Margaret Simon Blumberg – Math Education, 1962; M.S. Mathematics & Business Education, 1964

Margaret Simon Blumberg

Bachelors(Education),August, 1962

Masters (Mathematics),August, 1964

Mathematics & Business Education

For me, the USL College of Education was and is embodied in the person of Dr. Leon Beasley. At some time during the early years, I was assigned to work as a student-aid in the offices of Dr. Beasley, Dr. Walter Robinette, and Dr. Howard Turner.  However, I believe I was assigned specifically to work for Dr. Beasley (and for the grand wage of $.50 per hour). What a pleasure to see a professor at work who didn’t believe in  following the mold society had set for him.  He was the first and only professor with whom I had experience who tried to get us out of the textbook and the classroom and into communication with high school teachers and students. I suppose this made him a “reformer” before his time. Dr. Beasley could be very demanding; at the same time, he never took anything too seriously, least of all himself. Dr. Beasley truly “told it like it was.

Years later as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics at USL, coincidence or fortune placed me in an office just inches away from Dr. Beasley’s office. We communicated on a daily basis and enjoyed one another’s company as we both tried to teach some of USL’s finest. I remember his wisdom, his wit and his charm–he taught me the meaning of the word “obfuscate.”  I believe it was a favorite of his.  (Coincidentally, or not, I find myself mere steps away from the office of Dr. Beasley’s son, Hunter, who now teaches in the College of Education.)

I have been an Instructor in the Department of Mathematics at USL for more than twenty years. For much of that time, I have been associated with Cajun Quiz Bowl and for a number of years have had the pleasurable responsibility of producing the questions for each year’s competition. I have been married to Duane Blumberg, current Dean of the College of Sciences at USL, for 34 years. We have one son, Kenneth Martin, who is a graduate of USL and an electrical engineer.