The nerve of failure

Dr. Thomas Billings, assistant professor of education at Sacramento State College, delivers the fifth annual faculty convocation lecture at the college on May 22, 1963, at the invitation of his colleagues. Just prior to this date, both Dr. Billings and Dr. Edward Beechert, assistant professor of social science, had been refused tenure and a third man, Dr. John Marica of the mathematics department, had resigned in protest. The full faculty voted 143 to 120 to support the refusal of tenure. The lecture touches on education, individualism, the power of trying and failing, and minority rights. Billings is introduced by Dr. John C. Livingston, associate professor of social science at Sacramento State College. Originally broadcast 1963-06-07 during the “Eleventh Hour” slot, fit into the regular schedule every month for timely and spontaneous programming. Rebroadcast with full Folio description 1963-07-13, and then again as a “Subscriber’s choice” 1963-08-13.