World War II and the Beginnings of Change

War Related Issues Strengthened vocational and applied aspect of education Strengthened vocational and applied aspect of education General Improvements-basic literacy and quantitative reasoning skills General Improvements-basic literacy and quantitative reasoning skills Personnel Shortages Personnel Shortages Importance of science, math and technology Importance of science, math and technology Commitment to universal education Commitment to universal education

Personnel Shortages Science Professors working on military projects Science Professors working on military projects No college deferments No college deferments Not enough trained scientists at end of war Not enough trained scientists at end of war

Research of Issues President’s Scientific Research Board President’s Scientific Research Board Need for college professors Need for college professors –Higher pay –Increase funding –NSF Grants “ The security and prosperity of the United States depends today, as never before, upon the rapid extension of scientific knowledge. So important, in fact, has this extension become to our country that it may reasonably be said to be a major factor in national survival.” ( p.130)

Research to Issues American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Dual Role of Science Education “Scientist Vs. Nonscientist” Dual Role of Science Education “Scientist Vs. Nonscientist” –Production of Scientists –Comprehension of science by general population Secondary Level Secondary Level –Not enough students taking science courses –No teacher available to higher level courses College Level College Level –Need to make science jobs more attractive –Early identification of science talent –Improve general science for nonscience majors

Research of Issues AAAS: “Much more use should be made of the history of science with its adventure and dramatic action, which appeal strongly to young peoples’ interests and arouse their imagination” (p. 132) AAAS: “Much more use should be made of the history of science with its adventure and dramatic action, which appeal strongly to young peoples’ interests and arouse their imagination” (p. 132) Science educational focus Science educational focus –the way science is conducted –the historical development of scientific thought –relationship between science and society

Teaching Profession President’s Scientific Research Board determined science education needs to be: -better trained teachers in subject matter and pedagogical techniques -higher pay for teachers -more rigorous training in subject matter -more emphasis on practical application rather than theory -less specialization

Gifted and Talented Education “…some of our talented youth are deprived of the opportunity to develop to the best of their ability…” (p.136) Suggestions: -creation of separate schools -creation of separate schools -honors classes -honors classes -Two-track system -Two-track system -supervised work experience -supervised work experience -individualized projects -individualized projects -class projects -class projects -Small-group projects -Small-group projects -use as class assistants -use as class assistants -math and science clubs -math and science clubs -contests and exhibits -contests and exhibits

Functional Vs. Specialized Science Functional Science: Real-World Applications Real-World Applications Content-secondary goal Content-secondary goal Specialized Science: College Prep students College Prep students –Physics –Chemistry

Life Adjusted Education Progressive Vs. Traditional Progressive Vs. Traditional “ The Soviet launch… promptly ended the debate that had raged for several years about the quality of American education. Those who had argued since the late 1940’s that American schools were not rigorous enough and that life adjusted education had cheapened intellectual values felt vindicated, and as one historian later wrote, “a shocked and humbled nation embarked on a bitter orgy of pedagogical soul- searching.” (p.146)