Paul Jacobson

In this interview with former instructor and administrator Paul Jacobson discusses his long history at TCC. He discusses the climate of TCC during the 1960s and 1970s, the infamous Teacher’s Strike, how TCC has changed since 1967, and also gives us some personal history. Other topics covered by Mr. Jacobson include class size, rising cost of tuition, the increase in the need for childcare, why he was drawn to teaching and family life.

I. Personal Scholastic History pp. 1

II. Ketchikan and Highline Community Colleges pp. 2

III. Family and Childhood pp. 2-3

IV. Washington pp. 3

V. Why Teaching as a Profession pp. 3-4

VI. Ketchikan CC, and Meeting Tom Ford pp. 4

VII. Non-educational Jobs pp. 4

VIII. Highline CC pp. 4-5

IX. Transition from Highline to TCC pp. 5

X. Back to the Classroom pp. 5

XI. Father and Kids pp. 6

XII. Chemistry Career pp. 6

XIII. Tom Ford as a Friend pp. 7

XIV. Climate at TCC During the 1960s and 1970s pp. 7-8

XV. Teacher’s Strike pp. 8

XVI. The Retraining of a Whole Generation of the Work Force pp. 8-9

XVII. TCC’s Mission; “Open Access” pp. 9

XVIII. Academic Similarities and Differences Between the Current TCC and that of 1967 pp. 9

XIX. Family pp. 10

XX. Changes in Facilities pp. 10

XXI. Class Size pp. 10-11

XXII. Rising Cost of Tuition pp. 11-12

XXIII. Construction and its Benefits pp. 12

XXIV. The Community College Response to Industry pp. 12-13

XXV. Paying for College pp. 13

XXVI. Instilling Principals in the Next Generation pp. 13

XXVII. Average Student Age 1967 pp. 14

XXVIII. Childcare Becoming a Priority pp. 14

XXIX. Coming Full Circle; Teaching-Administration-Teaching pp. 15-16

XXX. TCC and the City of Tacoma pp. 16-17

XXXI. Physical Changes to TCC pp. 17

XXXII. Where Should TCC Go? pp. 17-18

XXXIII. Accepting Change as Inevitable pp. 18