1958 A Study of the Self-Contained Classroom at Linden-McKinley High School, Columbus, Ohio

Page 1

A snJDY OP THE SELF-CONTAIN ED CLASSROOM AT LIND.EN~iclCINLEY .)UNto.a-S ENIOR 1-llGff srnooi.'

COUJM:00S' ano

A The.sis Presented

in Pa•tial •

Pulf illment

of the Requirementa

for

the Degree Master of Arts

By

EVELYNWOODcm .t.HNS. A.B.

The Ohio State University 1958

Approved by :

Adyia~r

Department

'\

of Education


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is with sincere counsel,

guidance,

the preparation

gratitude

and interest

of this

thesis.

that I acknowledge the of Dr. Harold Alberty in I am deeply indebted to

my husband for his encouragement and my sons , ages 8 and 9, who respected the closed study d.oor.•

. \

..

.; '

ii


TABLEOP CONTBNTs CllAPTER

PAGE I

INTRC>nUCTION

••••••••••••••••••

••••••••••••••••••••••• •

1

The Junior High School •••••••••••••••••••••••••·••

The Core Program Statement

of the Problem

Related Studies Definition

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

• •·. •·......

6

•••••• ••••• ••••• •••• •••• •

8

,.......................

9

... ..... .......................... . 10

Procedures......

.,

,

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Overview of the Study .• . •••••.•.•.•••...••....•...

II

s

•••••••••••• • ••••• •••••• ••

of Terms •••••••

Limitations

1

11

12

nlE SELF-CONTAINED CLASSR~ IN nm COWMBUS PUBLIC SOIOOLS Basis

of. the Core Program .• • • • • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Development of the Self-Contained

Classroom in

the Colwnbus Public Schools•••••••••••••••••••• Role of Subject-Matter

13

16

in the Self-Contained

Classroom••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

22

Role of EYaluation in the Self-Contained C lassroorn

••••••••••••••••••••

Problem Areas •••••••••• III

~

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •.

,..........................

23

24

mn SELF-CONTAINED CLASSR(X)M AT LINDEN-McKINLEY JUNIOR•SENIORHIGH SCHOOL The Setting

••••.•..•

The Self-Contained Junior-Senior

•. • • • • • -. · • • · • · • • • • • • • • • • • •. •..

27

Classroom at Linden-McKinley High School

i!i

• • •••• • • •• •...........

29


TABLE OF CONTENTS ( CONTINUED)

OIAPTER

tAGE

Classroom •••••••••••

Program of the Self-Contained Learning Units

IV

I Have Taught ••••••••••••••••••••••

a Learning

Developing

29

•••••••••••••••••••••••

Unit

33

,

35

ATl'I'ruD.ES OF S1\JDENTS, TEAOIERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS TOfARD'fflE SELF-CONTAINEDCIASS

What Students

Think of the Self-Contained

Class

at Linden-McKinley.............................

38

What the Teachers Think of the Self-Contained Class

• • • •• ••• • •••• • • •• ••••••

at Linden•HcKinley

Think of the Self-

What the Administrators Contained

What Parents

Class at Linden-McKinley.............

Think of the Self-Contained

SUMMARY AND CONCWSIONS

Sununa.ry •••••

• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

••••••••••

•••• ••• •••••• •••• ••• •••••• ••••••••••••

Conclusions••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Suggestions

to Linden-McKinley

Y BIBLIOOR.APH•••••••••••••••••• .APPENDIXA ••••••••••••••••••

••••••••••••••••••••

70 79

79

80 83

• • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • •• •• • •

85

• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

88

APPENDIXB •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

iv

67

Class

at Linden-McKinley••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• V

64

93


T.4BLES

PAGE TABLE 1

Things Most Liked About the s ~lf-Contained Class

.... .. .............................................. ·

39

TABLE 2

Extent to Which Students Received Help in th e Class••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Self-Contained

43

TABLE 3

Tbln~a Most Disliked About the Self-Contained Class .•••••••••.•..•..••••••••••.•.•.•..••••.••••.•..••

4S

TABI.Il 4

Extent to Which Students Received Help in Solving Class • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • Problems in the Self-Contained TABLE S

Extent to Which Students

in the Self-Contained

Gained Help in Skills Class ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

TABLE 6

Extent to Which Students Gained Understanding• the Self-Contained Class...............................

47

51

in 54

TABLE 7

in the SelfJudgments Concerning Activities Contained Class••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

57

TABLE 8

Student•'

Opinions of Parents• Attitudes

the Self-Contain~d

Class

Toward

• • • • • • • • • • .• • • • • • • .• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

60

TABLEC) Students• Opinions Concerning Extension of SelfContained Class to Grade 8 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

62

TABLE10 Parents• Opinions Concerning the Self-contained Class••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

69

.v


OJAPTER I

Im'RODUCTION pie Junior High Schoo~ 'lbe Junior

high school,

system, was established fails

more than any other

with clearly

to show Why the ele n~ntary

formulated

school rather in history

school.

American secondary

that

The junior

hi gh school,

plan of grade organization. been establiahed

to continue

In fact,

the seventh

the common integrating

.

and ninth

of serious

study of

as a part of the

very definite

the eight-four

inception

and well-recognized

with the eisht-four

began to question

the purposes

to provide a more democratic

We find no evidence

from dissatisfaction

before educators

that

high

of adolescents.

Tbe Junior high •ehool had its recognized

well oyer a

it is not at all

however, was established

It developed largely

History

school became a four-year

this system evolved a& a result

American school system to serve certain

leaders

Likewise,

than some other grade arrangement.

what waa beat for the education

purposes.

purposes.

school was established

hundred years . ago as an eight-year clear why the typical

school in the American

plan had hardly its

some fifty

of the junior

experiences

deairability. years ago.

that

Early

high school should be

of the elementary

school system, and to bridge

grades. 2 Noar states

1

school;

the gap between

"the junior

high school

1Paul M. Halvers on,

Frontiers of Secondary Ed!JCation I. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1956. chapter IV, The Junior High School Present Status and Future Potentialities by William T. Gruhn, p. 41.

1.witliam A. Smith, The Junior High Schoo,1.

Company, 1925, pp. 152•204.

1

New York:

The Macmillan


2

. was planned a nd social needs of the students in mind." 3 . It was felt chil<.1hood ch aracter 1st ica would blend more smoothly with . . adolescent traits as the t rans 1 tion from elementary to secondary school Th was made leas abrupt. e new school was faced with the problems of at the si:;th student drop-outs and eighth years, the di.fficult adjustment th e senior high school, and the failure of the elementary school to to with the emotionn1

provid .e for the needs grow i ng out of developmental changes during early adolescence. 4 It 'W&S primarily to correct these shortcomings that the The dominating purpose of the early

Junior high school waa .established. Junior high

schools

was to provide

a program to meet the needs of the

adolescent-

early

What then are the aims of the junior

a list

in 1948• submitted

school to a selected

with the junior

dealing

To To To To To To

aims of the junior high

aims had been compiled from high school since its

than 90 per cent of those responding being nlid

original

Howell,

school today?

of more than a hundred junior high school

These original

adminittrators.

articles

'list

of forty-five

high

selected

a

study of

inception.

the following

More

aims as

today,

provide a suitable environment for children 12•16 years of age. and aptitudes of those ages. abilities, explore interests, and needs. individual interests to education and training adapt area. study pupil• s needs in each meet the individual have pupils participa!e in school gowrnmental_ac!i~itiea. 5 give physical diagnos1s and remedial work for 1nd1v1duals.

3Gettrude

Incorporated,

-

Noar, '1_]\eJunior

High Sch,ool.

New York:

· Prentice-Hall,

1953, p. 3.

4 rbid.

5c1arence E. Howell, "Junior High: How Valid Are Its Original Cle•ring House, XXIII (OCtober, 1948), pp. 75•88.

Aims?"


The Junior high &Ch· 1 oo • with it educational s unu$ ual f aeili ties and broad Program ' ha•• an opportunity to make a particular contribu• tion to the c ommon valu~1 "" •· a tt· · 1tudes· , understandings and skills needed by all

for

opportunity only

to facilit

enables

t .

so that

Inte gration

t0

lescent

and by concern

experiences

problems,

around ado-

of the whole child. in the classroom

ationa in learning

Leader-

social

areas may be broadened

that will

in senior

assist

the student

high school designed to

part

of the classroom

experience

of students

are the center

and interests

when of

program.

to the purposes opportunity

with

of the individual.

nie modem school .can provide

work •fforda

is afforded

in the special-interest

beeomes an integral

the general education

greater

education

centered

for the development

the courses

the uniqueness

the common needs,

according

a unified program for

commonproblems of concern to them.

practical

to choose more wisely

as well.

of the learnin g eA-periences of the classroom.

courses

they include

Guidance

but develops

situations

for general

of subjects

for socialization

become a part

Exploratory

develop

school,

group and committee work and other valuable

ship experience,

so that

a program that not

ea s i ly to other by providin g

by fusion

are studying

where students

by providing

making provision

·charaeterized

problel'lls,

The modern school has the

to Junior high

may ·be accomplished

Ample· opportunity

contacts

dj

a · ust

he may adJ'ust

seven th rough nine,

a curriculum

.

• e e.rt1eulation

the student

the individual

grades

citizensh1'p.

common democratic

3

of the teacher

to adjust ability.

ease and f lexibi li ty in making changes and pupils.

instruction

A Progra m that

Teachers have a

and organization

to meet vari•

emphasizes broad units

de for individual the opportun i ty to Provi

differences

of within


4

the unit,

ao that atudents 'lb~r

experiences.

of

levels

all

of ability

e are ample opportun1¡ ties

find stimulating

will

to challenge

the talented

~~ile the slow learner is given special "~' help, encouragement and plenty 0f t¡ 1me to meet his responsibilities. Neither student ia e:,q,ected to conform to a meaningless eingle standard child and push him along rapidly

in which one may loaf

When students

of activities ¡and provide

low ability.

s.

levels

challenge

of

of the student

urgent needs of citizens

the following

way of life

needs of citizens

today:

&kills

and backgrounds.

to skill

contribution

making intelligent

education

6ea1nraan,

on drill

in democratic

and skill

decisions,

Thia aay only be achieved

a program that

Emphasis

op, cit,,,

will

leadership,

by a program which provides

pp.

43-45.

help youth gain

and memorization

in effective

as well as the special

in America today

The Junior high school

is to survive.

to develop

has the responsibility

citiunahip

contribution

Still in democratic citizenship. decisions and judgments. Ability to make intelligent Skill in human relations. Deep sense of civic loyalty and responsibility. and backgrounds.6 interests Broad cultural

if cur democratic

very little

open new avenues ,of

is accomplished.

