Great Storyteller Describes His 1960s Youth. Was It A Good Time Or Not?

I recorded this informal interview in 1989. I was speaking with baby boomers about their early life experiences for a television series I was making on the 1960s. I asked them to reflect back and remember what those times were like. The speaker is Dr. Arthur Levine, an American educator and academic leader. He paints a clear picture of what it was like for him growing up in a working class family in the 1950s. He felt it was an easier time. I love his description of his first days in college. Here is what 1968 freshman experienced. Universities focused on the importance of academic success. Freshmen were encouraged to learn how to manage their time effectively to balance academics, extracurriculars and personal life. Freshmen were advised to join clubs or sports teams to foster personal growth. Universities advised students to be aware of their personal safety which included making responsible choices related to alcohol and drug use. In 1968 many college students did experiment with drugs often as part of the broader counterculture movement. Marijuana was popular among college students. It was often smoked in social settings and its use was viewed as rebellion against societal norms. LSD gained popularity during the 1960s as Arthur described. Its use was often associated with the desire to expand consciousness and challenge conventional thinking. Psilocybin mushrooms were another hallucinogen used by students. Amphetamines such as Dexedrine and Benzedrine were stimulants used by students to help them stay awake and focused for long periods of time. Barbiturates such as Seconal and Nembutal were sedatives used to counteract the effects of stimulants, help with sleep, or reduce anxiety. In 1968 many college students were at the forefront of countercultural movements. Other than drug use here are some of the “craziest“ things they did. Some students embracing the hippie lifestyle and chose to live in communes. These communities emphasized shared resources, communal decision-making and a rejection of traditional societal norms. Students participated in events known as “be-ins“ or “love-ins,“ that were gatherings focused on promoting love and peace. Attendees would often partake in activities like group meditation, music-making, and sharing food. Students flocked to music festivals like the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and Woodstock in 1969, which were gatherings characterized by live music, drug use, and an atmosphere of peace, love, and countercultural expression. Many students in 1968 explored alternative spiritual practices including Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. Many of those who attended college in the late 1960s felt it was a good time to go to school. Here’s why: College tuition was significantly lower. Many students could work part-time jobs to pay for their tuition and living expenses. The post-World War II economic boom continued into the 1960s providing strong job prospects for college graduates The 1960s saw the emergence of new academic fields and interdisciplinary studies such as ethnic studies, women’s studies, and environmental studies. The 1960s was a period of tremendous cultural creativity with the popularity of rock and roll, and the emergence of new artistic movements. But for many, 1968 was a tough time to be a college student. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, as well as widespread anti-Vietnam War protests, created an atmosphere of uncertainty and unrest. College campuses were often the epicenters of protest movements. Students were organizing sit-ins, strikes and demonstrations that often disrupted the academic environment and created tension between students, faculty and Vietnam War was ongoing in 1968 and the prospect of being drafted loomed large for male college students. Dr Arthur Levine went on to serve as the President of Teachers College, Columbia University & as the President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. He focused much of his work including 12 books on the improvement of teacher education & educational policy. He received numerous honors including Carnegie & Guggenheim. He holds 25 honorary degrees and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Many advertisers have placed ads on my video I want to thank some of them. TIAA Cref Yale. Kansas State financial planning. college degree. ASU prep Academy digital. idea University prep. urban planning. career placement. college recruitment. high school seniors. best colleges. freshman college experience. college freshman. 1968 experiences. baby boomer college. 1960s college. David Hoffman filmmaker