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- Dr. Ed Steiner
College of Education Faculty Oral Histories
Dr. Ed Steiner
LB: Everyone has an unusual sometimes humorous story that they remember from their early days and sometimes throughout their careers, that happened to them or someone else in the department that I’ve asked people to share with us.
ES: Well, I could think of one or two. I don’t know if I want to share them. These people are still alive. There was one incident that occurred during my first years at USF. At that time there was an associate dean that had some traits that were somewhat different and unusual. I remember his walking through one of my classes while it was in session. He just starts spouting off and yelling about unrelated things and then he would say “so long, see y’all,” and he quickly left the room. It didn’t make any sense. The students and I were somewhat dumb-founded. I think that was just his personality, and it was quite a disruption of the class. I was a young new professor at the time and he may have been trying to shake me up a little bit I suppose, but that was different. At the time it wasn’t that humorous but now as I think back, maybe there was some humor involved.
LB: What would you say to a student today coming into our College of Education about the teaching profession, and about the opportunities in the College in particular based on what you’ve seen over the years with so many students come through the College.
ES: Well, I think the main message is that teaching is a very rewarding career, although not financially. If a person really has a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of young people, and if a teacher can make a connection with a young person, that person’s life can be changed forever. It takes just one or two experiences that can make a world of a difference in a child’s life. If a person is inclined to do that, this is a wonderful profession and a person can get a lot of rewards from doing that. There are a lot of opportunities in the College. A young person can prepare to teach just about any area they’re interested in. The College is fully accredited so a graduate’s degree and certification will be recognized as being of top quality. Teaching certification from USF is also recognized in other states. Most of our College of Education graduates stay in Florida. One survey of our graduates that was conducted several years ago revealed that over a two to three year period, only one half of one percent of our graduates went out of state when they graduated. The state was getting its money worth and in preparing good teachers at USF’s College of Education.
LB: With teachers coming into the state by way of their….
ES: A lot of people were coming in from out of state to go to school here and still are. Then they stay here in Florida to teach. This really helps with providing quality teachers for Florida schools, particularly now. The teacher shortage is greater now than it was some years ago. Recruiting students from out of state will help to increase the number of teachers for classrooms across the state.
LB: Were there any questions I that I perhaps should have asked you or you thought I would ask you, something you want to add.
ES: Well I don’t think so. I think we covered a lot of the history. It’s been as I said, as I looked back over the years it’s been a very rewarding place. I guess the thing that stands out to me is that the people I’ve worked with are all top notch people and they’re good to work with. Many have become good friends and they’re hard working and so that’s what made it enjoyable for me. One thing of note that we did not touch on is USF’s enrollment. When I came to USF in 1969, the student headcount was about ten thousand. Now it is close to forty-thousand.
LB: Forty considering the regional campus enrollment.
ES: Another interesting point is the relationship between student enrollment and salaries of beginning assistant professors in the College of Education. Up to now, each year the two have been very similar, that is, almost the same all through the years. When I came the enrollment was ten-thousand and that’s about what the nine-month base salary was. Recently, both were at about forty-thousand. It’s an interesting correlation.
LB: Could you have foreseen the tremendous growth in that first year when you arrived from what we had in terms of buildings and students?
ES: No, no way I wouldn’t have imagined it would’ve become the big university it is today. The University has not only grown in numbers, but it’s grown in quality and admission standards. The emphasis has shifted to research and external funding grants. As I mentioned when I first came there were hardly any graduates produced by our master’s degree programs, and no doctoral programs. No faculty member had any assigned time for research. That did not start until the mid ‘80s. It was strictly a teaching university as far as the College of Education was concerned. Now there’s assigned time for things other than teaching, particularly research and some faculty have substantial part of their assignment for that purpose. That’s really a big change in a very short period of time. USF is now a Research I university. That is quite an accomplishment in such a short period of time. Along with the University’s growth, there has been a great change in the surrounding community. In 1969, Fowler Avenue was just a single two lane road and there were only two businesses between I-75, now I-275, and the USF campus. As I recall, there was one restaurant and a filling station. The area around the campus has grown right along with the university. It’s quite an amazing thing.
LB: Well, I thank you for your coming in today for this interview.
ES: Thank you, Lou, for inviting me to come in and chat with you.
LB: Most importantly I want to thank for your many contributions to the College, to the University, and to the students.
ES: Well, I’ve enjoyed my time here and have benefited a great deal myself. And, congratulations to you as well as you have made many contributions yourself.
LB: Well, thank you, Ed.
End of Interview