Outspoken educator John Goodlad received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Southern Maine on Saturday during commencement exercises for about 900 students.

Goodlad, a co-director of the Center for Educational Renewal at the University of Washington and president of the independent Institute for Educational Inquiry, told graduates that in “today’s babble of sights, sounds, voices and electronic stimuli … sorting out the wheat from the chaff is a daunting challenge.”

Goodlad, who during 25 years at the University of California at Los Angeles served for 16 years as dean of the College of Education, advised choosing a life that makes one happy and proud.

“The more one’s life is dominated by satisfaction of wants rather than needs, the less likely one is to lead a satisfying life,” he said.

About 7,000 spectators attended the ceremony at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Sixteen members of the Class of 1951 marched to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Twelve retired faculty members were honored with emeritus status.

Three Maine residents received distinguished achievement awards: Dorothy Schwartz of South Freeport, director of the Maine Humanities Council; Joseph Kreisler of Portland, professor emeritus of social work; and artist Alan Bray of Sangerville, a USM alumnus.