'lbese are the more significant

these

The wide

of intelligence.

the gifted,

for the important

Thua, differentiation

Gruhn has stated

1. 2. 3. 4.

to varying will

there are

on real problems of living,

work together

auited

many activities

interest,

suffer

. ~dumb."

and be labeled

variety

and be regarded aa "bright .. and the other

interests

skill

make

in

human relations. for the common of individuals.


s There haa been much disagreement junior

has met this

high . school

high achool

proved its factory

a, a convenient

"details

challenge.

for the early

of administrative

thinking

high school

of the elementary by one teacher.

extreme

specialization

curriculum

junior

aepara te entity,

and necessary

requi.red

leve 1.

a satis• that,

8

grades

were regard .ed as part

of the instruction

many principals

grades

haa not fully

tend to dominate the

administrators."

of thearly

·in the seventh and eighth

that

the junior

than basic contributions

adolescent&

an anawer to this problem.

at this

rather

where most or all

Consequently

describes

7 Gruhn states

the .seventh and eighth

school,

as to whether the

around which to denlop

organization

growth of early

Traditionally

unit

adolescent.

to the educational of Junior

Alberty

administrative

worth as an organization

curriculum

among educators

who reacted

high schools

against

because th~ 16 Carnegie

.. .,

the

found the core

More experimentation

for graduation

was giv en

waa possible unita,

each a

from · high aehool,

were not

' ¼

;the Core Pr91r,mn

someof the common def initiona subjects, in whidl

a combination learning

as the following general

of two or more subject•,

activitiea

are planned

are used synonomously

education,

courses,

of the core .are:

unified

fused courses,

studies

?Harold Alberty, "~eorganip.ng !,lletin of the National Association XXtx. April, .194,, P, 18. * 8-ia1.,eta011, ~'

p. 42.

a .large

coc,peratively.

with cores

., &elf-contained

and P.nglish•social

a group of required

atudiea.

block

of time

such

Many terms

eo11111on learnings, ·claasrooms,

basic

'l'he program which

the Junior High School Curriculum," of Secondary School Principals' -


6

than one period.

in a block of time larg~r

teacher,

The Office

in the junior

curriculum

high school.

the core

36 per cent were in the seventh and 20 per cent in the ninth

grade,

30 per cent in the eighth

grade,

indicated

reporting

86 per cent of the schools

curriculuma.

core

reported

fewer than 500 pupils

enrolling

and

and senior high schools

junior

1949 that 11 per cent of the larger 2 per cent of schools

of a survey made in

as the reailt

found,

of Education

tau ght by one

is usually

p lan of or ganization

from this

eventuates

grade. 9

of the Problem

Statement

classroom program was initi•

In September of 1952, a self-contained ated in the junior

to meet the needs of the 13,500 boys and girls

was designed

high schools

the 17 junior

and purposeful

rience tion

in the secondary

in Columbus.

and parents

Educators

school.

It is the purpose

education

effectiftlY ing attitude•,

of thia

of atudenta~

the attitudes

toward the effectiveneaa

educa-

study to examine

teachers,

admin-

High School, Columbus, Ohio ..

have indicated in the secondary

in commoncitizenship underatandinga,

expe-

of such a program at

concerned with the gap between theory

American education general

a new design for general

requires

Linden-McKinley Junior..Senior

attending

The psychology of direct

learning

the new design and determine

iatratora,

'nlia core program

of Columbus, Ohio.

high schools

an interest

in a reorganization

aehool ao that education.

and akilla

and practice

it

may function

The importance

in of more

of develop•

commonto our democracy has

9oraee s. Wri~t, Core Curriculum in Public High Schools, federal A~encf, Otfice of Bducation, Waahington1 U. s .. Government kcurlty Prlntin1 Office, 1950.


7

is taking

in which reorganization

at Linden-Mc~inley

ita inception

education

leadership

dewlopment

and cultural

~ust be a continuous all

civic

in the core concept and appraisa l of

evaluation

program which emphasizes

An educational

loyalty

and responsibility,

There

demands a new approach to evaluation. of purposes

re-examination

'nlia atudy

the aims of the aehool.

and functions

in which

The program must exemplify

concerned with fhe pro~ram participate.

and fulfill

school situations

Implicit

in 1953.

human relations,

skills,

about curriculu m

of the program has been made since

ia a need for continual

accomplished.

what is ~ing

in

place.

evaluation

at over-all

education

for general

progru

more needs to be known about actual

No attempt

dissatisfaction

Although much haa been written

school.

reorganization,

of general

a general

in dicates

departmentalized

with the conventional the secondary

alike

educators

and professional

coming fron laymen

The vast amount of criticism

long been recognized.

an over-all

will provide

evaluation. Rece nt studies

high •choola

York City junior atone,

of Research,

Director

lum reorganization. "fundamentals" place

of the core program in New

of the effectiveneas

which were carritd

out by

have given considerable

10 Thi• study revealed

that

of these

core.

Aa a result

City.

11tua when evaluation

by

studies, i• carried

fusion

Wayne Wright-

impetus to curricu-

improved mastery

and marked i111&')roveaentin peraon•l-eocial

in claaarooma characterized

J.

of the

adjustnent

or the adoleacent

took

problems

the core ia being extended

in New York

on, it tends to extend the core.

f Pupil 10J. Wayne Wrightetoae, A second R~port on the 2valuation (N~w ~ _ Academic Hi h Schools tb in the core Pr raa in 1952 5 <•iimeo• March, York Nflf of City O the of Education Board 195 1 graph~d).

y~:

G


8

Since

procedure.

lead to i mproved methods of classroom

study will

It is hoped this

should

of evaluation

a program

of techniques

and methods u&ed to achieve

should reveal

the strengths

goals,

established of classroom

end weaknesses

an examination

include

the study now

procedures

in use. Studies

Related

1.

.

(Unpublished

.

of Evaluative

roo ms at the Seve,i.th-Grade State

University,

1953)

in the Self-contain

Practices

tevel,

by Clara

the wide range of purposes teachers

uni ts led to curriculum

of resource

grade in Columbus, Ohio •

changea in the seventh A Study

University,

how the involve ment

study describes

'nlis

in the preparation

of teachers

The Ohio State

thesis,

master's

A. Breni man.

by Flora

2.

in the Colu m-

A Study of Resource Unit Develop ment in the Columbus Junior

High Schools, 1952)

classroom

ere as follows:

Schools

bus Public

the self•contained

concerning

Other studies

(Unpublished P. Savoy.

devices

to use many evaluative

master• s thesis, indicates

This study

of the self-contained

e d ClassThe Ohio

that

program has stimulated

in addition

to paper and pencil

tests. 3.

master's This

Role of Language Arts in the Core Curriculum,

nie

thesis,

studY describes

University

University,

nte Ohio State language

School and in selected

1955) by Margaret L. Buford.

experiences

arts

(Unpublished

observed

at the Ohio State

Columbus, Ohio, self-contained

class-

rOO!'ll•· Mttbodl and Procedures Used ln the Columbus, Ohio.

---

Cla1ae• at t h e Ohio State

Univ

s~venth-Grade Lev$!,

etiit'Y•

(Unpublished

1956) by Christina

St-lf-Containt"d

11\&ater•s thesis,

s. Dolin.

The

Thia study analyEes


9

teacher dures

responses

used in the

s.

Problems

to•

questionnaire

self•contained

concerning

the methods and proce-

classrooms.

in Developing

Learn~ng Uni ts in the Self-Containe

Classroo m Pr21rrun of the Columbus, Ohio, Public ma.ster•a thesis.

The Ohio State University,

study is based on sixty problems encountered

Colunbus,

Ohio. Public

University,

to a questionnaire

a learning

the S<"lf-Contained

Schools,

(Unpublished

picture

of the process

seventh

grade of the Colwnbus, Ohio, public

Definition 1.

the individual'•

is related."

master's

Progr1cm in the

thesis,

The Ohio

This study presents took place

a

in thP.

schools. ·

exe~ting

response

designed primarily

Education

objects

of readiness

organ•

or dynamic influence

and situations

hence is required

ia defined as that part

to provide

understandings,

upon

with which it

for the deftlopment

of a total

of all

baa one teacher

st udent&. class

curriculum

of the common atti-

and akill& needed for effective

A self-contained

a student

to all

a directive

state

11

General

3.

Classroom

change as it

is a mental and neural

ized through experience,

tudes,

concerning

of Terms

"An attitude

2.

'nlis

unit in the classroom.

1956) by Dorothy Q. Williams. of currieulun

(Unpublish~d

1956) by JE>anE. Casey.

responses

when developing

:i,ie DevelooL1ent_of

· 6,.

State

teacher

Schoo~s,

d

citizenship,

and

12

in the ColUlllbua achools

for at least

ia one in which

two or three different

suhjcct

llc;ordon w. Allport, in Murchison, Carl (editor), Handbook of Social London, Oxford University Presa, 1935, p. 810. Paveh o 1o~,

«

12ffarold Alberty, Reorganizin_g the High School Curriculum. -..e MacMillan Company, 1953, p. 162. New York: .u,

.......

Revised.


10

4•

A problem area is defined

A learning

S.

ually

out learning

and carrying

planning

in terms of their

evaluating

continuous

or area of living

in

to have problems. which teachers up objectives;

choose for study by setting

cooperatively

and students

or four periods.

commonproblem of interest

isl

unit

as an aspect

are likely

or most adolescents

which all

of three

a block of time consisting

during

fields

in groups and by individ•

activities objectives;

and making · new plans for

learning.13 'Procedures

to obtain

permission

from school officials

contained

classrooms

at Linden-McKinley

'nle second step involved

about the attitudes tion tovard

of teachers,

the self•contained

to ·conduct such a study,

step consisted analyzing

classifying,

media through which the information and the administra-

parents,

students,

claasrooma at Linden-McKinley Junior•

a member of a aelf•contained surTeT•

eluding

A total

of the actual

·

preaently

who had been in the

classroom was asked to participate

of 229 stu c'ents relipo nd ed to the questionnaire

12 per cent in the ninth,

of the information,

at Linden-Mdtinley

42 per cent in the seven th grade,

13Ibid

gathering

the ·t1ata.

and interpreting

Each student

~•mpling.

to be used,

of q~stions

Senior High School was to be gathered ·and ·evaluated. The third

step was

of the self-

and teachers

the selection

of · various

and the determination

The first

of 1957.

in the spring

This study was started

in•

32 per cent in the eighth,

8 per cent in the tenth,

Chapters XIII and XIV.

'

and 6 per cent in the


11

eleventh.

naire.

number 40 per cent respon ded.

Of this

Semi · •s t rue t ure d interviews

Interviews.

were conducted with 102 stu-

the problem was discussed

After the purpose was explained,

dents.

of departmental

were conducted in the same manner with teachers following

th~ students

who had taught

subjects

year in the self-contained

their

taught

area teachers

The special•interest

class.

con-

Interviews

was followed.

and no sequence of questioning

versationally

question•

were mailed a parents•

229 students

of these

Parents

during the

the students

class.

year they were in the &elf•contained Limitations

thus,

they haYe had an opportunity

type of program with

this

to explore

grade were in the program four

Those in the eleventh

only one teacher.

for only one year;

class

were in the self-contained

The students

years ago, and while they ha.Ye had ample opportunity

interviews

with

them indicated

Because of the physical

clasa. thi•

No attempt

vi~~r

felt

eeai•atructured that rapport

on• there conver •• ti

problems or were

a stigma has been attached

grou~ing in the

has been made at ability Junior-Senior interviews

High School • were conducted

had been established

remains some interview

high school,

they were scheduled in

discipline

'lbue, in a aense,

y progr am at Linden-McKinle Although

experi•

were in the aelf•contained

because they presented

of low ability.

to the program.

many of their

in the junior~aenior

have been led to believe

students

type of class

students

facilities grade students

of the seventh

Some

had forgotten

grade.

ences in the seventh

only a part

they

for comparison,

and the inter•

at the beginning biaa.

of the

V~rbal expression

is


12

only a limited

proof

of attitude.

