Ruth Kotinsky
Written by Norma Nerstrom
1999
Ruth Kotinsky's name is not well known outside her circle of friends and colleagues yet her accomplishments during the first half of the 20th century greatly contributed to the ideals of life-long learning. Her insightful ideas and vision still hold meaning today. Kotinsky's professional credentials include research psychologist, author, editor, and educator. A single woman living most of her adult life in New York, she was an influential contributor to the field of both early and adult education.
Ruth Kotinsky has been described as a woman who had "the mind of a logician and a novelist" combined into one (BSCE, 1962, p. v). She was highly creative and possessed the rare quality of applying the findings of others to achieve a creation that was distinctly her own. She postulated that education was a continuous process from cradle to grave and her work reflected this belief. Ruth Kotinsky took pleasure in the written word and used it as a vehicle to share the learning experiences of her vastly interesting career. She recognized a strong connection between education and mental health, which has been documented in much of her work.
Ruth Kotinsky was born on August 27, 1903 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and formally educated in the 1920's and 1930's. She attended the University of Wisconsin from 1919 until 1923 as an undergraduate student and in 1933 received a PhD from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Appleton-Century Company published her dissertation, Adult Education and the Social Scene, that same year.
In Adult Education and the Social Scene she placed the blame for the lack of social progress on the fact that most often participants are excluded from the planning processes that effect their lives. She believed the role of adult education was to identify and deal with social problems in ways "as to make the participants intelligent and responsible planners, rather than drifters, sufferers, and undergoers merely, or ruthless schemers for personal advantage" (1933, p. xvi). She questioned the American democratic processes and concluded that adult education could become "democracy's hope" (Kotinsky, 1933, p.ix).
Ruth Kotinsky's enlightened views on life-long learning are reflected throughout her career. Her professional experiences began in the mid 1920's at the National YMCA. During this time she compiled and edited the book Adventures in Adult Education for the YMCA and also served as the editor of The Educational Council Bulletin, a publication to aid people involved in the in-service training of group leaders (BSCE, 1962, p. vi).
She continued her career path with the National Council of Parent Education as the journal editor of Parent Education and later with the Commission on the Secondary School Curriculum to service committees, staff conferences, write, edit and produce reports that are still considered important works. From these experiences she created books and articles plus edited other publications with a skillful insight that greatly contributed to their content. Reorganizing Secondary Education (1939), which she edited for V. Thayer and Caroline Zachary, is one example (BCSE, 1962, p. vi).
Ruth Kotinsky broadened her experiences when she became an integral contributor to "The 1950 White House Conference on Children and Youth." During this time she worked closely with fellow author, Helen Witmer, and together they co-authored two publications: Personality in the Making (1952) and Community Programs for Mental Health (1955). Kotinsky's publications have been widely used and quoted. Examples include an on-line quote on the value of accomplishments posted on O'Bryant's Quote Collection (#80); and Personality in the Making, cited as a contributing factor in the 1953 Supreme Court case BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION. This significant case declared that mandatory segregation, which existed in 21 states, was unconstitutional.
Ruth Kotinsky recognized a strong connective link between generations. Her belief that the educational process was sustained from cradle to grave was visible when she professed that school children should also take part in the "study and learning" of their own evolving needs. In order for this "new spirit of study" to become effective she believed parental involvement was necessary (Kotinsky, 1933, p. x).
Furthermore she held a strong belief that the schools were not to blame for the on-going problems of society. At a nation-wide conference in 1954 Ruth Kotinsky and an associate, Jules Coleman, addressed this heated debate. They maintained the job of the schools was to "help the child acquire the skills and develop the understandings that he requires to cope with his environment." And went on to say "the schools cannot be called upon to provide all the conditions required for healthy social and emotional development; there is a home before there is a school and society and the culture engulf both" (1954, Mar 14, p. 88:3). Ruth Kotinsky saw the education of the young connected with the education of their elders. And here, again, adult education was the optimistic hope of the future (Kotinsky, 1933, pp. x-xi).
The American Association for Adult Education hired Kotinsky as a field representative, editor and research director because of her secondary educational experience and strong knowledge of adult education (BCSE, 1962, p. vi). In late spring of 1955 she accepted a position as Director of Research for the Family Services Association of America, an organization devoted to serving the needs of troubled families. It was comprised of 262 family service agencies and assisted in personal and family problems (1955, Jul 13, p. 16:2).
