NSU-BA to Host Mini-Chautauqua

Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow will host a Chautauqua event with a performance, workshop and academic seminar on its campus.

Presented by NSU-Broken Arrow, the NSU College of Education and the Oklahoma Humanities Council, professional Chautauquan Charles Everett Pace will perform as Dr. W.E.B. DuBois.

"Dr. DuBois was a significant figure in the history of American higher education," said Educational Foundations & Leadership Assistant Professor Dr. Jocelyn Lee Payne, organizer of the event. "He was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. He was a scholar, historian and educator throughout his life and was pivotal in the founding of the NAACP."

The event is Sept. 9, with registration starting at 4 p.m. The program starts at 4:30 with Pace's portrayal of Dr. DuBois, the workshop and a meet-the-artist reception. The academic program with Pace begins at 7:30. Admission to the entire event is FREE and open to the public.

The Chautauqua method+an instructor playing the role of an historical figure+began in the U.S. in the late 19th Century.

"The expectations of the Chautauqua model are not only that the students learn biographical information about an individual, but also that they learn about the context of that person's achievements," said Payne. "And part of the model is also to explore how that person's history can inform us about the world we see around us today. Many people find it more engaging than the stereotypical history approach of memorizing a chronology of events and a few names within that chronology."

Chautauquans must exhaustively research the persons portrayed and their cultural environments. Pace's workshop looks at historical conditions during Dr. Dubois' life. The evening seminar focuses on the research and presentation aspects of the Chautauqua process.

"There are some who say Chautauqua was the predecessor to the community college," said Payne. "It is an accessible way of looking into historical ideas or events. This is a way of learning most students don't get to see. I was inspired this summer to try to bring this experience to our campuses and surrounding communities. Mr. Pace was gracious enough to be interested and to come."

For more information, contact Dr. Payne at payne@nsuok.edu or 918-449-6586.

9/4/2009

Published: 2009-09-04 00:00:00