Erickson, Marcus E.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7399#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Marcus (Mark) Erickson was born on October 22, 1913 in Fairmont, North Dakota. When he was young, his family moved to St. Cloud after his father got a job for Pan Motor Company, and later at Mathew Lumberyard, where he worked for 30 years. After graduating from St. Cloud’s Technical High School in 1932, he decided to go to St. Cloud State to become a teacher. Here he received a Bachelor's degree in 1936 in Education, with majors in Science, Math, and Industrial Arts. After he graduated, he received teaching jobs in Remer and Brainerd, Minnesota, before he began working with the Army Air Force Program. Here he helped develop a program that would help correct improper weight and balance in airplanes. This program was later moved to Yale, where Erickson was able to receive his master's degree in Education. He also received a master's degree in Science from the University of Michigan. He then moved to California, where he taught until 1956, when he began working with the California Teachers Association. He remained in California and eventually retired.

Transcript Summary: Erickson detailed his family history and educational background. Erickson discussed his father's receiving a job with Pan Motor Company as their reason for moving to St. Cloud, though the company later folded as a result of the owner going to jail. He described his family was somewhat poor, so the decision to attend St. Cloud State was a natural choice, since it was affordable and would allow him to live at home. He also detailed his reasons for becoming a teacher.

Erickson chronicled his time at St. Cloud State, as well as his involvement with the National Youth Administration (NYA), a New Deal program that allowed students to take part in work study programs. If not for the NYA, Erickson would not have been able to finish college. He also discussed several important teachers to him, including Evelyn Pribble. Erickson claimed that the teachers were very strict, but only because they knew the students were there to learn. He also addressed some of the extracurricular and social activities he was involved in at St. Cloud State, including band and the Camera Club, as well as the demographics of the school.

Erickson talked about his career after graduating from St. Cloud State, and also reflected on the ways in which the University prepared him for his career and other aspects of his life. He also discussed his memories of how the Depression affected the school and the people around him. Overall, he claimed that St. Cloud State was a strict but friendly school that prepared him wonderfully for a career as a teacher.