CATE. . .from the Beginning

by Barbara Hartsig, South Pasadena

Published in California English, January/February 1983, page 14

The California Association of Teachers of English came into being in 1960 because many teachers seemed to want and need such an organization. It was 1959 when the first statewide meeting for California teachers of English took place. This was called the California Association of English Councils and was held concurrently with the Conference on College Composition and Communication on April 2-4, 1959, at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. Because participants were enthusiastic, meetings stimulating, and attendance large, it was agreed to hold annual conferences and to attempt to form a statewide association for teachers of English.

For many years there had been several regional organizations in California for elementary, secondary, and college English teachers. Each of these groups carried on programs and held conferences. In 1959 these organizations were: (1) Capitol Council, Sacramento Area; (2) Central California Council; (3) College English Association, Bay Area; (4) College English Association, Southern California; (5) Fresno Council; (6) Greater San Diego Council; (7) Kern Association; (8) Redwood Association; (9) Southern California Council; (10) Tulare County Council; and (11) Upper California Council. The first informal gathering of all the regional groups of California English teachers was in 1958.

The presidents of these regional councils met once a year to report on their organizations, exchange ideas, and elect officers. This group comprised the California Association of English Councils. The state organization, as its name implied, was not a group of teachers per se but rather a group of their representatives. After CATE became an organization, this group disbanded.

Each of the regional councils as well as the California Association of English Councils was an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English.

For the ten months following the 1959 San Francisco conference, a statewide committee was hard at work on two major tasks. The first task was to organize a conference for February 11-13, 1960, to be held at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. The second task was to draft a constitution for a statewide organization of teachers of English. This statewide committee was composed of: Mildred A. Dawson, Edmund J. Farrell, Dorothea Fry, Barbara Hartsig, Henry Meckel, Leo Ruth, James R. Squire, Donald Veith, and Richard Worthen.

A local arrangements committee was appointed to plan the Los Angeles conference. This local group organized the conference, developed the program and reported, from time to time, to the state group. The program theme was “Commitments for the Years Ahead” and focused on the following: providing an adequate description of language, encouraging effective use of language, using literature to deepen human values, building values through mass media and using research findings to improve language arts programs. Several general sessions and a number of discussion groups were devoted to exploring these various foci of the conference. The program also included business sessions, luncheon and banquet sessions, and opportunities for regional councils to hold meetings. Nearly forty exhibitors displayed text books and other learning materials for conferees to examine.

The statewide committee also set about early in May 1959 to draw up a constitution for the California Association of Teachers of English. The major goal was to develop a document which not only would provide for a strong state organization for all teachers of English at all levels of instruction, but also would allow regional groups to be equally strong and to continue to serve the needs of their areas. After numerous meetings in various parts of the state, a constitution finally emerged. Several months prior to the February conference, it was presented to the regional councils for study.

On the evening of February 12, 1960, delegates from each of the eleven regional organizations met at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, to go over the proposed constitution, article by article and section by section. Under the able leadership of Richard Worthen, president of the California Association of English Councils and presiding officer of the meeting, the group hammered away at the document that night. Soon after midnight the task was finished and the constitution adopted. CATE was established.

The first CATE business meeting was held the following afternoon, on February 13, 1960. Under the constitution all conferees were authorized to attend that session and could vote. Among other business was the election of officers, and the following officers were selected: President, Barbara Hartsig; Vice President, Nolan Noble; Secretary, Marion Kofford; Membership Chairman, Thomas F. Cottingim; and Program Chairman, Mildred A. Dawson. According to the constitution, the treasurer was appointed by the Board of Directors, a group comprised of the officers and representatives from the regional councils. At its first meeting, held in Chico, April 29-May 1, 1960, the Board named William F. McClintock, treasurer.

Since 1960, the California Association of Teachers of English has increased its scope many fold, held annual conferences, and expanded its programs to continue to meet the ongoing needs of California teachers of English. It has persisted as a viable, vibrant, and vociferous organization.

Guiding CATE through the years have been the following individuals who have served as president:

1960-1961               Barbara Hartsig

1961-1962               Francis Christensen

1962-1963               Edmund J. Farrell

1963-1964               Gerhard Friedrich

1964-1965               Alice Scofield

1965-1966               Hazel Jones

1966-1967               William Stryker

1967-1968               William Wise

1968-1972               Robert Palazzi

1972-1974               James E. Day

1974-1976               Robert Beck

1976-1978               Kermeen (Punky) Fristrom

1978-1980               Nancy McHugh

1980-1982               Faye Louise Grindstaff

1982-1984               Rose Sallberg Kam [presidents beyond here served after the original article was published)

1984-1986               Mary Lee Glass Templeton

1986-1988               Marilyn Kahl

1988-1990               Dani Barton

1990-1992               Patricia Cipriano

1992-1994               Dianne Lucas

1994-1996               Bob Infantino

1996-1998               Vincent Piro

1998-2000               Robin Luby

2000-2002               Aaron Spain

2002-2004               Anna J. Roseboro

2004-2006               Maureen Rippee

2006-2008               Michelle Berry

2008-2010               Robert Chapman

2010-2012               Charleen Silva Delfino

2012-2014               Elizabeth McAninch

2014-2018               Denise Mikkonen

2018-2020               Greg Johnson

2020-2026               Robb Polski

2026-2029               Frank Mata

Barbara A. Hartsig, who was the first president of CATE, was a Professor of Education Emeritus, California State University, Fullerton. For many years she was active in professional groups. She served as president of SCTE (Southland Council of Teachers of English), was on several CATE and NCTE committees, and also worked with ASCD and other supervisory and curriculum organizations. Before joining the CSUF faculty, Dr. Hartsig was a curriculum consultant with the Orange County Schools where, among other activities, she directed a group of teachers in the preparation of a language arts guide for grades K-14. She also was a school supervisor in Placer County, a director of curriculum in Tehama County, and an elementary teacher in several school districts. She held a BA degree from Occidental College, a masters from USC, and a doctorate from UCLA.