Al t bough a spelling the Columbus Public contained

classes

achievement

teat

limited

Schools

in which all

participated,

excelled results

the self-contained

survey,

in their

revealed

grade student•

students

improvement in this

were available

classroom

seventh

for the study.

in the self-

skill,

no

Thia study of

program at Linden-McKinley will~

measure of evaluation

since

in

a

it ia based only on attitudes

and

opinions. Overview of the Study In Chapter classroom

II of this

study a discussion

program in the Columbus, Ohio, public

In Chapter

III

the self-contained

Linden-M~inley

Junior-Senior

claas•o011,

High School,

the data gathered

on the ·attitudes

tors,

toward the self•contained

and parents

Junior-S~nior

quotations. study

The data are analyzed

along with suggestions

indications as well.

from these

In Chapter

classroom

at Linden-McKinley by Yerbatim

In Chapter V the

based on the findings

which may ·apply

IV

teacher -a, adsinistra•

and supplmented

conclu•ions

is attempted.

haa evolved at

is discussed.

and interpreted.

classroom program at Linden-McKinley.

schools

•• it

of students,

High School are presented

is summarized and specific

presented

of the self•contained

are

to the self-contained

lt is hoped the conclusions

finding& may be of value to other

and

core program•


OtAPTER. II

'nil! SELP-<X>NTA INBD CLASSROOMIN 1H£ COUJMmS PUBLIC SOf OOLS

paaia

As baa been indicated ambiguity

surrounds

of the Core Prosra!l

in Chapter I,

a great

the tel'111lcore or "core program."

la on~ common e le11:1entin prograffl8 ref erred

to all

or part

deal of confusion and

of the total

H~ver,

to as corf:'.

then

The term refers

curriculum which ie required of all stu•

dents at a given level. program of general Alberty

gives

It is uMd to deaignate all or part of the education, 1 the following

analyaia

of the various

types

of core

programs: 1.

The core consists

or fielda dently.

of a num~r of logically

of knowledp, ·

organized aubjects indepen-

each one of which ia taught

2.

The core conaiata of a number of logically organized aub~cts or f !elda of knowledge ., aome or all of which ar~ cor~late-d.

3.

The

core conaiat• of broad p.roble••, unite of wort, or unifying themes which are chosrn ~cauae they afford the means of tcacb• tni effectiw1y the baaie content of certain aubjecta or fielda

of 'knowledge. Tb~ae aubjecta or fields retain their identity, but the content t• aelected and taught with special reference

to the unit,

theme, or problem.

4.

The core eonaleta of a number of aubjecta or fields of knowledge which are unlf ied or fuaed. Uaually one eubject or f J.eld (e.g. history) aervea •• the unifying center.

s.

The core eo,adat• of learning exp•rlenct-a ae 1ected f ram broad preplanMd problna area•, in terae of the paychob!ological

and aoeleta1

-eds,

problems and interests

lffarold Alberty. R£orpnJ.~ing Nt'W Tortu The Mac1't.lllan Company,

the Righ School 1953, p. 167 • 13

of atudenta.

Curricu1 u~.

i d Rt-v • ~ •


15 7.

generally aaaigned to home• nie core absorbs the activitiea ~oorna, such•• class buain~a•, aocial affaira, -and the record• ng and reporting

8•

progre1a.

of student

Core pro,,.rarns include the guidanc~ and counseling function. connected. Guidance and the curriculum becom~ in~parably

9 • 'nle core organization

encourag~• the development of broad

te .achera may draw upon in

comprehensive resource uni ta ~ich planning learning activities.

10.

ia frequ~ntly made between the core period wich A distinction (e.g. drill, embraces 111any marginal end related activities study), and the core unit of wort leisure reading, auperviud which &erfta •• the unifyinc center of the actiYltlea of studenta.3

Alberty 1.

lists

advantages of such a curriculu m desi gn:

the following

a direct attack upon the M~ds which be-set them in cur pr~afflt day

Such a program makea poaalble of ymth and the problema confus~d culture.

2.

111eanaof bridging the gap and guidance, betwen t~ curriculum and the betw~n gen~ra1 and apeclal interest educa-

Such a progran, provides between education

~xtra-curriculum, tion.

an effectiw

3.

Such a program tend& to break down the eta•• bar ·rlers which so program. frequently are maintained in the traditional

4.

Such a progran facilitates

s.

Such a program J.s coneiatent

th~ unification

of knowledg~.

wltb the newer tbeorlea

of learn•

ins and tranafer. 6•

Such a program ~ncourages the t~aching togeth~r.

7 • Such a program encourage• t~

uae

o(

staff

to plan and work

democratic practices

in

the claaarOOlll.

8.

Such a progrUl •ncoura1ea tory for leaming.

:Jw1aroldAlberty,

op 6

cit,.

tbe uie of the communitJ •• a labora•

PP• 194•19!.


16

9.

Such a program mates it p<»asible for teacher• to re-duce materially the atudcnt loada which they are required to carry in a traditional prograa.4 .

Qewl.gprgent of the Srlf -Contained

Cle,sars,omin ~he Colu,,,bus Public Schools

In 1950-Sl• the aaaiatant auperintendent achoola

and the curricula

director

of the Columbua Public

the need for ~xam.ining ~ curriculum

the purpose of determining

provide an effective

in ~barge of the aecondary

and aatiafactory

-,uld

not more adequately

program of ~ducation. of Teachers

High School Curriculum Change" indicated

and Administrator•

at this time. 5 The sampling for

eluded 657 teacMra

and adllinlatratora

Coon'• study in•

in the Columbus Junior and Hnior

Concl1;1sions were baaed on 539 responaea.

are some of the conclusions

The following

of the. study:

1.

'!be teachers

2.

Teachers ~lieve there is very substantial the present program.

3.

There la general agreement that teacher• aignificant eurriculun change, and little cipated from gtudenta or parent a.

~.

There ia atron1 belief that _inatructlon und~r present conditions.

s.

'ftlcre

are quite diaaatiafied

is substantial

Toward

a program of reorganisation

might be acceptable

high schoola.

f~lt

of the junior high achoola for

if a reorganir.atioa

Coon•• "Study of the Attitudee

School•

a.greement with

with the present program. interest

in changing

are apt to resist a cpposition ia anti-

cannot be i,er•onalied

th~ belief

that

high ac:hoola

should prOYide more •real life" exp•rienc~a for students and devote less attention to maat cry of logically organited subjects.

'eerbert Lff Coon, "A StudY0 ( th e iatrptor• Toward High School Curriculum

Dluertatlon,

flle Ohio State

Uni~raity,

Attitude• of teacherp nd t\d,drChange"... (Unc>ublieb d'Doctoral 1951.)

~


17

6

~ reapondtnta

are almost equally div1 dcr<1on the qucation of ether stu dents can learn the necess a ry skills vllen l~arning activi tlca center in the study of broad probkma.

1 • Tb~ respondents are divided equally on the qutt•tlon of lfbether separate or fused couraea should constitute the required cours~• in the curriculum. 8.

Th~ social demands approach to curriculu m revision ia regarded aa elightly wnore valuable than the adoleacent -~da approach.

9.

There is a wry strong feeling that curriculum revision should be plam~d and directed prima r ily by thOH working i n th~ local system.

10.

The teachers a.nd principals are very willing tively on cutrlculu11 revision.

11.

English teachers and teachers with broadet undergraduate prepa• ration (double majors) in dicate the program than do ~there.

12.

interest

in changing

high school teacher• are more aenaitiv~ to weaknesses and limitations of the present progra m and appear to be in a higher atate of readine•a to con.aider a curriculum r~visiort program than are the senior high achool teaehera. 6

'nie janior

nie logical

starting

to be at the junior

point,

th~ Colunbus Public Schools. beginning

aa indicated

high school level.

dP.,-elopment of the seventh-grade

from its

greater

to work coopera-

by

the research.

Williama,

aelf•eontained

in

has traced the dev•10pn1ent

to 1956. 7 William•• atudy indicates

involved teachers

high aehoola.

This cOITllilittee made a detaile d ,tudy

atudiea

61!?,!.4, pp.

atu dy of the

classroom program in

reorganization

grade social

,i;

repreaentlng

seemed

o(

the program

the curriculum

each of the nine junior of the aeventh

curriculum during the 19.50•.51 achool year.

The

305-7.

'1111.1.uae. D!f Pext19'?!!!T!t of th~, sennih-Grfdf' th 1 1•1(-o;,nteiMd G 1!ft9!!! !JPC[P in Colu mbttp, Ohio. Public Sct}oola. Unpublia!Wd Ma•ter • 'l'beaia, Columbua • Ohio, The Ohio Statt- University, 19,6. 7norothf

Q.

s


18

conni ttee • s f indJ.ngs reveal~d

a nec-d for

valuea, underste.nd.in"'s and ..i..i ~·

th

In

high sehool social

e~4> haaized ity

for

orientaticn

In the. fall

junior

teachers

of 1952,

high

schools

Brcni man, the co mmittee problem

itpproach

recognized

the

unit.

organized

for the purpose

resource

formulated

of 1951. 8 niis

importance

as well

responsibil-

repttsenting

of iffll)rovin g the citiunship

obj~ctina

of involving

material

aa the co m:-:iu nity.

a connittee

units.

to th~ t~aching-learnin(C

"'Our

to all Columbus Junior

in the fall

in the school

Breniman

and makin g additional

course

a resource

to the new acbool and the atudent•a

citiv..enahip

on cororJon

needed for democratic citizenship.

" wbi h was made available · c studies

democratic

the nine

lls

e SUt?n'ffer of 1951, Brenirnl\n developed

ltii:,-b School 6

Junior

oa.

increase d e!:iphasis

~ith

the aasistane~

as a baaic

situation. the learner

of

step in the

The ccnr:iitte~ in the planning

of

classroom experi~nces. After

veyed those

tive for

th~ee

of view had been developed,

and learning

activities

1n the new citizenship

Junior

high

school

pro bl em areas

and ·~ieure unite

a cominon point

for

course.

Time and Recr~atlon."

areaa.

that

aeenEd moat effec•

In order to provide opportunities

boya and girls

were identified

each of these

experiences

the committe~ sur-

dew 1opmental tasks,

to meet their

-

"Safe l.lvin3,"

It was decided

•,-tealthful

to develop

The committ~~ of twlvc

divided

Livin g ," resource into


19 three

aub-groupa

to do this

job. 9

reaource committee and the use of th~ deftloped aaaiated in bringing about plana

The 'WOtk of the

material~ they for curr~culum reorganiz•tion and i mprovement in the Colum• bus . Junior high achoola. Many of those teaching in 7-B citizenship recognised that problem-situation l~arning does not fit conveniently into the regimented traditional junior high school schedule. They felt more flexibility and a larger block of time waa necessary. Mor~over, since problemsituations of vital importance involve aspects of the com• munity enYironm~nt, learning actlvitiea earmot ~ ~onfined 'ntia calls for schedules of f'Xclusively to the claasroom. two or thrtt periode in the aame room with th• ••me teache.r to permit groups to observe and participate in educational activities both inside and outside the clusroom..10

Thia atep in resource izing

the curriculu1'1

hip

junior

unit deyelopment was •ipificant the lmpronment

for

The lnitiatiOII

schools.

claa1rcxmts was • direct

outgrowth of thle

eO'!lfflittee•s

two principals,

work. ·

and two

met for ttn two-hour ae••lona in a ~mioaz: an Janioi-

vice p.rincipale

11 Particular

school inatruction.

ration

in the Columbus

of an experiment with eelf-contained

In the spring of 19.52, 20 teachers,

bl~

of imstruction

in rtorgan-

of the posaibd.litie• In Septn,ber,

1952,

was ~gun with 28 .olunteer

attention

waa gi'ftn to an explo--

of tbe new prograa. tbe .experimental

program in the aeventh

grade

teacher•.

