| Mikyska’s teaching abroad most memorable moment | |
By Holli L. Rapp
Traveling across the world to work in another country can be frightening, but not for political science instructor Joe Mikyska. Mikyska, who is retiring at the end of this semester, lists teaching in Canterbury, England, as one of his most memorable experiences.
For the 1995-96 school year, Mikyska and his wife accompanied 17 Illinois college students to Christ College in Canterbury. He described his experience in England as the nicest time of his life.
As Mikyska contemplated his retirement, he said, "To not dread coming to work says something."
"There have been difficulties, including the teachers’ strike in 1971, but it’s been a very enjoyable 30 years," he said.
The veteran instructor is not giving up teaching, however, he is just giving up his full-time job. He is planning to continue, part-time. He explained that the college is not advertising for an instructor to replace him since he volunteered to teach part-time.
Mikyska started at IVCC in 1969 after teaching at Mendota High School. He came to the college, he said, because he thought dealing with the more mature college students would be interesting.
In his years at IVCC he has taught history, economics, local government, national government and international relations classes.
"I enjoy all of the political sciences," he said.
He said his one regret was that he did not complete a doctorate. He has a Bachelors and Masters from Western Illinois University and has done post-graduate work at NIU and at ISU.
What changes has he noticed in his time on campus? More balance in gender, technology developments, and an increase in the number of hours students work.
"Students used to work just on weekends," he said. "Now some even work full time and go to school."
Students are also less interested and involved in politics today, he said.
He complimented IVCC on the quality of instructors and its affordability, and said he has enjoyed working with the college staff.
Besides teaching part-time, Mikyska plans to travel, fish, read, complete some projects around the house and spend time with his grandchildren. He has a daughter, married and living in the Illinois Valley area, a son living in Springfield, and two grandchildren.
Not surprising, his reading will be on military history, the Civil War, and World War II.
March 15, 1999, the Apache