Benjamin Caton has been teaching at ETSU for the last 45 years and has loved every minute of it.
He received his undergraduate degree at ETSU and his master’s and doctorate from Ohio State University.
“I went to Ohio State where I earned my master’s, and at the end of the year the chair of the music department here called and said, ‘We want you to come to ETSU on the faculty,’ so that was in 1972,” said Caton.
As an undergraduate at ETSU, Caton was very eager to get out and teach but knew he wanted to eventually get his doctorate to follow his dream.
“I knew in the back of my mind that I was going to earn my doctorate,” said Caton. “I knew I wanted to be on the faculty here. It was my dream, so I believed in it.”
After receiving his master’s degree, he worked for the university for seven years then decided to take a leave of absence to pursue his doctorate at Ohio State University. He came back to ETSU to finish his dissertation.
“So, I finished my dissertation while I was here, and went back and received my doctorate in 1982,” Caton said. “The rest is history.”
He said the students have remained the same over the years, but technology has, of course, changed. When he first became faculty at ETSU, there were no computers.
“I have learned from my students, and they keep me young,” said Caton. “They also help me with technology, and they are very good to help me in all areas.”
Caton is a senior member of the faculty in the music department.
“The faculty has certainly changed in different areas, but I have a lot to learn from them,” said Caton. “I have some incredible colleagues, and I am happy to have them.”
He said his dream has never died, and he enjoys getting to teach to his students every day.
“First of all, I just love people, and I think if you are going to be a very successful teacher then you have to love people, and I love my students,” Caton said. “I don’t have any children, but I think of my ETSU students as my children.”
Caton was the 2013 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award in Service. He also served as president of the Music Teachers National Association for a term, which is an organization with 20,000 other teachers. His time on the MTNA Board spans 10 years during which time he has served as the Southern Division president, secretary, treasurer, president-elect and president. Most recently, he was honored at the ETSU Celebration of Service Jan. 28 for his 45 years at the university.
“I just think teaching is a wonderful career,” Caton said. “I am reminded of a statement that I read somewhere that said, ‘Adults who view their profession like children view their play are very fortunate.’”
Caton said we all change and grow each year, students and teachers included, and he would hate to have a job that he did not enjoy.
“I hope my students, when I retire, say, ‘Here is professor Caton. He taught 50 years,’ not, ‘Here is professor Caton. He taught one year 50 times,’” he said. “Because I grow, and I change.”
