IALA » Eight Year Study

8 Year Study: New Books

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:51:16 +0000

The Eight-Year Study has an extraordinary place in history but is largely unknown to current educators as something that occurred long ago (1930-1942 actually) but is one of the largest if not the most significant studies ever. It attempted to learn if progressive educational practices would serve students better than traditional programs. It proved that without a doubt. The summary volume of the 5 volumes is available online courtesy of the Maine Association for Middle Level Learning with the cooperation of the University of Maine.

The archives of this majestic study and interviews with participants have just been captured in a wonderful new book: Stories of the Eight-Year Study: Reexamining Secondary Education in America by Craig Kridel and Robert V. Bullough Jr.

A second valuable book is The Eight-Year Study Revisited: Lessons from the Past for the Future by Richard P. Lipka et al, published by the National Middle School Association (1998). This excellent, well-written book with chapters written by six authors illuminates key findings that have relevance for schooling today. While written with the middle school in mind, its concepts are applicable across the secondary grades.

Reform Reports — Empty Rhetoric?

Wayne Jennings — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:46:27 +0000

Another report calling for a top to bottom school reform made headlines recently. Tough Choices or Tough Times by the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce calls for ending high school 10th grade for most students, early childhood education, better teachers with more pay, contractors to run schools, lifelong learning subsidies, etc. Diane Ravitch reviews the report as misguided in Education Week.

The question is, Will anything come of this book beyond the fate of similar past reports? There have been many ambitious efforts by prestigious panels to significantly change schools. Following the famous Eight-Year Study educators were determined to use the results to change schools and wrote, Education for All American Youth in the 1940s. Living and Learning,, a splendid and thorough Canadian 1960s report recommended wholesale change beginning with the aims of education. A marvelous report, The Reform of the Intermediate and Secondary Education (RISE) in the 1970s called for wholesale reform of schools in California. More recent calls include: Turning Points, Breaking Ranks (both volumes).

Perhaps, it’s that schools can’t or won’t change. Every school has staff members that welcome change and staff members that resist change. They offset each other. That’s why IALA promotes choices for students and staff. Many of the choices can be new schools to avoid the long painful process toward change in an existing program that usually does not come to fruition.

So, start over with a new school or create a school within the school and give it far-reaching decision-making authority. Make it a choice for both staff and students!

8 Year Study: Now Available! Also 2007 Book

Wayne Jennings — Mon, 05 Apr 2004 05:03:16 +0000

One of the most famous and sound studies in American Education is the 8 Year Study which led to the oft-repeated comment that the further you departed from conventional high school education the better the results. Five volumes described the study but they are almost impossible to find. Fortunately, the summary in the entire volume I, The Story of the Eight Year Study is now is available online due to the good work by the Maine Association for Middle Level Learning with the cooperation of the University of Maine.

2007 addition: The archives of this majestic study and interviews with participants have just been captured in a wonderful new book: Stories of the Eight-Year Study: Reexamining Secondary Education in America by Craig Kridel and Robert V. Bullough Jr.