Seftn of these teaeh~r• . had

.. aerYed on the

workshop.

resource

coiudttee

and 12 had participated

BYerett Junibr Hi,eh served••

the pilot

in the apring

acbool in the

9,W,s!, pp. 75-76. 10~.

p.

11w1 §tll9!

lic school•,

126.

the Jun.i.91 High §,chool (Mimeographed), olu•bua, Ohio. 1952.

Columbus Pub-


20

program.12

classroom. a term that originated

nie name self•contained

cents

high schoo1.13 in Chapter I,

As explained

break,

two periods••

areas

within

are explored,

are

and Ohio history

ability.

and comprehension.

The self-contained beliefs

wish it to be just

as long as the

understandings

are de-

are within the range of each stu•

14

classroom in Columbus evolved as a result

of those responsible

12oorothy Q. Williama, t3Lb1d, p.

may be as flex-

or four periods

some very definite

situations

and the learning

following

to meet for

in the day for two more

citizenship,

the three

aa he and the pupils

and varied

dent•s

but

is giTen freedom to decide haw he viahea to wort with

flle prograa

his pupils.

veloped,

run consecutively,

in Columbus is for the class

geography,

sub-

areas.

Each teacher

subject

different

of three or four periods.

and then meet again later

English,

of work.

the subject

developing

pattern

the general

three and four periods

-these

In some instances

classroom in Columbus

for two or three

du•lng a block of time consisting

fielda

periods

the self-contained

baa one teacher

is one in which a pupil

ible

of the

implement aome of the functions

and more succeaafully

junior

ject

meet the needs of early adoles•

would better

organization

more flexible

It waa hoped that their

was given to these classes.

school,

elementary

in the

op. cit.,

for curriculum

of the

development:

pp. 4~-45.

•s.

14Tentative Teaching Guid!• Ohio, 1955, P• 1 (Miaeoeraphed).

Coluabua Public Schools,

Columbus,


21

1.

The extended peri Od 1 school less b Pan makes the transition from elementary to ~ake .• rupt and permits the teacher flexibility enough and abilities in plannin~ meaningf:;xi~um use of his.gkills c assroom exper1ences for children.

2.

It makes possible supervised study and less need for formal home• ~:rk. Homework then becom;s an interest that is stimulated in 1 e c aasroom so that the student has a natural desire to do fur th er research. When pupils and teachers are together a four th ~er~od, there ia ample time for the teacher to check up on 1nd1 viduala who need assistance in organizing materials and in

understanding

assignments.

3.

lt

4.

It makes possible at the claasroom

s.

It provides opportunities for cooperative 2roblem ~olving in areas of pupil needs and interests, and thus gives practice in democratic living.

6.

tt facilitates

7.

The more functional

facilitates instruction in spelling and mechanics of readin~ and writing because instruction in these skills can be intro• thus duced at pointi1 needed in connection with any subject, i~roving the ability to communicate.

a relatedness

to Alberty's

of all

&ubject

matter

zenehip

and history);

to one•third offered

interpretation

from several

fields

(3) That

the core (e.g.

students; language

(e.g.

they are allotted

or more of the school

outside

experiences.

the correlation

of

day;

to

of core characteristics,

are core•like

seventh•grade

(S) Tbat a number of special arta,

approach encourages

classrooms

Columbus self-contained they are required

in learning

program

in art, music, and industrial arts., thus helping a relationship in learning experiences. 15

activities establish

According

an improved guidance and counseUng level.

(,4)

mathematics

area courses,

and boa&eeconomics are a1so required

in the sense:

(2) That they involve arts,

geography,

citi•

a block of time amounting

That several

and physical

a·ubjecta

education);

such as muaic, outside

(1) That

art,

the core.

are

and

industrial


22

in the S•~ lf-"-.onta i ned ClassroOM

ct..P.1atter

Role of Snb

Language arta includes

th•~ •Lill• -

a nd the organization

spelling.

rules of granaar and increa•ed

oral

not . for the skill

classroom,

Por thia

be put.

ia an i111.portant concern in the self• but for the uae to 'Which

itaelf,

eftry

1bia ia not to aay that

unit of study.

part

reason language art becomes an integral

actiYi.tiea

a part of the learninff

attention,

separate

ment of atilla

way require

of the group.

It ia hoped that the atudent•e

akill

can br

The dewlop•

of the unit.

depending upon the ~eds mastery of these atills

in terms of bis iaprGTement in oral and written

eYaluated

will~

Knowledge of

ia for writing.

word•power shculd bring about ~tter

of akilla

Tb~ improftment

taught••

in the self-contained

expreaaion.

and written

of eyerJ

Spelling

one.

claaaroom ia a functional

it will

writing,

Importance ia also placed on

of ideaa.

The approach to the communication akilla

contained

liatening,

in reading and the wis~ choice of reading matter.

an interest

developing

of talking,

g

ex•

preaaion. 16 social

atudiea

and goverrment.

in the sewnth

in bis growth teward re8J)onaible

at his own aehool lewl,

in dnK>Cratic proee••~•

patioa

Public

School•,

citisenshlp.

by haYinJ oppor.tunitiea

Columhua,

·By

for partlci-

in the claaar0011, an<1by pining

16T~aehing Gpide 1 s~lf-Contalned Coluabu•

concern should

In the •tudy of sovermaent the important

be to help the atudent

~,inning

srade include geography, Ohio history

an

Claaarooma, Gra~e 7 (Mimeographed)

ftlio • 19.57, p.

x.

,


23

to his c0trimunity, state

qualities

citizenship

the teacher

of the Ohio State Legialatur~,

to CO!llply with a ruling

A1 Ohioans,

one •e111eater from the problem ar~a, Our Hed.tag~

to invol•e

both the state••

in Columbus, Ohio, affords

living quainted

and for taking

people,

to include

for becoming ac•

arranging

for interYiewa

and national

goffrnaent.

of the relationship

·

In the study of world geography tbe ~tnf'h•ais may~

natural

man•a wise use of the world'• man•a dependence upon the•e

reeources

aharin i th~ na.tural 'interdependence•• tance

in

17~,

tht!-

resoutcee

tM world'•

ia vital

need for c:onsf'rvation.

P• :XI.

r~eeurce• .

to thi•

An understanding

Conservation

places and

of

of man in

The concept

study.

increases

upon

placed

and the interdependmcr

population

or resource

is a1so the opportunity

flier•

trips.

that promete an -understanding

ectivitit!a

between the state

interesting

There ia

government and geography • .

many opportunities

with government officials,

approximately

lasting

unit

is advised to develop a learning

•n opport unity

and

he derives,

the privileges

he needs to accept. 17

the responeibilities In order

his

The stu dent ne~d• to realize

agencies.

network •• in particular,

role in this

state,

of co~~unity,

interrelationships

and its

sources,

and international

national

The

f ramt!work, ita

of its

a consid e ration

study of govern ment includes constitutional

Thia is a

and nation.

threa ding its way throu gh the school yf'ar.

process,

continuing

can extend theae

the student

of his achool .government,

understanding

great

of impor-

man's wiu. use of


24

should beeC>Qlethe foundation

resources centered. 18

natural

in the Sf:·lf-Contained

of Evaluation

Rolf

Emphaaia is placed

upon acquired

symbols to the atudent•a

letter

to conform to a single

is expected

student

and challenged

are encouraged

dents

growth and progress, subject

his knowledge of specific

to estimating

as well••

matter

subject

card in three

report

to affix

has an obligation

teacher

is 1iven to the pupil'•

Con•ideration

categories.

information.

classroom

The self-contained

process.

and his progress

upon the growth of the individual

than aolely

rather

Classroom

classroom is a continuous

in the self-contained

Evaluation

upon which geography ia

meaningless

to work up to their

No

matter.

Stu-

standard.

ca-

individual

pacity. As continual

room, progr~s•

evaluation

evaluation

what has been done places

questions

claaaroo111 activity

Pupils

on what basis with

student•

are•

or device

the accent

which might~

of facts.

as w~lt.

for learning.

In this

but in manner,

change.

progress

in a

our- purpose?",

..Did

used to evaluate

''Where can improvement~

elasa-

Takin~ • look at

upon growth and desirable

''Did we accomplish

anlght bes

everyone participate?", of a next time?",

~roblems t~ether

solving

becomes a tool

For example,

on in the self-contained

is noted not only in the aequisition

workin!-and

living,

ia carried

fflade in anticipation

etc. vital

part

of th e ~valuation,

they a.re being given • grade.

regardls,ff grades,

and particularly

and should understand There should

be conf er~ncea

with thoae whose


25

i& unsatisfactory.

progress patents

If at all posaible,

it

ia well to include

aa a part of tht-se conferences.

Proble-m Areas A problem

area

ing of. needs,

a sp~cifie

in the S<!!lf•contained

concerns,

e.nd intt>rf'ste

area of living.

of the individu11.1, help 'flle following

classrooms have 1. 2.

of Junior

'nl~ requirements

high school

of society,

ae.lected"'

t~echers

students

in

as well as thoae ,.nd intereate.

in the program:

l,iving in Our Junior High SC'hool Commun!ty. Our Meri ta .g~ as Ohioans.

3.

Living in a World of Many Peopl~s. Man'• Relation to His Natural Envlr~nt. teisure Time and Recr£:a tion.

Resource

units

h!.'}ve been prt"par~d for the five

e.n~ his gtut1ents

d~velopment

of learning

A suggested

1.

t.iving

2. 3. 4.

Living

problem areas.

a.re given much frP.edom and flexibility units

The

in the

from tht"Se problem art;ia.s.

seQuencc of study might be-: in Our Junior

{includes

leisure

High School Community.

time concerns)

in ,. Wo.rld of Many Peoples.

Man's R~lation to His Natural Fnvironment. Our H~ritag~ as Obioans.

The connect in~ threads upon the 1d.nd of unit

Availability foll~d.

a group•

arta.as used in the Columbus s~lf-contained

4. 5.

tescher

represents

to d~tf'rmine these ne-eds, concerns

problem ~~n

claasroom

-

19tbid,

P• XY.

lead

from one study

and upon th e particular

of resource 19

that

material

will

to the next depend

obje-ctivea

developed.

often h~lp determine

the sequence


26

As has be~n stated

and fl<'xibility arnd methods

are given much freedom Classroom procedures

students.

c:lassroom program in th t:>Columbus

in the self-cor.tained

regarding

teachers

chapter,

in working with their

the f ollCMing

Casey• s study in 1')56 revealed

schools vary greatly. findings

in this

organization

of content

in the self-contninc~

class-

roor.t in Columbus: In responses received from 62.5 per cent of the selfcontained elaaaroom teacher• in Columbu•, J per .cent aaid and history as they taught English, geography, citizenship three •~parate aubj~cta1 45 per cent correlated the suba.nd 20 per cent taught broad probjects whenever possible; However. 26.'7 per cent, not included in the lems or units. used various combinations of the three above analysis, · choicea, and of this nu•ber ten teacher• uaed broad units On the basis of the 60 responses 1 36.7 per to some extPnt. cent taught broad uni ta all or part of the tim~

.,u.

