Hail and farewell
Janette (Jan) C. Borst, Emporia
Originally published 01:51 p.m., July 8, 2008
Updated 01:51 p.m., July 8, 2008
AS I RETIRE after 20 years at ESU, it is appropriate to acknowledge those in our community who have added so much over those years to my instruction. My first semester, fall of 1988, found me teaching Consumer Economics, a course I’d never taken! Trying to keep one chapter ahead of the students, I turned to Emporia retailers and service providers who graciously came to our class or invited us to their places of business. Among them were Jerry Olmsted, who shared tips on buying real estate; Jeff Longbine, cars; Lee Rowe, tax services; Hill’s, major appliances; even Roberts-Blue-Barnett for funeral services.
Since I specialized in family-related courses, over the years professionals from many social service agencies served as guest lecturers in these classes. Courses in Divorce, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse could not have been as effective without the visits of staff from SOS, CASA, the Child Advocacy Center, the Child Visitation and Exchange Center, Catholic Community Services, DCCCA, TFL, KCSL, Project Teen, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, ACES, Newman Regional Health, SRS, the Mental Health Center, Emporia Police Department, the Lyon County Attorney’s office, Court Services, even the Emporia Public Library.
My major teaching assignment has always been Marriage and Family, and here, too, community members have graciously taken a morning to share with two or three sections of the course. We’ve had clergy speak on marriage preparation and wedding ceremonies. Also, World War II vets have provided historical understanding of the gains economically and socially which resulted from the GI Bill and the resulting growth of the U.S. middle class.
Also for the Marriage and Family course, special thanks goes to the dozens of ‘old married couples’ who never failed to inform, inspire and amuse the current batch of 20-somethings with tales of weddings 25, 40, 50 or 60 or more years ago and the joys and frustrations of living with the same mate all that time. To these folks, my special appreciation as they always made such a positive impression and provided a day students believed was the best in the semester!
Lastly, I thank my many ESU colleagues who have shared their expertise in their disciplines as it related to our sociology subject matter. They always added to my knowledge and understanding as well as the students.’
Twenty years’ worth of ESU students are richer for these contributions, as am I.
Janette (Jan) C. Borst
Emporia
Comments
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Posted by yellow82 (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Mrs. Borst. I was a student of yours in 2003 and enjoyed your class very much. Good luck to you.
Posted by equalrights (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We will miss you on campus!!! Thanks for the years of service and dedication!
Posted by native_emporia (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was also a student of yours over 17 years ago and your class has always stuck with me. Marriage and Family is a class everyone should take and probably the class I have used the most in my life. Thank you for a job well done.
Posted by Pollyanna (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been a student and guest lecturer and can say from both sides what a true professional Jan is. She is dedicated beyond measure and is wonderful about utilizing her community to truly raise this village of ours. I know her humor and unique outlook will be missed by students and those of us who have worked with her. Thank you for making us more conscious.
Posted by JohnDoe (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jan, former student, I particularly enjoyed when you brought in Marc Goodman for a lecture series. Marc was an awesome guest lecturer!
Posted by sarahjocakes (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Borst, you will be missed greatly! None of your students and none of your collegues will ever forget you. The edcuation you gave us was invaluble. I feel bad for the students of the future who will not be able to learn from you and experinced what your students have experienced. ESU will not be the same.
Posted by sciguy (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Borst,
From a mid-1990s student, I wish you well in your retirement, but I regret that future ESU students will not have the opportunity to take your classes.
Thank you!
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Borst,
Thank you for not only your service to ESU, but also to my own development. While more than a decade has passed since I was one of your students in the Marriage & Family course, your passion as an educator stands out in my mind. I can say that I walked away from your classroom as a better citizen. Much of what I learned in that course has contributed to making me a better Human Resources Manager, specifically a stronger and more sympathetic understanding of the needs of all my employees. Fairness, the ability to look at both sides of an issue, tolerance and acceptance of diversity!
I must add an extra "thank you" for giving me an "A" upon my final paper for the course.
Years from now, you will stand out in my memory as one of my favorite professors at good ol' Emporia State!
Best wishes to you!
Brian Protheroe, BFA '96
San Francisco, CA
Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And yet another of ESU's GREAT people leaves while we are stuck with some really incompetent administrators.
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