From poetry to Pilates, Lifelong Learning at Lipscomb offers educational opportunities for retirees
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A tour of Nashville’s “uptown oasis,” Germantown, and a survey of Nashville’s German history will be a highlight of “Nashville’s Own Germantown,” one of 11 class offerings in this year’s Lifelong Learning at Lipscomb program.
Lipscomb University’s Lifelong Learning program is designed for people of retirement and semi-retirement age who want to expand their knowledge and explore new ideas in an informal, noncompetitive environment.
Topics for this fall’s session range from an all-day field trip to local Civil War sites to a Pilates exercise class designed for those over 60. Hebrew poetry, Thornton Wilder, famous Supreme Court cases and computer use are all up for discussion in 11 classes offered in five-session, day-time classes. The cost is $50 per class.
“Nashville’s Own Germantown” will not only offer the opportunity to tour and learn about the history of Germantown, Nashville’s 8-block historic district that is becoming ever trendy among urbanites, but it will also look at the overall history of Germany, German immigration to America and Nashville, famous German families in Nashville’s history and how participants can research their own German roots.
“Germans are the largest ethnic group in the American population pool,” noted Dr. Charlie McVey, Lipscomb’s Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, and instructor for the course. “The German families who left Europe and settled in Nashville’s Germantown after the Civil War made an important mark on the city’s history, and many of those families are still around today.”
Although the class starts on Oct. 17, held from 2:30-4 p.m., McVey said he will encourage registered students to attend the Oct. 14 Oktoberfest celebration, which includes tours of the Germantown homes built from 1840-1930. The class will also include a trip to the Gersthaus for a German meal, he said.
This fall’s schedule will also include a Lifelong Learning first: a one-day seminar featuring an all-day tour of pivotal sites in the Battles of Nashville and Franklin. Dr. Tim Johnson, Lipscomb professor of history who has authored and edited books on the Mexican and Civil wars, will guide participants on the tour of Fort Negley and Shy’s Hill in Nashville and the Carter House and Winstead Hill in Franklin.
The “Lifelong Learning Travel Day” will take place on Oct. 28 at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and costs $65, including lunch, refreshments, site fees and transportation.
“Tennessee had the second most battles and skirmishes in the Civil War, ranking after Virginia,” noted Johnson, who is among the most popular Lifelong Learning instructors. “When the Confederate army marched into Middle Tennessee, it was a very critical time in the war, and the Nashville and Franklin battles ended up as the most significant fights in the Western Theater of the Civil War.”
The fountain of youth may still be undiscovered, but participants in Lifelong Learning will get a chance to turn the clock back a little this fall with an exercise class designed to improve posture and flexibility in seniors. “Turning Back the Clock with Yoga and Pilates,” beginning Oct. 19, 2:30-4 p.m., will use gentle forms of exercise such as yoga, stretching, Pilates, and stability ball exercises to help participants regain some of the flexibility and balance they may have lost as a natural result of aging.
“For young to middle age people, exercise is about weight loss or fitness, but for older people, being unfit starts to affect their quality of life,” said Dr. Ruth Henry, Lipscomb associate professor of kinesiology and instructor of the course. “Pilates and yoga are particularly good exercises for improving balance, bone density and circulation for seniors, which means they can accomplish daily activities more easily and safely and reduce the risk of falls and mental decline.”
To register for Lifelong Learning at Lipscomb you can print out a registration form at http://lifelonglearning.lipscomb.edu/ or you can call the Lifelong Learning Office at 279-5733 or toll-free at 800-333-4358, ext. 5733. The cost of each course is $50, or two people in the same household can take the same course for $75.
A description of all 11 courses offered this fall with dates and times follows:
The Battles of Franklin and Nashville: Dr. Tim Johnson, professor of history at Lipscomb who has conducted extensive research on the Mexican War and Civil War. In one day we will combine lecture, video presentations and on-site visits to points of interest for both battles. Traveling in a comfortable motorcoach, we will visit Fort Negley, Shy’s Hill, Winstead Hill and the Carter House. Some walking required. October 28, 2006, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Course fee: $65. Includes refreshments, transportation, lunch, site fees and guide fees.
Thornton Wilder: Novelist and Dramatist. Instructor: Dr. Dennis Loyd, retired professor of English. The novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, and the play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, the only winner of the Pultizer Prize for fiction and drama, will serve as the focus of this study. Topics will include the originality, popularity and experimental nature of both works. Mondays, September 4, 11, 18, 25 and October 2. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Man Is Born to Trouble. Instructor: Dr. Tom Seals, professor of religion, minister in residence. Why does anyone serve God? The book of Job deals essentially with the struggles of the faithful facing the inescapable perplexities of life. What kind of God allows suffering to come into the life of the faithful? This study will follow the trying period in the life of Job as he struggles with undeserved and long-term suffering. Tuesdays, September 5, 12, 19, 26 and October 3. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Famous Supreme Court Cases. Instructor: Dr. Dwight Tays, professor of political science. In the United States the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the Supreme Court is the final interpreter. This class will examine selected cases which have helped shape the American experience. Wednesdays, September 6, 13, 20, 27, and October 4. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Sound Money Principles. Instructor: Dr. Charles Frasier, professor of accounting. Good financial planning involves many facets of spending and saving. This course will provide the fundamentals of sound money principles in the areas of preparing an estate plan, determining retirement needs, investing during retirement, maintaining cash flow and analyzing insurance needs. Thursdays, September 7, 14, 21, 28 and October 5. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Computer I. Instructor: Al Austelle, associate professor of computer science and director of the Center of Instructional Technology. This is a comfortable, easy-going approach to computers for individuals interested computer use. Topics will include e-mail, the Internet, Microsoft Word, digital cameras, scanners, and more. Fridays, September 8, 15, 22, 29 and October 6. 2:30-4 p.m. Beaman Library, CIS.
Exploring the World of the Renaissance. Instructor: Dr. David Lawrence, professor of history. It will be an investigation of the causes, development, goals, leading people and major accomplishments of the Italian and Northern Renaissance movements of the 14th-16th centuries. Mondays, October 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Nashville’s Own Germantown. Instructor: Dr. Charlie McVey, professor of foreign language and chair of department. This cultural/historical course will include historical background to Nashville’s own Germantown, the German roots of many of Nashville’s famous families and connections to World War II experiences that may be true of many in today’s older generations. Options will include a meal at a German restaurant and on Oct. 14, a visit to Oktoberfest and tours of historic Germantown homes. Tuesdays, October 17, 24, 31 and November 7 and 14. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Introduction to Hebrew Poetry and the Messianic Psalms. Instructor: Dr. Clyde M. Miller, retired professor of Bible. The literary forms of Hebrew poetry will be introduced, followed by a textual study of the Messianic Psalms and their use in the New Testament. Wednesdays, October 18, 25 and November 1, 8, and 15. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Turning Back the Clock with Yoga and Pilates. Instructor: Dr. Ruth Henry, associate professor of exercise science. This class will use gentle forms of exercise such as yoga, stretching, Pilates, and stability ball exercises to regain some of the flexibility and balance that most have lost as a natural result of aging. Thursdays, October 19, 26 and November 2, 9, and 16. 2:30-4 p.m. Swang Center.
Computer II. Instructor: Al Austelle, associate professor of computer science and director of the Center of Instructional Technology. For those who have completed Computer I or have some familiarity with computers, this course includes Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, troubleshooting computer problems, care and maintenance of a computer system and purchasing hardware and software. Fridays, October 20, 27 and November 3, 10, and 17. 2:30-4 p.m. Beaman Library, CIS.