John bear-thank you

This is a special thank you to Mr. John Bear-"America's Education Guru". Thanks for acknowledging me and my recently earned bachelor's degree. I am touched and honored.

Sincerely,
Ann Griffin.:laugh2:

 

This is a great idea for a thread. Let me add:

Thank you, John Bear, for agreeing to join a doctoral committee for a then-kid you didn't even know, helping him (eventually) to earn his PhD in this very field. And thank you for writing to the Union's president inquiring about my re-admission after several years out of the program. She agreed whole-heartedly and--again, thanks to you--I was able to finish the degree. It changed my life forever and, thus, so did you.

Thanks, John Bear!

 

I agree with Rich. This is a great idea. Thank you so much for your great efforts in distance education. I thank you so much for your great wit and humor. We will all be in your debt. It was you, ( my opinion) who I think changed distance education for the better.

 

His appropriate title is Dr. Bear, although he would never correct you.

 

I think if all of the people who owed John Bear a debt of gratitude were to post this would not only be the longest thread but crash degreeinfo. His books got me interested in distance learning and made me a much wiser consumer. They were also ultimately responsible for my advanced education.

He writes with humour, has educated people about and protected them from degree mills, assisted people to improve their lives and is a first class raconteur.

Dr. Bear, you have an amazing legacy.

 

It was reading one of John's early books that I learned about distance learning and the USNY. So he is responsible for me earning my BS degree and by extension my graduate degrees. Thank you John.

 

Can I have another (like the one above)? I was an enlisted education specialist in the Air Force before I was commissioned. I had already finished my USNY degrees when I stumbled across the 6th edition (1980). Wow! It really lit me up and I started requesting information from all kinds of schools, from DL to diploma mills. That hobby continued until the internet came into vogue, and I ended up making a PhD out of it all. What fun!

 

Wow it seems like i started something!?!

I thought I was thanking John personally for a special and personal acknowledgement that I got from him yesterday. I thought by now I would have gotten a response from him. I didn't expect others to chime in. That is okay. Everybody chime in and contribute, as I think we have all learned a lot about distance education and education period from "The Bear". John even told me about the secret ingredient that is in Molasses. Don't ask, as I am not going there. Everybody give John some recognition. Hip hip hooray. Go John Bear!:bigok:

 

In the late 1980s, Dr. Bear had a book that described how to get a non-traditional RA Bachelors degree. That was before the invention of internet degrees and most of the colleges and universities that were in his book offered correspondence-like courses. But the major point of the book was that a person could get or finish a college degree without setting foot inside a campus, which was quite remarkable at the time.

 

Well said!

Are you familiar with this site, Maniac? It's in my home town. :smile:

http://www.johnbear.com/

Johann

 

Thank you all for this digital festschrift. Now, would anyone like to buy a Pontiac?

John Bear
JOHN BEAR - Home

 

I said raconteur not racketeer.

 

In the early 90's I came across a copy of Bears' Guide and became fascinated with the subject of distance education, accreditation, degree/diploma/accreditation mills, etc. Needless to say I purchased every subsequent edition of Bears' Guide and every other volume I could find on the subject. Thank you, Dr. Bear, for your research/writing and pioneering spirit regarding distance education. Your research planted a seed of interest in me that has grown now for 20+ years.

May we reference you as Don Bear, the Godfather of Distance Education? :iagree:

 

In late 90's, I saw an ad for Dr. Bear's guide (in the economist? can't remember) and was immediately in love. The book costed like $40 ($20 price + $20 shipping to India), which was a lot of money tome being a student. I never hesitated and ordered my copy, and was delighted to receive it after 2 months in transit. I had to sacrifice 4 months of pocket money though - but it's worth million times!!!.

That was my inspiration for studying the non-traditional education,and eventually making into this board.

Thanks again, Dr. Bear - you are my hero - then, today and everyday. Expecting more books from you. Love you.

 

$40 million? Yeah, msganti - why not. Put it on eBay and tell a good story - you just might get that much, who knows? :smile:

I can remember Dr. Bear's book ads in the 70s. I thought - from his name - that he might perhaps be a Native American. And "Ten Speed Press" gave me mental images of Dr. Bear riding a bicycle around the US, touring non-traditional schools.

The reality is of course different, but no less interesting than my imaginings - no, not one bit less. Congratulations on your many achievements, Dr. Bear.

Johann

 

Hi there! What is the most recent edition of Dr. Bear's book on DL? I want to read it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bears-Earning-Degrees-Distance-Learning/dp/1580086535/ref=la_B000APBDOM_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402358072&sr=1-1

 

Johann: I can remember Dr. Bear's book ads in the 70s.

John: It was 40 years ago this coming August. I decided to run ads in five publications: Psychology Today, Wall Street Journal, Moneysworth, National Enquirer, and Mensa Bulletin. All of them worked, although, over the years, of the 400 publications I tried, only about ¼ worked. Most successful ad was the service that placed a classified ad in something like 100 million comic books, at $500 a word, including the address. I got my entire message, including the address, into 5 words. Five. Was quite proud of that. A huge response, mostly from the military, which turned out to be an ongoing good market.

Johann: I thought - from his name - that he might perhaps be a Native American.

John: Not a Pontiac dealer?

Johann: And "Ten Speed Press" gave me mental images of Dr. Bear riding a bicycle around the US, touring non-traditional schools.

John: That company was started by a Cal senior, whose roommate wished for a bike repair book that would fit in his pocket. The rest is history, including the sale, 3 or 4 years ago, to Random House for an alleged $30 million.