Taconic Learning Center Offers Courses

A wide variety of courses, covering topics from baseball to the mathematics of Descartes and Newton, is offered by the Taconic Learning Center for its spring semester, starting in the third full week of January. Expert teachers and highly motivated students in the Northwest Corner will encounter each other for a total of 11 courses in the coming term. Annual dues of $60 a year allow students to take as many subjects as they want for the two semesters. Courses typically run for 10 to 12 weeks, but there are short courses, too. For registration and more info, call 860-435-2922.

The Taconic Learning Center has offered more than 200 courses in a wide variety of subjects since its inception in 1989, including anthropology, crime fiction, genetics, poetry, and philosophy. The course in baseball, however, is a first. Taught by the Rev. Duane Estes, a minister who has coached prep school baseball for 40 years, the course is designed, in his words, "for both the fanatic and the beginner." The class will address baseball’s role in American culture, its tradition, and its strategy. A former student of Estes who became a professional baseball player will be a guest speaker. The course meets on Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m. at the Lifelong Learning Center at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, but there will be a field trip on least one day to see a baseball game.

"From the Armada to the Falklands, Britain’s association with her Navy has been central to her history," writes veteran teacher James Bates in his description of his course on this association. It will be held at Noble Horizons on Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon, starting January 31.

"Spending the summer in Tuscany?" asks polyglot John Leich, retired professor of political science and foreign languages, as he offers Italian for "principianti" (that means "beginners," in case you are a beginner) on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-noon at Noble Horizons.

"Where are we going?" is another question, and it is asked by inventor Sid Shore in introducing his course called "The Future." Some questions he and his students will address are: What is going to happen to our own earth? to life expectancy? to transportation? to wars and conflicts? The course meets on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-noon at Noble Horizons.

"The Many Voices of Opera, coordinated by Marcia Friedman, director of the Southern Berkshire Community Arts Council, will focus on different aspects of mounting a production. It meets on Mondays from 10 a.m.-noon at Noble Horizons.

"The Mathematics of Descartes and Newton," presented by mathematics teacher Peter Martin, will examine the revolutionary concepts of these two geniuses, with emphasis on "concepts, not computation." No particular experience or skill in math is assumed. The class meets on Mondays from 2-4 p.m. in the basement at the Scoville Library, Route 44 in Salisbury.

"The Law and the Literature of the Environment" is a six-week course taught by Philip McKnight, an attorney who is the former Hotchkiss School director of alumni and community relations. The first four lectures will cover the role of the arts—music, painting, sculpture, as well as literature—in the evolving American environmental consciousness. The final two lectures will focus on law and legislation. This course meets on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-noon, staring April 1 at Noble Horizons.

"Modern Philosophy," with special attention to Descartes, Locke and Hume, will be taught by Jack O’Malley, who has degrees in philosophy and education. It meets on Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m. at Noble Horizons.

"The Literature of the American South" is a continuation of the popular course; it will take up such figures as Thomas Wolfe, Richard Wright and Flannery O’Connor. Instructor is long-time teacher Peter Shiras. It meets on Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon in the auditorium at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center, Route 7 in Canaan.

"Great Decisions 2003" is a nine-week course in foreign policy that will address "eight hot topics," says John Leich, the coordinator. It meets on Thursdays from 2-4 p.m., also in the auditorium at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in Canaan.

The final course is on "Breakout Films," twelve films which radically broke movie-making conventions. Moderator Peter Martin offers this course on Fridays from 2-4 p.m. in the Community Room at Noble Horizons.