When Ruth Kotinsky began her career in the 20's and 30's seeking to change the social ills of America she wrote in Adult Education and the Social Scene, "Adults run the world, and regulate its fullness. In the face of some 'acts of God' they are helpless; but in large part they create their own destiny. There has been more or less planning from time immemorial, but always by some person or persons for other persons." (pp. xiii, xiv).
Ruth Kotinsky's life was devoted to empowering humanity to take ownership of their destinies. It was ironic that with these strong beliefs and supportive actions her own life was cut short by an 'act of God' just as she reached the very pinnacle of her career.
On November 27, 1955 Ruth Kotinsky died at age 52 as the result of being a passenger in an automobile accident which had occurred on October 29th that same year. It was also ironic that although Ruth Kotinsky vigilantly chose and edited each word she wrote; the New York Times did not. Her obituary read "Dr. Ruth Kocinsky."
In 1962 a group of friends and colleagues paid tribute to Ruth Kotinsky at a lecture series held at the Bank Street College of Education in New York. Bank Street College was chosen because it was an institution that reflected Ruth Kotinsky's interests in the relationship between education and mental health. This memorial lecture series was intended to further the goals of Kotinsky and was published by BSCE in 1962 as Integration of Mental Health Concepts with the Human Relations Professions.
Close friends and associates of Ruth Kotinsky attended the lecture series including Helen Witmer and her professor and mentor, William Kilpatrick.
Witmer recollected "She was scholar, writer, and editor; and perhaps by deepest inclination, teacher above all. 'Enlightener' may be the word that describes her best" (BSCE, 1962, p.v).
Kilpatrick, in Adult Education and the Social Scene confirmed "Under her skilled guidance we learn better how to conceive the adult education movement, how to trace its social origin, and implications, how to learn some of its many lessons for a more adequate school education." (p. xi) "I remember Ruth Kotinsky in definite and warm ways" (BSCE. 1962, p. x).
Throughout Ruth Kotinsky's career she stood out distinctly as being intelligent and scholarly while demonstrating great warmth and sensitivity toward the feelings and ideas of others. Her strength was often seen as being a skillful group leader although her personality was described as shy and retiring (BCSE, 1962, p. x).
Ruth Kotinsky lived her life by her own words."The affairs of adults are the affairs of the world: as they plan, do, and live, so does the world run" (Kotinsky, 1962, p. xiv).
References
Kotinsky, Ruth (1933). Adult Education and The Social Scene. New York: D. Appleton-Century Co.
Kotinsky, Ruth (1962). Integration of Mental Health Concepts with the Human Relations Professions. New York: Bank Street College of Education.
The New York Times (1955). "Dr. Ruth Kocinsky An Expert on Youth." (Nov 28), 31.
The New York Times (1955). "Joins Family Service Group." (Jul 3), 16:2.
The New York Times (1954). "Onus on Schools Held Misplaced." (Mar 14), 88:3.
Selected Publications by Ruth Kotinsky
Books
- (1933) Adult Education and The Social Scene. New York: D. Appleton-Century Co.
- (1940) Adult Education Councils.New York: American Association for Adult Education.
- (1955) Community Programs for Mental Health Theory, Practice, Evaluation. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
- (1941) Elementary Education of Adults, A Critical Interpretation.
- (1952) Personality in the Making: The Fact Finding Report of the Midcentury White House Conference on Children and Youth. New York: Harper & Row.
- (1939) Reorganizing Secondary Education. Prepared by V.T. Thayer, Caroline B. Zachry [and] Ruth Kotinsky For the Commission On Secondary School Curriculum.
Journal Articles
- (1955) "Mental health as an educational goal," Teachers College Record. 56, 267-276 (co-authored with Jules V. Coleman)
- (1955) "New perspectives for research on juvenile delinquency: A report of a conference on the relevance and interrelations of certain concepts from sociology and psychiatry for delinquency,"United States Department of Labor, Children's Bureau. No. 356: vii, 92 (co-edited with Helen L. Witmer)
Proceedings of a lecture series sponsored by the
Bank Street College of Education as a memorial to Ruth Kotinsky:
- (1962) Integration of Mental Health Concepts with the Human Relations Professions. New York: Bank Street College of Education.
The following article reviews six works,
including Adult Education and the Social Scene:
- Brockett, Ralph G. (1987). "A Retrospective Look at Selected Adult Education Literature." Adult Education Quarterly. 37: 2, 114-21.