In Chapter contalt1ed MdCinley

an attempt

lit,

claasrOOlll according Junior•S~nior

20 Jean Eli-.~th

Thf Self-Contain•d

wl11 be •de to cbre t,pe

High School,

in ita

Columbus,

•etting

at -·Linden•

Ohio.

l9Ping Learning Unit• Caaey, Probl•m• In .D~w Program of The ColU11bua, Obi;,, P~blic Claaar,o0111

1 Maater • Thesia, Columbu•, Ohio, 1956. p. 6.

School,!•

the aelf•

to tlaaaify

u11published

The Ohio State

Univ.-rsity,

In


CHAPTERIII

nrn SELF-CONTAINEDCLASSROOMAT LINDEN-McJCINLEYJUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH srnooL The Setting The community of Linden is located

The population

Columbus, Ohio.

workers,

esaional

hard-working

people .who take pride in owning their

The residents

owners are very c0111111Unity conscious. students

from a total

The central

grocery, shops.

district

buaineaa

drug, appliance,

in the heart

clothing,

own

homes.

1940.

clerical, proud, Home

there are 60 non-white

of 2,300.

furniture,

The community newspaper baa offices

northern

are intensively

At present

school population

railroad,

craftsmen,

and serd-prof

workers.

of

1eetion

of the community has doubled ainee

are employed as factory

Residents

in the northeast

boundary ia a new multimillion

of Linden consists and other

in this

dollar

stores

district.

of

and On the

ahopping center

known

aa Northern Lighta. Small industries

in the area include

iron works, and a cement plant. aaall

part•

One large industrial

ia a part

of the City of Columbua and the achool ia a

of the Columbus Public Schools.

two new junior years.

Two

Junior-Senior

plant manufactures

for automobiles.

The area

part

machine ahopa, ornamental

Pive new elementary

high schools have been built

large plant Hip

additions

achools,

and

in Linden in the past five

ha•e been made to Linden-Mckinley

School.

Linden-Mc~inley

Junior-Senior

At the •eventh grade le-.el,

High School ia a aix year acho0l.

curriculum

requireaenta

are the same for •11

atudenta.

Until

the fall

aeaeater of 19.56, aome aeyenth 27

grade

t

a udenta


28

courses

ploratory

in art,

to the administration.

aceordin~

high students,

it is neces•

for other classes.

The ~ovable

since Linden-McKinley does have senior

First,

classrooms

sary to use the self•contained

high students.

The second reason given by the administration

in obtaining

the difficulty

concerns

that only · those teachers

stipulated

office

for the self-contained

teachers

classroom.

flle central

Yolunteered

for the assignments should be assigned

classroom.

Sufficiefit

clasarooma.

high school wa• established

classroom.

in the area, thereby

students

in the self-contained

students

believe

the

was made at grouping

classroom.

Aa stated

int~

self-contained

they were placed

relieving

were placed in the

to 1956, no effort

Prior

the entire of 1956, a new

the fall

All aeventh grade students

overcrowded situation. aelf•contained

By

who

to a self-contained to staff

did not volunteer

teachers

seventh grade in aelf•contain~d junior

for the

classrooms were uncomfortable

desks used by the self-contained senior

class•

were not placed in the self-contained

to 1956 for two reasons,

roOJ!lprior

arts.

and home economics or industrial

~usic,

grade students

All seventh

to take ex•

are required

seventh graders

all

education,

and physical

to mathematics

In addition

subjects.

and geography as aeparate

civica,

and others were given English,

classroom,

in a aelf•contained

were placed

in Chapter I, many classroom because

of s0111edifficulty. students

are required

to take English,

mathematics,

• nd physical

education.

In the eighth grade, tory,

health•acience,

also choose a course of study which may be industrial

arts,

academic, or a general

the ninth

grade 1e•el.

able to eiJhth

course.

They must

arts,

The commercial course

Courses in the apecial•interest

and ninth rracte atudenta.

his•

areas

household is added at are avail•


29

at Linden-McKinley

Classroom

The §elf-Cont1ined

In January of 1953• the first

involved

reorganization.

in the curriculum

for the assignment.

teered

classroom at Linden•

self-contained

High School was put into operation.

Mctinley Junior-Senior had not ~en

Junior•S enior High School

By 19S4, two teachers

'nle teacher

but she volun-

end

became involved,

By 1956. the number of self-contained

two classes

were established.

classrooms

had grown to five,

were involved;

and three teachers

how~ver,

only about half of the seventh . grade students were in self-contained

relllained only five self-contained seventh

graders

eases. a filing

work tables,

'nle central

of work. resource

manila folders

several

units

offi~e e,rmarka an additional

and oth(tr ftluable

helps for unit

Junior-Senior

of

guide teaching.

schedule of a seventh grade High School.

and

$5,000

C}asaroom

program is a typical

at Linden-McKinley

for

dictionaries,

Each teacher is provided with a teacher••

Program of the Self-Contained The following

board area.

books in order . to ~ncourage the teaching

each year for supplementary

atudent

a wor1d atlas,

and work samples,

which contains

they included all

and a large bulletin

wall maps, a globe,

includes

basic art supplies.

broad unit•

but

classrooms are equipped with mOYable desks. book•

eab!qet,

equipment

records

pupil

classrooms,

at the school • .

The self•containe~

Additional

there

In 1957, because of the ·new junior high school.

classrooms.


30

:=o;.:::wn:.=.... _ _____ o~hl&lnr....:B:;.:.r. J....

____ N~!E,

_

______________ sECTION. IN.___ rRREGUL~R

TUF.SD:.Y

H, R~

--

. l.

-

----

------------

LOCKERNtJiviBER

·~y WEDNESDJ

THURSD,\Y

Study

Art

-- --

---

--Ind. Arts

Music

--Stud

Stud Ed

___...study

FRID:.Y

ijOOM ao~__

---

2

3

ELECTIVES

__...._

__._ _____ _.__

MONDJ.Y

PER.

-------------

REG. Rex».

Stud

Ph s

I

Ed

LUNCH

6

7 8

This program may vary with the teacher c 1assr

0

..,... in order

-•

teach~r • may

student•

to provide are placed

..__acheduled in an electift. vc;

who baa two self-contained

a free periOd during in a study hall

the day for the

for that

period

11iua, some day• the atudent

or they

may be in


31

classroom for only three

the self-contained

In Columbus, th ere has developed a general pattern

to schedule students

in the self-contained · c 1assroom f or two consecutive th em re tum

periods.

consecutive

classroom program.

approach within

The

in graduate

Linden-i' ..tc:~inley, contained

one of the tNchers

at the Ohio

of the self-

ela..ssroom at Linden-McKinley. of this effort

It would . seem, as a result

the teachers

with t~ir organization •• outlined

to take

in the progra ,m at

this study of the evaluation

is conducting

edu•

seminars and workshops pro-

free courses for Columbus teachers

'nle writer,

University.

in the

for in-service

They have been encouraged

vided by the Board of Education. of the tuition

subjects

Classroom Program at Linden-

of the opportunity

flley have participated

advantage

rate of speed

the new framewort.

themselves

McKinley have availed

own

has been a diversified

result

in the Self-Contained

The teachers

State

in the self-contained

the various

or integrating

of unifying

self-contained

cation.

teachers

in Columbus have been free to work at their

in the matter

teaching

II.

in Chapter

As has been stated classroom

are scheduled for three or four

but students

at Linden•McKinley,

pattern

then have

periods,

This has not been the

period.

in the day for a ·third

later

minute periods.

forty-three

in the prograa students

in Chapter

II.

cooperati•ely

at Linden-McKinley dewlop units

learning

is determined

to grow professionally,

by

in the claasroOD1.. The content

the problem areas adopted for the program

nie teacher•

• nd •tudenta

are not required

to follow a fixed aequence for the •tudy of these areu. students ptan teaming unit• needa and intere•t·

and

Teachers and

baaed upon the problem areas in tenn• of

The teacher

feels

free

to take up Problems which


32

"Farmin g Arou nd the World";

in "LiYin~

may be interested "Living

may be studying

on "The

a unit

•ay be developing

another

Year"; another

Geophyaical

International

unit,

may be workin g on th e learning

one class

Por example,

lin~s.

matter

and which cross subject

to students

are of immediat e interest

Al•

In Columbus".

In Ohio"1 and still

another

though the teachers

in the program at Linden-McKinley hold identical

with the teacher

dures,

content,

widely

at any given time.

Certain

units;

and in needs and interests;

should not be assumed that

It

lowe~ this

overarching

correlation

The f

to•

techniques.

of subject

The third

~~innin g

lnal

•dol··~ent ~-

e-.olwaent

units identity,

of English

of work.

In thia

and social atep.

claaai(ied

sub-

cont~nt

but the eaaential

haa been a shift

needa or probleaa

shifted

which later

areas through the uae of broad

atep was a fusion

to loae their

fol•

problems approach

adolescent

of some of the subjects

bt"oad comprehenaive

had a tendency

r~uined.

••tter

correlation

themes.

through

studies

of evaluative

audio-

trips,

The development ha• been a gradua .1 process

in the beginning.

to a sy1tematic

and evalu•

the program at Linden-Mclinley

broad teacher-atudent•planned

with informal

projects,

materials,

reference

of the

use of a wide

and group guidance;

individual

S011le

of learning

in rates

differences

and the use of a wide variety

aids)i

visual

ject•

(e.g.

of resources

Yariety

are

planning

teacher-student

for indi•idual

wide proyisions

ation;

The following

at Linden•Mclinley.

the self-

all

characteriu

practices

May differ

classes

in the individual

and or ganiu.tion

major oness Problem centered

Thus the classroom proce-

units.

the learning

tively

the classroom

who plan coopera•

and needs of the students

depend upon the interests

contain ed classrooma

within

the activities

of the core program,

conceptions

from organiRd

subject

into Probl

ar~••·

ea


33

Learning Units

I Have Taught

The acquisition room Program,

of knowledge is one aim of the S~lf-Contained

but certainly

not the sole aim nor the primary one.

development

of attitudes,

• nd ability

to work with others

an active

process

eituatioa

Living

In Columbus

In a unit

ideals,

as students

ingful

~rowth.

city.

dealing

sense of values,

important.

Education

the interests

of students

the problems of annexation.

by the program.

Yiews with city

Others,

•• well.

skills

system.

own cOffllllunity provided

being built

within

f i.rathand

interested

interin drawing

inwlved

Some atudenta · discovered department

affected

investigations,

and stills

the

to make

of faailies

Others were interested

by the recreation

the industries

in tM city's

facilities

in their

of "'11lch they were

in the way people in Columbua aake a living, and opportunitiea

priJll&rily interested

Columbus' writer•,

involved

maate.ry of fact•

official•,

park and recreation

levels

worked on

Others

as well as the relocation

These probleaa

and other

of varying

slum areas which were being abolished

way for the modern highways,

in~eatigated

in a ~an-

in Columbus, Ohio, there is

for improved roadways and expressways

unaware.

becomes

Some of the group made maps of the city's

This also included

students

of conduct,

they want to learn

with modern living

and investigated

to scale

are equally

The

aa they work on real problems of living.

and aptitudes.

the plans

standards

learn things

much to do that would capture of ability

Class-

architects

for employment.

in the arts

explored

and creative

artists

Thoa e

the achieve~ta

of

and baildera.

Our Ohio tteritage

Some groups were intereated ground.

They plall!Wd • trip

in•

atucty of Ohio•• historical

to the Ohio State

Nuaeua

for a clo~r

back• in-


34

and Indians played in the euly

the Mound Builders

of the part

spection

development of the state.

peraona from the

resource

They procured

community to aasiat with the atudy and arranged for the showing of films Others chose a atudy of Ohio's

and filmatripa.

the

i11 Ohio'•

role

their

to explore

vocational

education.

with state

visit

in Columbus, and a

Yisited

officials

trips,

interviews,

in writing

ekilla

of state

Resource persona from the offices

officials.

