Arthur Kratzmann (1925-2015) was an Australian teacher and later professor of education who spent most of his adult life working in Canada.

Biography

Kratzmann was a precocious student, in rural

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, and already held a teaching job of his own, in a one-room schoolhouse, when he was 17 years old. In 1943, when he turned 18, and was old enough to enlist, he enlisted in the Australian Air Force, which sent him to Canada, for training. He trained to be a pilot, and married his wife Mary, in Canada, before he was 19. He describes earning his wings late enough in the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

that he didn't experience front-line risks. Kratzmann and his wife lived in Australia for three years, after the war, but returned to Canada, where he returned to teaching, in Viking District (near Kinistino) Saskatchewan. Kratzmann taught English composition to

Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her sta ...

when she was in seventh grade. He could see she was a potentially talented writer, but limited by conventions and undue respect to well-known poets and authors. He describes challenging her to transcend cliché, and Mitchell credits his challenges as having a profound and lasting influence on the rest of her life. Twelve years later she dedicated her first album to him. Kratzmann was invited to surprise Mitchell with an award at a celebration of her career, in 2001. He described waiting in the wings during an on-stage interview that preceded his surprise appearance, and hearing her describe the profound influence he had on her. Kratzmann would eventually earn his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

, a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

, and a PhD, and eventually he became a professor at a university in

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. Kratzmann would rise to be the dean of education at the

University of Regina The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchew ...

. In 1981 he accepted an appointment as dean of education at the

University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary instit ...

, in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kratzmann, Arthur Australian schoolteachers Canadian schoolteachers Australian emigrants to Canada 1925 births 2015 deaths Academic staff of the University of Regina Academic staff of the University of Victoria