Dossier f13 - Campling, Laura Ruth, nee Miller

File consists of a recording of Laura Campling. Topics of the conversation include slight impact of WWII on subject's pleasant time at Queen's. Students' lack of political awareness; discussion of postwar reconstruction; contrast of unthinking patriotism with present day critical attitudes. WWII veterans' benefits; belief that society owed veterans a living. High motivation of veteran students, husband's pleasure in teaching them. Contrast of WWII with war in Vietnam. High ratio of male students to female students, even during wartime; women's representation in Alma Mater Society (waxing duri·ng WWI, waning till 1942); weekly 'Year Dances' at Grant Hall (stress on 'formals' absent during daughter's education); social deprivation of living off-campus. Family expectation that subject would attend university; strong desire to study medicine (not available to women at Queen's), not voiced because not seen as a possible option. Daughters' enrolments in medicine; case of daughter barred from Queen's Med School by female quota restrictions, succeeding brilliantly in medical school at Western Univ.; Western Univ. interviewer's roar of laughter on hearing Queen's sexist grounds for rejection. Biochemistry major as closest alternative to medicine; small enrolment; Dr. Sinclair. Few career-marriage combinations among subject's female peers; marriage as the more acceptable of two alternatives; mother-in-law's admiration of subject's 'modern' post­ponement of childbearing duties to support husband through university. Women's attitudes to university; relief that former attitude 'I'm glad I have my education, in case anything happens' (e.g. death, divorce) has gone by the boards. Employment with Dept. of Nutritional Biochemistry, MIT; energy-consuming child-raising years; employment as part­time demonstrator for Queen's Biology Dept., encouraged by Dr. Krotkov. Shock of discovering recent advances in Biochemistry ('I called myself a biochemist, but I didn't even know what DNA was!'). Unrewarding conscientious volunteer support of children's activities (swimming, skating, ballet, Guides...); contrasting pleasure of job as demonstrator. Interesting conflict stemming from position as United Church-affiliated teacher at Catholic Regiopolis School. Thankful opportunity to prepare lessons thoroughly as part­ time teacher.// Love and individual care given students by Regiopolis nuns; positive analytical approach to problem children; case of Protestant minister's son 'blossoming' at Regiopolis after harmful neglect in public schools. Subject's free rein to teach evolution to Catholic children; respect for Christian viewpoint, fascination with student views on evolution elicited in final exams. Happy double part-time employment demonstrating at Queen's, teaching at Regiopolis. Enjoyment of Queen's Faculty of Education; unexpected self-doubt of teaching ability, raised by methodological differences; unexpected reassurance as to grasp of subject; nervousness as mature student, acceptance by students her children's age. Function of teachers' college as 'attitudinal changing exercise', not grasped by majority of students, wrongly angered by lack of academic content. Envious admiration of younger generation's open discussion of sex, education, politics. Son's attendance at MIT, radical political involvement; convocation show of resistance to Vietnam war. Concurrence in younger generation's pacifism; earlier condemnation of French Canadian war protest; influence of atomic explosions in altering public attitudes. Belief in innate inhibition mechanism preventing aggression within a human group; importance of broadening the group referent to include everyone. Secondary role of large institutions in effecting world peace, primary role of individuals converted to global community spirit. Efficacy of cultural exchange programmes in overcoming prejudice, establishing a core of resistance to nationalist propaganda. Conclusion of Vietnam war as example of collective individual conscience exerting pressure in the public domain. Indebtedness to Konrad Lorenz for views on aggression. Elimination of compulsory cadet corps in local high school. Canadian problem of community with Quebec. Belief that change in citizens' outlook is reflected by government, given time; dependence of cultural evolution on changeover of generations. Initial resentment of French Canadian position during WWII, dislike of hippie slogan 'make love not war'; gradual change of view. Women's residence issue at Queen's: foolishness of abolishing Dean of Women's office until university women are in a position of equality with men. Economic reasons for not combining women's residences with men's (women's are cheaper to run); resentment of ongoing female subsidy of men in residences; contribution of female administrative staff; loss to female population if women now choose to throw their advantages away. Pleasure in social acceptance of women's career-marriage combinations, freedom to choose individual roles; regret that choice is now limited by poor economic conditions. Subject's regret, inarticulate at the time, that she did not continue her own career throughout early motherhood, marriage.