The

creative

writing,

well as facts

art and drama.••

and speaking correctly.

investigation,

firsthand

study involved

the class.

These

and government.

transportation

opportunities,

industry,

in agriculture,

Ohio's potentials

Other

cities.

in the various

involved a tour of the government buildings

studies

with

This .involved correspondence

rich history.

Chamber a of Commerce and official•

groups elected

and towns and

cities

a:nd

1

What Mak~• Us Tick At 'Linden•McKinlef Thia leaming

unit waa a part of the students•

ing of floor plans and located

These were mimeographed and dl•tributed

claaa.

Other group• auggeated rules

zations

of the aehool were atudied.

student

council,

Student•

conducted inte"iewa

aembera of the

areaa of

to riait

All atudent

rulea.

The presidenta

the Hi•T, the captain were invited

to all

for proper conduct in all

'nleae we~e compared to exlating

head cheerleader

oft~

football

the clua

team, and the

aa reaource

persons.

and vice principals.

with the principal

for cood at-4y Ila.bite. au1•eationa a by the

aeniol' bl.ch atudnta

"'lbe P•-th ...

organicourt,

of atudent

• Member• of the Junior mad Senior Honor Soci•t"•7 v1a 1 ted the claaa

publl1bed

draw-

all room• and area• to be used by stu•

dents.

the achool.

drew a scale

building•

One committee surveyed the entire

achool.

to a new

orientation

er•,

and •de

n ia the newspaper ~oar"

•t Liaden-Mcltinley.

The class


35

mimeographed a newspaper

ina t ruction

were given

library

was cleared

periodicals a scale class

it

in the use of the library

and newspapers

available

drawing of the arrangements

The head custodian played

"The Panther• a Purr". by the

Students

librarian.

'nle

for one period while a committee made a list

browsed thtougb

staff

and titled

the shelves

Tisited

of books.

group made

another

Other members of the

and made selections

the class

in the function

in the library;

of

and explained

for free

reading.

the part he and his

of the school.

The I.G.Y. and Me This

learning

Problems

unit

concerned

chosen for study included

the International

I.G.Y. and the Weather;

Poles.

Each group listed

attempt

to answer.

questions

which scientists

Mapa were drawn locating

throughout

the \'fOrld.

ticipating

in the I.G.Y.

of the teachers

worked with the Manhattan Project

visited

A member of the staff This leaming

Dew loping

I.G.Y.

stations

news items. rockets.

and served •• a resource

at the observatory is still

infor-

One

a major in the Army Reserves,

the observatory

unit

and three stage

par-

at The Ohio State viaited

the claaa

in progress

during

thia

had

person to the

University. and showed study.

a l,e-amipg Unit

Pollewing

l.

the various

A scrapbook was kept of current

at Linden-McKinley,

The class

in each area would

The Readers Guide was used in locating

Models were made of the Russian satellite

initiatory

I.G.Y. and

Some groups decided to study the countries

mation on ~heae problems.

alides.

Year.

I.G.Y. and the Sky; I.G.Y. and the Ocean; and I.G.Y. and the

the Earth;

elaa•~

Geophysical

ia a checkliat

stage,

which the teacher Might uae during

the work atage,

and the enluating

What are th~ neede and tntereata

acbool ·COIDUaitJ?

of tile

el•••

of the unit:

and of the

the


36 2.

pupila have a part lation of objectives,

in the plannins the activities,

Do

of the unit, the forauand methods of working?

3.

Ia a copy of the weekly class plan posted in the room, or do pupils keep individual copies for reference?

4.

Are th e activitiea provide continuity?

5.

Has the librarian been consulted materials for the study?

6.

Do students understand their activity and the objectives?

1.

Are students

8.

Is every student his

9.

selected

developing

and organized

in such a way••

as to the anilability

responaibilitie•

to

of

in a gi~n

good study and work habits?

participating

and contributing

according

to

ability?

Are adequate opportunities provided for practicing writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills, and is there a relatedness between the content of the unit and the skill program?

10.

Are defini,e periods set aaide for evaluating ings and the methods used? Often the activity the means of evaluation.

11.

Doee the classroom

12.

Are pupils gaining insight about themselves and others; are they learning to work co-operatiYely •• well aa independently; are they practicing good citizenship?

13.

Are pupil• learning infol'lll&tion that ia useful viewpoints, aa well aa that of aociety?l

In the modern school, and carrying

into

effect

This does not mean that

is directed

atudenta

visual

by

the teacher

who ahare the reaponslbility

of what is going on?

from their

muat have a voice in the planning

the activities the teacher

evidence

that make up the aehool program.

abdicatea

his role

to the whims of th e student.

nor does he surrender student

reflect

both the learn• itself can be

The behavior of the

towa rd the develop~nt

for their

own conduct.

of responsibility,

of individuals

'nlia is a genuine

Lr~ac:hing Guide. Sel{;<_;ontained ClaaarOOlll•d Orfde 7 (Mimeographed), Coluabu• Public School•, 57, p. XVI.


37

attempt

to teach the values

The following developing

of democracy by living

are suggestions

of learning

for student

them in the classroom.

participation

in the

units:

1.

Help set the stage for the teaming unit through such devices as an interest corner, diaplaya, or arranging for a speaker.

2•

List

3.

Take a pretest be developed.

4.

Keep samples of work in individual

s.

Clip magazine and newspaper articles for the class resouree file.

6.

lCeep diaries of daily activities rials used in these activities.

7.

Prepare in adnnce lists of questions to be answered through use of resource p-eople, tripa, or audio-visual aids, and use these lists as helpful criteria for evaluating the activity.

8.

~eep a student

q.

Write letters or telephone

10.

questions

about

of the unit.

the topic

to help

to see what skills

bibliography

determine

the objectives

and understandings

need to

folders. dealing

with

and bibliographies

of all

the unit of mate•

books and pamphlets used.

to resource people or contact them by a visit and aak the~ to visit the class.

Write thank-you

letters

to those who ha'Ye assisted

with

the

study.

11.

Conduct surveys,

12.

Make a glossary

The foregoing to be followed

by

opinion polls,

of new word& encountered

suggestions every teacher

munity and the teacher group at a given time.

2Ibid,

p,. XYII.

are not intended and his students.

must determine

in the unit.2 rules

as hard and fast The students,

com-

what is beat for a particular

These auggeationa

the program of the aelf•cOntained

Senior High School.

and interviews.

have proved very effective

classroom at Linden-McKinley

Junior•

in


38

OlAPTERIV ATl'I'ruDES OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS TOl'ARO 'IHB SELP-coNT.AINBD CLASS

'nlis

the data gathered

presents

chapter

Section

What Students

and

interpretation.

and their

questionnaires,

through interviews

1

Class.

Think of the Self-Contained Interviews type of interview

The semi-structured

Students

II.

Chapter

contained

class

generally

they liked best and thoae they liked lea .st durin g the

classroom have been discussed and dislikes

of likes

tions

poses of the self•contained

The purposes

Thirty-eight

II.

in Chapter

have been categorized

per cent in the eighth,

twenty-eight

ninth,

ten per cent in the tenth,

eighteen

selec-

to the pur•

sees them and as

were in the seventh

per cent in the

and six per cent in the eleventh

had only one year of the self-contained

at the &eventb grade level.

Students•

on the subject.

per cent of the persons interviewed

grade,

of the self-

according

classroom as the writer

they are found in the literature

All students

in

about the self-

the things

expressed

course of the one hundred two interviews.

contained

was used aa explained

class

grade.

and that was


TABLE 1 ntIJIC5

MOST LIKED AB<lJT

nm SilLP-CONT/tIN DD CLI\SS

INTiiRYinWS

Grade 8

7

N2 A

.0 C D E

F (J

"

Direct experience to junior high school adjustment Pacilitatea Student-t.eacher planning and problem solvin g of subjects khtednen Punc:tlonal apprc:,ach to learnin g skills Democracy in tbc classroom Om tt!aeber instruction Indiridual Total

r~epc>nR

of grade

~

35 30 26 29 18 24

60

20 50 14 3S

196

-

11

Total

Pio i

16 S8 14 77 12 66

8 80 8 80

5 83

87 84

4 66

81 79

S 50

J

63 62

11 39 10 56 14 .50 13 72 9 50 12 42 6 33 8 28

3 30

3 SO 56 55 2 33 54 54 1 16 so 49 4 66 44 33 0 0 30 29

81 23 82 75 25 89 6.5 17 61

45

,; No

10

!

4' lfo

72

9

9 32

119

1,

7 39 87

No

7 70 4 40 6 60 ~

41

0

22

so

f'lo I

4'6.5

~

..0


40

Interpretation The responses

in the one hundred two interviews

st udent s • statements contained

class

are listed

concerning

are classified

are typical

Remarks are recorded

1.

in eight

in Table 1 in the order

The following

sev~ral

things

only

p~rtaining

they most lik~ about the self• major categories.

of frequency

although

The catebories

of mention.

comments made concerning

one time,

to the

each category.

th(!!)' may have been made by

peraons.

D,irec t R?:9?~ r ience "You got to cto things ~swell es just learn things from. books." "Some people who talked to us told us things we could never get from books." "Pilms made our study more interesting." "W~ could take trips and the other ae~nth graders couldn• t. •• "We did a lot of things in COl!Dllittees and this waa good." "W~ had pa.n~l discussions and debates a lot." '"'Other seventh graders didn't have time for skits and plays but we did ' and it was fun." "All the extra things made learning fun. 0

2.

Facilitates

Adjustment

t'Didn't get lost .• " "Learned our way aroond better." "Got to know things about school quicker." ,.Big change catne more slowly." "Learned rules right away." "Didn • t have to run a 11 the time." 3.

Teacher•Student

Pl.~nning J

"You got to help plan your work." ·~e worked out things together." "Learned to make choices, but had to be responsible for the results ... ''We worked harder when we helped make plans." ,.It didn't aecm like work when we got to do what we liked beat."

4.

Relatedness

of lubjecta

"We had Engliah in e•erything."' "We didn't Ju•t atudy one thing, but we ·leaned •011etbing about moat everythin1, eYen 111ath." "Hiatory, 11eograpby alld civic• M!erted like all one aubj~ct."


41

••tt w•• mor~ f un when we studied aubjecta together." "We didn't have a lot of books to carry around, but we studied all the subjects When they came up." S.

,l;Jtnctional

Approach to Learning

"We couldn't

Skills

do sloppy work and get by with it."

"There was a reason for learning to spell a word wien we needed it." "When we needed a word we learned to pronounce, spell, and write it

correctly."

"You have to have a subject and predicate or you won't haY~ • sentence. You can't make sense without it." ''When our teacher saw we were making a lot of mistakes in our papers, we tool time out to learn why we made the mistakes." 6.

Democracy in the Classroom "Things weren't forced on ua." '*Wedidn't have to take just one person's opinion." "Sometimes if we didn't agree we went along with the majority." "We learned to come to an agreement." "W~ asked for help from others and gave help ourselves." "We did things•• a group, but everyon~ had a part."

7.

Teacher lnowa Stodent

Better

"Our teacher learned all about ua." "TE'acher understood wen we got in trouble anywhere." ,.We coulrln't put things over on the teacher." ••wefeel the teacher ia our friend." "Teacher let us take some responsibility for our behavior and we tried harder to be good." "l-Je felt we had a good friend in our teacher even the first day."

s.

