My First Impression of Montgomery College at Takoma Park

My First Impression of Montgomery College at Takoma Park
by

Margaret G. Aldrich

A few of the things that impressed me when I came to teach at Montgomery College in the fall of 1957 were:

The Size:
This was a small college. There were fewer than 2,000 students, about forty people on the faculty and one campus of eight acres, unlike the University of Minnesota and the University of Missouri where I had taught before. Here I could know all of the staff and many of the students.

The Homogeneity:
Most of the students were young white males just out of high school.

The Friendliness:
I was greeted by faculty, students, administrators, and staff. The women on the faculty were especially anxious to help me adjust to my first real teaching position. Counselor Sadie Higgins and Harvey Cheston of the Mathematics Department took special care to keep me aware of the traditions, standards, and procedures at MC.

The High Academic Standards:
The faculty and administrators were especially concerned with maintaining them. Graduation requirements were clearly defined and upheld. Academic regulations were tough. Everyone was working to establish a reputation for MC as the finest community college in Maryland, perhaps even the United States.

The Teamwork:
There was a great deal of interaction and cooperation among faculty, students, and administrators. Things were not always smooth but they were exciting.

The Willingness to Experiment:
New ideas and approaches were encouraged by the board and the administrators. The creative spirit was alive and well.

The Administrators:
The lines between faculty and administrators seemed rather vague. I was really aware of only two deans. They were friendly and helpful.

The Roses:
The old stucco buildings shaded by tall trees created a collegiate atmosphere. English Professor Freda Malone cared enough to plant and maintain the rose garden.

What was my outstanding memory of this first year? It probably was an incident that occurred toward the end of the spring semester of 1958. Mr. Cheston came to talk with me. I think we talked about my teaching, the recommendation that my contract would be renewed, and the fact that at the end of the next academic year I would be tenured. I remember very clearly, however, Harvey’s comment that he would like my permission to call me “Margaret” and that I might call him “Harvey.” This meant that I “belonged.” I belonged for over twenty-five years.

Takoma Park Campus: Mathematics Department, 1957-1984; chairman, 1964-1978; Professor Emerita.