' Director or Intellectual Heritage, 
        ACTC Director; author, "Student's Introduction to Darwin" (forthcoming). 
 
Short paper (five pages, double spaced) panel sessions will follow each 
plenary session.  You are invited to submit a panel paper suggestion. We 
have 96 openings.  Papers should address "Tradition 
and Innovation" and, so that we all end up talking about books, devote 
3/4 of one page to a specific text (as example of or focus for the paper's 
argument.)  Papers may address curricular development or one text (or author). 
In addition, this year, since a 
course is the "book" of a teacher, we are especially interested in papers which 
discuss traditions and innovations within a given course. 
 
We would like to update you on ACTC services: 
 
        Annual Conference which is one of the few truly interdisciplinary 
        conferences drawing on all branches of knowledge; 
 
        Publication opportunities:  we are currently negotiating with an 
        establihed academic press to publish selected papers from the 
        conference; 
 
        A Newsletter, "Core," to keep abreast of ACTC developments; 
 
        An ACTC Website, at www.smumn.edu/ACTC/ACTC.html with descriptive 
        information, sample conference papers, and, soon, a listserve and 
        job line; 
 
        A "Directory" of ACTC Members to keep contacts and conversations going; 
 
        A "Program Descriptions" Booklet to offer models of the wide 
        diversity in texts and curricular programs available at ACTC schools. 
 
Please pass this e-mail on to colleagues and other list-serves which you 
think might be interested. 
 
If you would like to join us in April, let me know by e-mail. If you have a 
panel paper suggestion, either write me a quick note or call. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Scott 
 
*********************************************** 
J. Scott Lee 
[log in to unmask] 
Intellectual Heritage Program 
Temple University 
Association for Core Texts and Courses 
Associate Director 
(215)204-3176 
*********************************************** 
 
 
 
 
 
============ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ============ 
For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]