Individual

ln$truction

learned to read faster." 1 got special help with my spelling and now I'm pretty good." "I learned bow to be more careful with my writing." •'When I couldn't underatand something the teacher took time to help me." "I

11

"I didn't feel I had to keep up with everybody, had to do my best."

but I knew I

Conc1uaiona Result• experience•

of the 102 inteniewa aucb •• field

trip•,

revealed audio-riaual

84 per cent felt aida,

r~•ource

........

and committee work had been the things

they moat liked •bout

dir~ct persons the aelf•


42

contained offered

class.

79 per cent felt

them in their

adjustment

mentioned atadent•teacher

pose• of the aelf•contained interviewed

indicated

planning

they most liked the facilitation to Junior high school, and problem solving.

claaa were mentioned.

465 things

they most liked

All the pur-

about the self-contained

i;

'·

..''

''

l .

and 62 per cent

The 102 students

class.

~

it


Bmtrr

TABLB 2 · TO \ttICJI S'l'UDENTS RBCEIVED HBLP IN 1.1IESELF-CONTAINED

a .ASS

INTERVIEWS

., No school Getting along with others Learning how to act in different places Iatereat in current events Being a good citizen p Plamaing and doing things myself G Reading H Broadened interests I Underatanding our govem!!Jent A B C D B

Getting to know the

Total

35 30 28

18 14 14 12

18 8

167

8

~

.No

87 75 70 20 35 35 30 20 20

25

,, 89

Grade 10

9

No 16 10

'

No

,,

3

so

84

6

2

33

0 3

0

0 3

74 S3

50

1

16

0 0

0

l 1

16 16

18

64

10

16 11

58 39

12

66

2

30 20

6

10

1

32 42

8 4

33 39 43 22

1

12 42

0 2 3

0 20

149

78

No

50

89 71

9

%

6{)

26 20

12

No

s

88 56 28 56

5

Total

11

22

30

11

0

52 4S 32 31 28 28

$

83 72 52

51 44 31 30 27 27

427

A (.;)


44

c1,ss.

Extent to Which Students Received Help in the Self-Contained Interviews When asked to evaluate class,

the responses

tabulation

the help received

of the students

fell

through the self-contained

into nine categories.

The

is made in Table 2 in the order of fre•

of these statements

quency mentioned. Interpretation Some students to know the •chool" contained

cla,s

of the students

ude

more than one comment on this

ranked first

interviewed.

and was mentioned by 83 per cent

"'Getting along with others"

second and was mentioned by 72 per cent. "Understanding

"Getting

of ways which the self-

in the list

had helped the student

topic.

ranked

"Broadened interests'•

and

our government" were mentioned by only 27 per cent of

the students

interviewed. Conclusions

"Getting

to know the school"

self-contained

things

class

ranked first

helped the student,

most liked about the •elf-contained

is a noticeable

correlation

while it

of only 4 per cent.

the purposes

el the self•contained

ranked second in

claa1room.

between the two since

a difference

way• in which . the student

in ways in which the

However, there

the findings

·There ie a high correlation clasaroom and things

fe1t he received

help.

reveal between

most liked

and


nums

TABLE 3

MOST DISLIKED _M301T 'Dtll SELF-CONTAIN J!t) CLASS · INTERVIEWS

Grade

7 A Too long in one class B Not enough tine to do things C Too auch study about Ohio D Too much English

we like

E Too much oral work p Too much written work G Too much homework we can• t get out of

a textbook

Total

8

No

~

13 10

33 25

11 8 6 5 4 4

8

20

7

18

6 4 3

10

51

15 8

No 9

41

9

%

39 32

No

10

% 43 37 33 22 17

15

8 7 6 4 3 0

15

0

0

28 21 18

28

0

No 4 3 0 2 0 0 0

9

11 %

No

,;

Total No

'X,

40

3

50

39

30

38

1

17

29

0 20

0

22

0

0 0

30 22

17

17

1

17

17

17

0 0

0 0

8 7

8

0 0 0

s

1

140

A VI


46

Most Disliked

'ntings

About the Self_,. . d Cl ass. . ""-·ont a1ne '

.

Interviews Of th e 10 2 students

diSliked

nothing

th ey disliked

a considerable

about the self-contained

several

major categories

interviewed,

things.

classroom while others

The findings

are categorized

they felt

in seven

in the order of number of times mentioned.

Intt! rpretation

MToo long in one class"

the things

we like,.

7 per cent

felt

'

ranked first

it was mentioned by 38 per cent.

a textbook.

number felt

am~ng things

Paradoxically,

most disliked

and

"Not enough time to do

ranked ,econd and was mentioned by 29 per cent.

they had too much homework which they could not get from

Of all

the categories,

this

was aentioned

the least

number

of times. Conclusions

The largest

amount of criticisms

by only

38 per cent

staying

in one class

didn't

too long.

currfculum.

the self•contained

the number of things

clasa

eleventh unit

grade atudeats

when other

class

Students

that were disliked.felt

there•••

claaa.

was made

It had to t1o with

given were that they .. All students inter• seventh

graders

were

mentioned 465 things . most liked

and only 140 things

on Ohio had not been pegged at this

in the aelf~eontained

friends.

about th e self-contained

liked

76 per cent those thinga

Reaaona fiequently

with their

viewed were in the self•contained

about

into one category

of the 102 persons interviewed.

get to change elasaea

in the departmental

fitting

most disliked.

Thus,

c1aas outweighed

by

None ef the tenth and

too much study about Ohio since le•el

when theae

•~ud~nts were

a


F.XTnff TO 'iftl<lt

T~.BLE 4 .MS IN S'IUDENTS RDCBIVI:ll HELP IN SOLVIN:; PROBLP

n m St LP-CONTI\INED Ct.ASS

TIClmAI RB (JJF..S

Each Weig;tited. Answer

Pe·r cent Selcctitlg

Grade

Problems 1

Getting along with your family along with yo.1r classmates along wl th your teachers O.tting if you a.re wro~ Giving in gracefully Completing work once begun Accepting reap -onsi bi U. ty G~tting

Cons.lc!cring all si <les ef every qu~s-

ha

P·l11,J1.

IaprOft'd conduct in the classroom IaprOY~d conduct in t~ study halls

laproYed

conduct in the lunch room

IaprOffd conduct in assembly ImproYed conduct in tbe halls Imp.roved conduct at athletic events Solving your problems intelligently Accepting a person for what be is rrgardless of race. clothes, or the amount of money he has

7

8

8

39

38 38 23 38 46

25

37 41 ..52 59 38 35 57

9

61 . 36 75 59 54 48 38 41 53 62 59 6 S 50 43

60 36 32 32

.56 S6 45 39

28

33

45 27

50 22

54 47 36

23

47

60 51

34 31

44

54

62 63

24 45 27 28 38 55

44 60

31 38

28 40 39

S6

50

62 38

56

30

ti.on 72 60 59 72 63 61

47 83

S6 52 58 7S

22 83

()

10

11

7

Ns;?l~l ~JI 8 9 10 11

29 64

44

62 62

0 0 5 8 0

54

s

7 0 0 0 0

69

3

0 0

S6 56 33 44

46

0 0 2 2

5()

62

44 78 17

62

~2ee

lO 11

8

31 46

41

26 36 38 53 15

68 61 61

s, 73

40 49 37 37

66 69 69

44

69 69

34 38 23

ss 62 4S

44 44 50

67 44 72

54 54 5,4

69 54

38

69

46

1 1 0 2

0 0

l 0 0

..14 1

11 0 0

1 11 0

0 0

11 11

30 0 8

23

0

6

8 0 8

0 0

0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 8 0 0 8 0 8

1 0 4 3

0 0

0 6

..

...a


48

Exten_t to Which Students Containtd Class.

R i ece ved Help in Problem.Solving

S•lf• ~

in the

guestionnaire

classroom

self-contained

g r ade

have

The responses

of the student.

level

eighth,

grades.

and eleventh

tenth,

grade.

who are now in the seventh,

are from students

The responses ninth,

to the present

one year in the

had experienced

the seventh

during

according

been categorized

students

niese

to a questionnaire.

dents

of 229 stu-

from the responses

data have been procured

The following

lnterpretatiop

had been helped a person

grades,

and tenth

very much through the self-contained

had received

60 per cent

grader•

class

the self-contained

'

they

grade felt

classroom

in "Getting in the

problem.

62 per

classroom

had

in assembly ... some help

in

-

ranged from 78 per cent to 15 per cent.

in the tenth

of the atudenta

or the amount of

for problems which were rated

distribution I

cent

the aelf•eontained

felt

they

in "Accepting

class

in the ninth

h~lp with this

them very much in "Improved conduct

The score

grade felt

but only 8 per cent of the students

they had received

grade felt

of the ele•enth

helped

of the students

clothes,

very much help from the self-contained

along with your family,"

cent

of race,

for what he is regardless

money he bas."

eleventh

and 75 per cent in the eighth

range

in the

83 per cent of the students

from. 83 per cent to 8 per cent. seventh

classroom

for very much help in the self-contained

The scores

grade and 69 per cent

78 per

of the students

in the eleventh grade felt they had received .!2m.£help in "Solving your • felt 69 per cent of the ninth grade students intelligently.•• probl~•• ,..

I

,.,.


th

49

ey had received

some help in "Improved conduct in study halls,

room, • nd at athletic grade felt

th ey had received

are wrong."

59 per cent of the students

help in "Accepting

clothes,

a person

in the self-contained

cent.

30 per cent of the eleventh

classroom

--

no help from the aelf•contained

class.

below in the order

of frequency

8.

is interestalso felt

problem.

ranged from 30 per cent to O per

grade students

felt

they had received

in the questionnaire,

as problems with which some felt

in the self-contained

6.

However, it

of

claas in '--Oetting along with your family."

Of the 15 prob~ems subnitted

?.

they had re-

for the problems which were rated .!!2 help

at all

s.

when you

for what he is regardless

very much help with this

The score distribution

1. 2. 3. 4.

felt

83 per cent of the seventh grade students

they had received

the category

g~ade students

or the amount of money he has."

ing to note that

in the eighth

some help in "Giving in gracefully

15 per cent of the seventh

ceived~

race,

events.•'

lunch

eight fall

into

they had received !!.2 help

The problems within

this

range are listed

mentioned.

Getting along with your family. Giving in gracefully if you are wrong. Improved conduct at athletic events. Getting along with your teachers. Improved conduct in the lunch room. Considering all sides of every question. Accepting a person for what he is regardless or the amount of money he has. Completing work once begun.

of race.

clothes,

conclusions Aa has been stated develop

Mdinley.

epontaneoualy It•

in Chapter into

1rowtb •••

III,

the self-contained

the type of program it gradual,

beginning

class

did not

is today at Linden•

with informal

correlation


50

• nd gradually

through various

on the needa and interests across subject

tionnaire, received

matter

stages developing

of the students

lines.

and eighth grade students

very much help from the self-contained

in the ninth,

teftth,

conclude

at Linden-N~l.ialey

the present

has been more effectitt

in helping

classroom

even though this might cut

In every problem submitted

more of the seventh

that

and eleventh

lems than was the earlier

.

into a program based

grades.

program.

