Botstein address celebrates OLLI 20th anniversary
GREAT BARRINGTON — “Growing old, especially in this culture, is a dismal thing,” said Dr. Leon Botstein during a lecture held last Sunday at Bard College at Simon’s Rock to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College.
OLLI, originally founded as the Berkshire Institute for Lifetime Learning (BILL) in 1994, offers classes and educational opportunities for adults who are beyond the traditional university age.
In the kickoff event for OLLI’s 20th anniversary (additional events are scheduled next spring), Dr. Botstein spoke about aging, learning and living to a predominately older audience.
He made the point that while an educational model for older adults is good, it would be beneficial to have these nontraditional age students in the same class with 18 or 19 year olds.
“I do think that your participation in this is a very good thing,” he said, referencing the audience members’ involvement with OLLI, “and I think it could be better if it could be done without segregating you by age.”
He pointed out that people are living longer, and as a society “we have a lot of able-bodied, retired individuals with tremendous skills, but that the society does not utilize.”
“Why segregate yourselves, why not integrate with an age group where there your utility can be redeemed?” Dr. Botstein asked.
In 1970 at age 23, Dr. Botstein became the youngest college president in U.S. history when he took the reigns at what was once Franconia College. Five years later he assumed the role of president at Bard College, a post he still holds today.
Dr. Botstein is also music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Jewish Symphony Orchestra. He is a musical historian and scholar and has been a guest conductor in concert halls all over the world.
Additionally, he is the author of Jefferson’s Children: Education and the Promise of American Culture.
Posted by Dana Drugmand
on September 12, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News.
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