Spencer Heath Archive

Item 990

Draft of a letter to Dr. Geiger

Summer 1939?

Dear Dr. Geiger:

Learning that you are now at Antioch I feel that I must congratulate you, for if half the good things I have heard about that college are true, it must be a wonderful institution. Often I have wished that I might visit there and see the methods in operation, for no institution or technique, except the institution of property in land, has engaged so much of my interest for many years. Sometimes I think I have some valuable conceptions and analysis to contribute in that field and I am intensely interested in it. I made quite a study, by personal contact, of New College in its hey-day and of related institutions and followed the Micklejohn adventure with great interest. Lately I have been giving some attention to the Hutchins ideas and their application at St. Johns. I hope to get my observations on educational theory and practice in its larger aspects into acceptable form before I have finished.

I wonder if visitors are at all welcome at Antioch or very much so. If they are I should certainly love to come out there at a suitable and proper season and, if possible, listen to some discussions of pedagogical principles and witness their application.