PHI DELTA KAPPA UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH/THREE RIVERS CHAPTER 14

HISTORY and PROFILE

The International Organization

Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) is an educational fraternity whose mission is to promote quality education with particular emphasis on publicly supported education, as essential to the development and maintenance of a democratic way of life. PDK seeks to be an organization of high quality, valued for its educational leadership, research and service.

The purpose of the chapter and Phi Delta Kappa as a whole is stated in the Constitution of 1915:

It shall be the purpose of the fraternity to support the highest educational
ideals and to encourage an unswerving allegiance to those principles
underlying American public education.

Phi Delta Kappa’s beginning was in the merger of three chapters in 1910, Phi Kappa Mu of Indiana, Phi Delta Kappa of Columbia, and Nu Rho Beta of Missouri. PDK dates itself from the beginnings of Phi Kappa Mu of Indiana, organized January 24, 1906 and takes the name of Phi Delta Kappa Chapter of Columbia. With the establishment of the Toronto chapter October 22, 1955 Phi Delta Kappa became international; when a chapter in Germany was established April 3, 1965, PDK became a global organization. Through a generous gift by George Reavis, the Educational Foundation began on October 13, 1966.

The University of Pittsburgh Chapter

Twelve men are listed as petitioning the national council of Phi Delta Kappa for a chapter at the University of Pittsburgh. Upon acceptance, Phi Delta Kappa was installed at the University of Pittsburgh as Xi Chapter on June 11, 1914. It was the fourteenth chapter to be installed. Over the years the University of Pittsburgh chapter has been identified as Xi, Chapter 14, and Three Rivers. Today the chapter is in Phi Delta Kappa coordinator area 6J of District VI.

A sampling of chapter programs over the years illustrates a relevance to today’s educational system. The era when the programs were offered is located to the left, programs to the right.

Problems of School Consolidation in Allegheny County

Why Do We Include Athletics as an Extra Curricular Activity?

Single Salary Scale

Report on Reading Research

Job Analysis of Principalship

Social Factors That Influence the Life of a Child

Teaching English

Interscholastic Athletics in the PIAA

Experiences With Russian Education

Teacher Selection and Training

Reorganization of the State Department of Public Instruction

Educational Television and Its Significance to Education

Financing Education

The School of Education, Its Past, Present, and Future

Need for Research by School Districts

Handicapped Children

World Education Problems

Maintaining a Modern Steel Industry

Programmed learning

How a Textbook is Born

Our Changing National Economy and Its Impact on Education

A Program for the Development of the Role of Elementary School Principals as Leaders

Issues in Perspective

Equality of Opportunity

Since 1976, the chapter has met with the Western and Southwestern areas of PASCD in joint meetings in the fall and spring.

Initiation of new members was given greater significance under the leadership of Joe Rovegno. Materials for the ceremony were upgraded. Mr. Rovegno had a recording made by Bernie Armstrong, an organist at the old Penn Theater, for use in the ceremony. He perfected the ceremony to the degree that he was asked by the international organization to put on an initiation for new members at the Biennial council meeting in Chicago in 1951.

Members of the Chapter have also provided service and leadership to the international organization since the charter was approved. C.S. Miller served as National Treasurer from 1920 to 1924 and W.B. Jones served as National Secretary from 1932 to 1936. E.O. Liggitt served as District VI Representative from 1940 to 1942, National Treasurer from 1942 to 1946, Vice President 1946 to 1948, and as President from 1948 to 1950. Clarence Long was National Comptroller from 1952 to 1954. Woody Clark served as District VI Representative in 1956-1957, International Secretary/Vice President 1958-1959, President-Elect 1960-1961, and President 1962-1963. William Johnston served on the Commission of International Education and was its Chairman in 1962-1963. Ed Ricart served as District VI Representative from 1964 to 1967.

Two chapter members have written Phi Delta Kappa fastback publications. Ken Chuska authored Teaching the Process of Thinking K-12; he made numerous presentations on his work and also conducted two Gabbard Institute sessions. Carl Fertman wrote Service Learning For All Ages.

In 1978 and again in 1996 the chapter hosted the District VI Conference at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. Jim Schmunk chaired the steering committee in 78 while Ada Petrun performed the duties in 1996.

The chapter Awards Program began in 1974 with a presentation of the "Lay Leader Award" to Margaret D. Wilson, Executive Director of the Frick Foundation. The "Paul Varnum Award" began in 1979. Named in honor of a local educator, the award annually recognizes a chapter member for leadership in the field of education. Since 1980 the "Service Key" has been presented annually to a chapter member for exceptional service to the organization.

Including Spring Initiates, Chapter 14 has approximately 600 regular members and 75 student members. In 1997 the University of Pittsburgh/Three Rivers was one of only five worldwide to receive the prestigious Premier Award for membership development.

Tradition provides for chapter officers to move though-the-chairs, which energizes the chapter and creates leadership opportunities for all members.

Two Initiation Breakfasts – spring and fall – are held annually.

A Holiday Social/Awards Dinner is held in December. The chapter provides entertainment and achievement awards to chapter members and a Lay Leader.

Chapter 14 holds a Wine & Cheese Affair in the fall to honor New Members.

The chapter annually plans sponsorship of a presentation by a Fastback Author during a dinner program at a local restaurant.

The Chapter’s Newsletter is published four times annually. The PDK Award of Excellence was given to the chapter Newsletter in 1997 – only 18 in the international fraternity were so honored.

The Chapter provides copies of The Kappan to several local organizations.

Updated Membership Directories are published every few years to enhance communications and networking among active members.

The Chapter 14 Web Page, made available through the University of Pittsburgh, will be available soon.

Chapter 14 has sponsored a Fastback Author – provided funding – for a number of years.

The Chapter has consistently attained the PDK 20/20 designation through the generosity of the membership. The 20/20 is awarded when 20% of a chapter’s membership contributes annually $5 or more to the PDK Foundation.

Three scholarships – each totaling $500 – are now annually given by the chapter. One of the scholarships was established in the memory of Edith Renee Hill, the late daughter of a former national PDK officer Howard Hill.

Chapter 14 annually seeks to provide assistance to at least one at-risk student through the PDK Adopt-a-Scholar effort.

The chapter is financially sound.

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