John Pease
Encyclopedia
John Alan Pease, Ph.D.
, is an Associate Professor of Sociology
at the University of Maryland, College Park
, and an advocate
for strengthening academic standards, mentoring students, and making higher education affordable to students who come from less privileged backgrounds.
To University of Maryland students of the late 1980s, his name was familiar to frequent readers of the school newspaper, The Diamondback
, as an author
and chair of a comprehensive review of the state of affairs in undergraduate education at the University, dubbed the "Pease Report", which included recommendations for improvement in affairs affecting students and faculty of the University of Maryland.
Pease has received a number of teaching awards during his tenure at the University.
, to a large family of fourteen children. His family lived in Kalamazoo
, where his father was employed by the railroad. He was raised soon after the Great Depression
, in a family which, like others of the times, had become frugal, and as the first of his family to graduate college, he jokes that he developed an interest in attending college only after he found that it was where all the girls from school had gone. After enrolling in college, he found another passion; curiosity towards social stratification, whether based on gender, race, financial station in life, or other imposed separations between people and similar issues. His studies turned towards Sociology
and Anthropology
.
, earning a B.S.
in 1960, and then moved to East Lansing, Michigan
, attending Michigan State University
, and earning a M.A.
degree in 1963, and a Ph.D
in 1968. He accepted a position as a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park
in 1967 where he currently continues to teach.
, and Inequality
in American Society. He is known for his off-beat sense of humor and quirky habits, and is rumored to know the story behind the "Legend of Sara Bellum
," about a girl who died from lack of studying. (Mysteriously, there is actually a marker of "Sara Bellum's" final resting place on campus, though no one has taken responsibility for it.)
Many students enjoy his lighthearted take on the course material, and some claim that his course is the reason why they have become sociologists. Pease was a recipient of the CTE-Lilly Fellows program in 1997-1998 from the Center For Teaching Excellence in addition to receiving the University of Maryland's Distinguished Scholar Teaching Award. He is an active member of the University's Campus Senate and a critical strategist in focusing on the most cost-effective ways of providing an increasingly higher level of education for all students, keeping in mind the students who suffer from economic hardships as he once did.
Pease is the founder of the "I'd Rather Be Studying Gang", who made an attempt at having that phrase become the University motto
, though it was struck down because it was said that it did not sound official enough. The University of Maryland, College Park
is the "flagship
" of the University of Maryland System
.
, or the blues), with topics such as the Great Depression
, labor unions, and Civil Rights
and artists like Pete Seeger
, Bob Dylan
and Billie Holliday.
s and more. These add-ons are helping to drive up the cost of books.
, and contributes to the University's newspaper, The Diamondback
, with editorials and occasionally, one of his Sara Bellum stories. On Friday, April 11, 2008, the Board of Regents
awarded Pease with their highest honor given to faculty within the 2008 University of Maryland System
; the faculty Award for Excellence in Mentor
ing.
Pease continues to reward promising students with an eponymous scholarship
.
In February 2009, Dr. Pease was awarded the Inspire Integrity Awards, a national award that recognizes professors for inculcating integrity in their students. The Award was provided by National Society of Collegiate Scholars
, an honor society
at 235 universities including the University of Maryland.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, is an Associate Professor of Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and an advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
for strengthening academic standards, mentoring students, and making higher education affordable to students who come from less privileged backgrounds.
To University of Maryland students of the late 1980s, his name was familiar to frequent readers of the school newspaper, The Diamondback
The Diamondback
The Diamondback is the independent student newspaper of the University of Maryland, College Park. It was founded in 1910 as The Triangle and renamed in 1921 in honor of a local reptile, the Diamondback terrapin...
, as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and chair of a comprehensive review of the state of affairs in undergraduate education at the University, dubbed the "Pease Report", which included recommendations for improvement in affairs affecting students and faculty of the University of Maryland.
Pease has received a number of teaching awards during his tenure at the University.
Early years
John Pease was born March 8, 1936 in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, to a large family of fourteen children. His family lived in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
, where his father was employed by the railroad. He was raised soon after the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, in a family which, like others of the times, had become frugal, and as the first of his family to graduate college, he jokes that he developed an interest in attending college only after he found that it was where all the girls from school had gone. After enrolling in college, he found another passion; curiosity towards social stratification, whether based on gender, race, financial station in life, or other imposed separations between people and similar issues. His studies turned towards Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
Education
Pease worked his way through college, attending Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
, earning a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1960, and then moved to East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, attending Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and earning a M.A.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in 1963, and a Ph.D
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1968. He accepted a position as a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1967 where he currently continues to teach.
