John R. Kolb
by Herbert E. Speece
(From "A Short History of the Department of Mathematics and Science Education")
In the Spring of 1966, John R. Kolb had completed all requirements for his Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at the University of Maryland and contacted the Department about a possible position. Dean Kirkland said he would be willing to allocate 1/3 of a faculty position but in view of the fact we had added Dr. Watson the previous year, he didn't feel he could do more. The precedent for a joint appointment between Mathematics and Mathematics and Science education had long been established. At the time the program was set up, Herbert E Speece was put in charge [of the Mathematics and Science Education department] with a joint appointment as described earlier. When Dr. John W. Cell, Head of the Department of mathematics was approached he put in a telephone call to Dr. John Major, who was a close personal friend. When Dr. Major assured him that John Kolb was the best mathematics educator he had worked with at the University of Maryland and we would be foolish not to find a place for him, Dr. Cell agreed to provide the other two-thirds of a position we could hire him. There was tacit agreement that the position and monetary support were to be shared equally after the first year but it didn't actually take place for several years.. Dr. Cell was well pleased that John was on our faculty and never objected to paying two-thirds of his salary.
Dr. Kolb has been recognized for excellence in teaching by the alumni, present students and colleagues. He has a talent for making the difficult appear easy. This is due, in part to his organizational ability but primarily to the projection of himself as a war, caring individual which creates a favorable atmosphere for learning. The was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in 1978.
During the Spring of 1975, someone wrote an article which referred to professors of education as being isolated from the real world of public school education which prompted Dr. Kolb to state that he would be willing to teach in a junior high school for one or two semesters if it could be arranged. late, after discussing a possible exchange with Mrs. Barbara Rogers who was a Master Teacher at Daniels Junior High School at the time, a proposal was submitted to the Dean and the Provost. Dr. Kolb would have halftime help from Lee Stiff, one of his doctoral students, who needed secondary school experience; tow student teachers each semester to spend full time at the school to help with the instruction .. Barbara Rogers would teach two course at Daniels and the Materials course for mathematics education seniors. One of the fringe e benefits was that Dr. Kolb was removed from all school and university committees for the year.
The experience was eye-opening to say the least and was of great value to the department as he shared his perception of the real world of mathematics teaching. Dr. Kolb also contributed a great deal to curriculum development in mathematics for the junior high level in the Raleigh schools.