Interview with Laurie L. Bottoms, March 26, 1992

Interview Summary

In this interview, Laurie Bottoms describes a typical day. She normally observes student teachers in the five high schools in Lexington, Kentucky. Bottoms then usually spends time in her office answering phone calls regarding the Bluegrass Writing Project, a staff development program for teachers she is directing during the summer. Bottoms also has frequent meetings for the Language Program faculty since she chairs this committee at UK. Bottoms talks about her life and her views of her work, including the best and worst elements of her career. She states that she views work as one of the essential elements of human experience. She also describes universities in general, stating that the greatest achievement of a university is to be a place of conflict, contradiction, debate and discussion. In regards to state funding, she feels that universities should go after as much money as they can get to maintain quality education with a low tuition. She explains that universities should be places of discussion and liberal humanity, and she states that UK is attempting to do this.

Interview Keyword

Bluegrass Writing Project Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning Student teachers

Interview LC Subject

Bottoms, Laurie Louise Shafer, 1939- Bottoms, Laurie Louise Shafer, 1939- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History College teachers. College teachers--Job satisfaction College teachers--Social conditions College teachers--Workload College teaching. Education, Higher--Kentucky Educators Universities and colleges. Universities and colleges--Faculty. Teachers--Kentucky Teaching High school teaching--Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.