Farewell to Klassen
History professor retires after 31 years
April 7, 2007
Sven Heyde
Dr. John Klassen is retiring this year after having taught History at Trinity Western University for 31 years.
The professor has seen and helped TWU grow from a two-year college into a degree-granting institution. His teaching and books have consistently brought to the foreground the importance that minority groups play in history.
Asked about his teaching method, Klassen said that when he arrived at TWU in 1976, women were not thought to be important historical actors. As a result, he set out to show his students the ways in which women have worked throughout history. Klassen said he found it important to focus on the way in which history can teach men and women how to relate to one another, “accepting each other as equal human beings.”
The theme of God in history has also been important to him.
“The approach I took is that God is in action, not in victory…but in people giving their lives for others, loving their enemies. And hope people who continue to hope despite terrible things happening to them. The persistence of hope is a key designator for me that God is alive and active in history, ” Klassen said.
Klassen referred to his career at TWU as “great, happy, joyous, stimulating years, working with great people.” He pointed out that this includes not only staff and faculty, but also students.
“[It’s fundamental to] create an ethos at a university, where any kind of question can be asked,” he said.
Klassen said that not everything throughout his career has been positive, however, noting an often-underlying tension between faculty and administration.
“There have been vexations and difficulties,” he said. In an analogy, Klassen suggested that faculty and the administration are like a couple dancing.
“We’re happy with [administration] continuing to lead, but we do want to dance with you,” he said. “Most of the time, however, our partner has brought us [the faculty] to the dance and then danced with others instead.” He noted that faculty has felt unwelcome at the decision-making table: “There is an unfortunate, unnecessary tension.”
Despite sporadic frustration over the years, Klassen said he would be leaving campus satisfied with his long career.
“The overall theme from my stay at Trinity is that it has been so much fun. My life has absolutely been fulfilled there.”
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