"I'd Rather Be Studying"
Currently, Pease routinely teaches four undergraduate courses: an introductory course to Sociology, Poverty in America, Social StratificationSocial stratification
In sociology the social stratification is a concept of class, involving the "classification of persons into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions ... a relational set of inequalities with economic, social, political and ideological dimensions."...
, and Inequality
Social inequality
Social inequality refers to a situation in which individual groups in a society do not have equal social status. Areas of potential social inequality include voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, the extent of property rights and access to education, health care, quality housing and other...
in American Society. He is known for his off-beat sense of humor and quirky habits, and is rumored to know the story behind the "Legend of Sara Bellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
," about a girl who died from lack of studying. (Mysteriously, there is actually a marker of "Sara Bellum's" final resting place on campus, though no one has taken responsibility for it.)
Many students enjoy his lighthearted take on the course material, and some claim that his course is the reason why they have become sociologists. Pease was a recipient of the CTE-Lilly Fellows program in 1997-1998 from the Center For Teaching Excellence in addition to receiving the University of Maryland's Distinguished Scholar Teaching Award. He is an active member of the University's Campus Senate and a critical strategist in focusing on the most cost-effective ways of providing an increasingly higher level of education for all students, keeping in mind the students who suffer from economic hardships as he once did.
Pease is the founder of the "I'd Rather Be Studying Gang", who made an attempt at having that phrase become the University motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, though it was struck down because it was said that it did not sound official enough. The University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
is the "flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
" of the University of Maryland System
USM
USM may stand for:* Samui Airport, in Thailand * Ultimate Soccer Manager* Ultimate Spider-Man* Ultrasonic motor, the motor drive used in some Canon EF and EF-S lenses* Union of Monaco Trade Unions...
.
Unorthodox art of teaching
Pease works to assist students who lack equal academic backgrounds by employing a variety of techniques to teach students in his classes. Often he relies on comedy, as in the "Sara Bellum" stories and lectures. He has used topical songs of different genres as students file in for class, including protest music, (including folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, or the blues), with topics such as the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, labor unions, and Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and artists like Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Billie Holliday.
Price of education
The cost of tuition increases yearly at the University of Maryland, as it has in the majority of State-funded Universities. However, according to Pease, a major matter of concern isn't only the rising cost of tuition, but the increasingly prohibitive hidden costs of the textbooks and course materials for class. Often newer editions of textbooks that are not fundamentally different from past editions are pressed upon the faculty for use in the next teaching period. In an article to the Washington Post newspaper, Pease has commented that, "Once they've published a textbook and there's a zillion of them out there -- that's it for their profit until they can come up with a new edition or some sort of technique to sell more books." The Post continues, "One of the techniques Pease and others cite is the 'bundling' of books with other materials, such as study guides, Web site access, test questions, CD-ROMCD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
s and more. These add-ons are helping to drive up the cost of books.
Current work
Pease continues to work as an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and contributes to the University's newspaper, The Diamondback
The Diamondback
The Diamondback is the independent student newspaper of the University of Maryland, College Park. It was founded in 1910 as The Triangle and renamed in 1921 in honor of a local reptile, the Diamondback terrapin...
, with editorials and occasionally, one of his Sara Bellum stories. On Friday, April 11, 2008, the Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
awarded Pease with their highest honor given to faculty within the 2008 University of Maryland System
USM
USM may stand for:* Samui Airport, in Thailand * Ultimate Soccer Manager* Ultimate Spider-Man* Ultrasonic motor, the motor drive used in some Canon EF and EF-S lenses* Union of Monaco Trade Unions...
; the faculty Award for Excellence in Mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
ing.
Pease continues to reward promising students with an eponymous scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
.
In February 2009, Dr. Pease was awarded the Inspire Integrity Awards, a national award that recognizes professors for inculcating integrity in their students. The Award was provided by National Society of Collegiate Scholars
National Society of Collegiate Scholars
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a national nonprofit academic honor society for college students in the United States. NSCS has active chapters at more than 280 colleges and universities in the United States, including in the District of Columbia, and in Puerto Rico, consisting of a...
, an honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
at 235 universities including the University of Maryland.