World-renowned pathologist proud of small-school roots in Montana

Rural education often gets ignored in the funding and social swirl that city schools attract.

But Montana must never underestimate the power of its small schools, said Bruce Beckwith, a world-renowned pathologist who among many accomplishments defined and named Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1969.

"The small schools in Montana can really give a great education," said Beckwith, a Mission High School graduate who is now retired in Missoula. "The power of a rural education is that people who are interested in learning can find teachers to give them special attention."
Beckwith credits his teachers in St. Ignatius with nurturing his inquisitive mind and launching him on a stunningly successful career in the world of pediatric medicine and research.

"I got a lot of enriched courses because I wanted to learn more," Beckwith said, "and my teachers were more than willing to give me their time and attention."

In high school, Beckwith’s teachers gave him a smorgasbord of intellectual challenges, prepared especially for him. Some of his most wonderful school memories include long discussions with his high school literature teacher, who gave him a personal class on "Dante’s Inferno," and his math teacher, who gave him a one-person course in solid geometry.

"That’s the kind of thing that happens in a rural school," said Beckwith, who was one of 27 in his graduating class. "Montana should treasure that experience."

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/05/29/news/mtregional/news07.txt