"I structured the essay on my own theory that all students are more successful if they can operate from a strong base of knowledge.  As a student in the North Carolina Public School system, I was educated in an era when teachers had more time to devote to the actual joy of learning," he said.
  "My education included instruction in art, music, theatre, public speaking, and research.  I think the teachers in my era were not laden with the requirement to teach lessons centered around an end of grade test.  I was exposed to a great deal of information on a great many subjects.  The students I have today who are freshly out of high school lack basic knowledge in so many different areas.  I have many students who cannot point out various countries on a map; they have no knowledge of classical music or works of art.  Many of my students have no thoughts on recent popular culture happenings in America, nor can they talk about political news, nor relate to information on a time-line of history," he said.
  "My Base of Knowledge Theory is aimed at supplying students with the basic information on a variety of subjects in order to help the student become a well rounded, higher order level thinker," he concluded.
   Townsend Press, in a published statement, said, "We know the challenges facing developmental college teachers.  We know the constant demand on a teacher's time and energy.  The fact that Mr. Butts found the time to write an essay about his teaching experiences tells us he is the kind of person who goes far beyond the minimum requirements of his job.  He has taken on the task of working with some of society's most vulnerable students and, as his essay shows, has made sure those students receive a positive experience in his classroom.  For many of the students, this may be the first positive academic experience they have ever had."  
  LAP Director Evelyn Kelly praised Butts for his accomplishment. "Mitch has been an asset to LAP since joining the LCC faculty.  The effective concepts he wrote of in his essay mirror his day-to-day instructional activities.  LAP is excited about Mitch's award, but no one is surprised.  He truly is a gem."
   Butts also presented a paper on his Base of Knowledge Theory to the  National Conference of English Educators at a meeting held in Morehead City this past year.   Butts has been with LCC for three years.  He has directed many theatrical productions for the college.