,

i

J,

class

in the quesfelt

they had

than did students

It would seem logical

to

program in the self •conta~d students

solye their

prob-


I-

TABLE 5 EXTENT TO \'JHIQ1 STUDENTS GAINED HELP IN SKILLS IN 'fflE SELF-coNTAINED CLASS

Q.JESTIONNAIRE

Each Weighted Answer

Pe~ cent S~lecting

.

Skills

i£a group Speaking before• Expreasing yourself in written

work

Spelling

what you read Understanding developing a problem and Outlining Finding information from nrious sources Cttative expression Improved study habit& and using ~w words uaruing Use of correct English

9

10

46

41

34 36 44

48 34

S4 77 61 58 58 51 50

56 56 72

7

49 49

10 44 10

46

62

12 31

49

44 16

38 23 38 31 38

48

50

9

50

so

20

68

56

42

51 49 65 49 65 59 79 · 63

43 27

16 16

39

10

39

31

44 22 22

45 0 8

Not At All

Some 8

11

8

64 56

Grade

10

7

64

a1i1,b

4S 32

40 35 35 21

44 49

40 37 48 40 32

51 62 62

11

7

8

9

10

11

50

62

6 10

69 54 69

2 0 0

s

36 11 7

6

56 S1 56

0 0

4 0 4

11

5

22 7

6

0 8 8 0 0

67

60

so

62

s

17

20

0

so

3

7

s

3

22

0

1

23 22

6

31 23 22

28

46

38

9 14

62 78 46

0 0 0

s

...

VI


52

. to Which Std u ents Gained Help in Skills r

Extent

Class.

in the Self-Containe~

Questionnaire Interpretation

in "Learning

help

-very much help

had ,received

grade students

tenth

had helped

claasr00tn

The score

the self-contained grade

the eleventh

ini

thea veg

distribution

cla•• students

and ·uaing new words,''

nrious

sources."

cent of the eighth

students written

felt

felt

they had receiyed

but only

17 per cent

,!2!!. help

~

grade students

felt

problem."

they had received~

help

aome help in "Learning

in "Learn-

grade etufrom

information

they had received

and 49 per

.!!!t b~lp in

77 per cent of the ninth help

in "Expressing

and using

in

78 per cent of

of the tenth

help in "Finding

·

babita."

range from 78 to 17 per cent.

work•" while 72 per cent of the tenth

had received

study

45 per cent of the aeventh grade students

and developing•

"Outlining

49 per cent of

which were rated

for problems

they

the self-contained

grade felt

much in ''Improved

they had received!!!!!,

deuta felt

felt

very much help in "Spell•

they had received

and 45 per ceJ)t in the eleYentb

ing,"

in the "Uae of

expression."

in "Creative

felt

of the eighth

of the ninth grade students

43 pe~ cent

English."

correct

the

they had .received . very much help

felt

students

grade

63 . pe,; cent

new words."

and using

very much

he had received

stucle1't felt

grade

and no eleventh

English,''

~ry much help in the ',:fse of correct

they had received

felt

atudents

in the self-contained

79 per cent of the seventh grade

range from 79 to O per cent.

clasa

skills

for very much help in gaining

The scores

themselves

grade students new words."

grade

felt

in

they


53

The score distr 1"buti ons f or skills self•contained cl f asa range

ten

th

tion

grade

students

from various

and 14 per cent no help

felt

felt

rom 67 too

9 per cent

of the eighth

67 per cent

of the seventh felt

they had received

no help in "Speaking before a group." grade atudents

"Pinding

from various sources."

information

felt

they had received Students

grade found only four problems with which they received self-contained

inform.a•

grade students

36 per cent of the ninth

cent of the eleventh

of the

no h~lp in "Finding

grade students

expreaaion."

they bad received

per cent.

they had received

sources."

in "Creative

. which were rated no help 1n the

grad .ers 60 per

no help in

in the seventh no help in the

classroom. Conclusions

A majority had received claaa, dents

of atudents

yea

much, help in acquiring

however a majority

felt Since

the eleventh information

stage relied

in the aeYenth and eighth

of the ninth,

they had received

from varioua heavily

These findings

in the aelf•contained and eleventh

grade stu-

felt

grade atudenta

and 60 per cent of

they had received

no help in "Finding

aourcea,"

it would seem the program at that

upon the ainile woul~ indicate

today has not neglected

tenth,

they

only some hele.

61 per cent of the tenth grade students

skills

grades felt

the basic

textbook~ that

stills

the program aa it has developed and fundamentals.


TABLE 6

EXTEH'I'm WHIQt, STU!}EN'TS GAlNEO UNDBRSTAN DOOS IN ~ESrIOO tAIRE

mn S£LP-CCM'AINnD CLASS

Per cent Selecting Understandings

-

~-

z s.

of the ll .s.

in t10rld today Part go,,ernments play in you:r life P laee

Grade

!!a iiw,b

I

-." Dutu a of citizenship . Democratic way of life ' Basic civil rights Importance of a high school educa'

tion ProbJema of Ohio's early settlers Opportunities <llio offers Growing paina of Colu mbus Tour future in the atomic age

Each Weighted Answer

9

10

I

65 S5 50 Tl .54 31 44 8S 72 42 62 65 60 42 39 11 62 56 44 80 79 44 18

78

65 75 S1 S3 40 so 41 84

~mac I

.

11 7

11

7

8

31

23

35

41 44

23

23

46

S6 38 55

23 69 38 38

17

69 46

6 2 0

9

ss

10.

0 2 0

41

15 28 S4

54

40

16

30 23

38

47 33

39

21

21

42

ss

39

l4

3S 50

46

3

45

44

24, 24

46

38

20 38

22

15 42

22

31

52 38

2 6

36

35

so

39 .51 56 55 12 33 50

62

fi21 Al ~Ii &

9

10

11

0 0 0 0 0 0

4

6 0 0 6

46 8

6

14

s

15 15

4 4

6 0 6

15

0 3 8

54 17 21

14 4

11 11

2S

29 28

15 8

38 23

lS

~


ss Ax.tent to Which Students

Gaine d Understan dins,s in the Self-Contain

e d Class.

Questionnaire Interpretation The scores ~

self •contained the students through

classroom

grade felt

the self-contained

classroom

79 per cent

in the tenth

grade felt

56 per cent of the ninth their

the eleventh

ing the democratic nte score

graders civil

class

in the ninth

cent of those

growing pains

felt

they had received

in the

46 per cent

while

54 per cent of those in

very much help in "Understand•

which were rated~

52 per cent

grade,

1

'

of the eighth

of the students

in

42 per cent

of

grade students,

some help

of the tenth

in "Understanding

69 per cent of thf> eleventh

and your "Basic

ae~f-contained

help

and 72 per cent

!2!t ~elp in •'Understanding the

nie score distribution help

rights,"

they had received

of Columbus.

play in your life,"

had helped them

range from 72 to 14 per cent.

55 per

felt

class

they had been helped very much in

for problem•

grade,

students

of

way of life."

those in the seventh

grade

the duties

of a high school education."

they had received

distribution

the aelf•eontained

felt

very much help

and 78 per cent of

the aelf•contained the importance

basic

grade fe _lt

in ''Understanding graders

in the

8.5 per cent of

they had received

of the eighth

very much in "Understanding

"Understanding

understandings

range from 85 to 15 per cent.

in the seventh

citizenship." those

for ______ very m_u_c_ h help in gaining

civil

part governments

which were rated

range from 46 too

in the eleventh

grade students

rights."

for the 0nd erstandings classroOlft

the

grade

per cent.

believed

that

-

no


56

!l2. help

they had received

in ''Understanding the place of the United States in the world t0<1ay." Some students from all grade levels felt they had received no hel P in "Understanding the growing pains of Columbus and their future in the atomic age."

£,onalusions level until The unit on Ohio waa not pegged at the seventh grade 1955 • It lfould seem logical to conclude that this fact may account for h that reTeal a g•eater per cent of the seventh and eight the findings "Understanding the grade students felt they received veq much help in

.

problems

of Ohio•a early

Much of the expansion in Columbus since

problems

and attendant

occurred

of annexation ban

account for the findings

This may, in part,

1955.

Ohio offers."

and the opportunities

aettle•s

reveal many more in the seventh and eighth grades felt

that

they had receiyed

." help in "Understandi .ng the growing pains of -Columbus

elnenth

felt

the place

starading

$tudents

these

aelf'•contained students tenth

,

felt

submitted

program

connotation

grades.

'

for underatandinga

percentage

a larger

they had receiYed

and eleventh

the present earlier

class,

in the world today."

were gi'Ying a literal

In the ten problems

It may be

gained through the

of the sewnth

A,ain it would ·seem logical

atudents

Forty•

to the question.

and eighth

ve,rr much belp than students

at Linden-Mcltinl~y

program in helping

lour years ago.

in the

they bad received !!,g_help in "Under•

State•

of the United

to the questionnaire

class

grade were in the aelf-contained

six per cent of these students

that

responding

students

As has been stated,

in the ninth,

to conclude that

has been more effective

gain UDdfratandinga.

grade

than the


TABLE 7

JUrGffiNl'S CCR.'!EIUIIHl"J\CTIVITI ~S IN

nm

SELF-coNTAIN t D CLASS

(JJ EST.10.'NAIRB

Each Weighted

Per cent Selecting

,

Activities

. •

Pree reading periods Creatiw writing Panel discussion.a

.

Debates

Not Enouih 9 10 ·· 8

-

Oral reports Student interviews Sur~ya

Group dlscussions Boot reports .Bulletin boards Making and keeping a aemdule

. ~

Grade

~

.

Pield trips Use of resource p~op1e Radio prograas Dramatizing and tole playing and filmstrips Fil• lndi'ri.dual projects Group projects Comdttee wodc ._ Teaehe.r-student planning

.,

'

73

7.5

Answer

83

90 100 39 18 75 78 67 78

23 · 44 48 11 38 67 33 25 S6 17 1.1 11 17 26 17 18 17 22 23 25 50 35 60 32 33 I 56 56 64 67 35 31 36 39 33 SO. 33 · 30 34 43 39 15 2?·· 22 22 - 54 S3 57 .56 - 48 44 61 S6 28 21 11 27 20 10 11 32 6 11 34 18 34 '47 22 39 48 36 30

:n

.,

11

46

15 8 30

1

8

9·.

17 10

0

0

0

2 8 8

1

0

4 4

10 10 19

25 76

56

61

44

48

83

S6

58

3j

11 28

S1 70 69

66 82

65 70' 78

31 69

61

62

61 60

62

1

27 59

72 36

62 23

6S

S4 77 31 23

43

69

so

15

62 65 78

0

17

Too Much

Enoti5!! 9 10 11 8

80

76 30

40 58 62

53

0 23 23

15

0 0 6 5 0

44

54 . 13

1

72

85

13

78 44

92 62

3 3

2 4 8 4 7 8

1 10

22 14

4

7 29

11

7

11

54 61 69 29 33 23 3.5 50 15 43 56 30 46 S6 30 S6 .56 54

63 69 46 53 76 83

15 60

65

68

78 88

58

45

78 100

25 32

4

10 II

31 15 56 61

44 39

62 85

s

s

4

11 5 6 6 0

11

,

22

22

1

18 7

15

3 3 7

0 5

5 8

8

16 3 2

10

1

.. 3

1

14

0

0 0 8 0 0 0 8 0 8 23 8 8

23

1.5 8 8

33

17 11

15

0 8

6 0

0 0

~


.58

in the

Judmn~nt$ £.oncerning Activit\es

Se lf-Containe d Class.

tion .pair'! ,Qu,rs J,nterpretation for

The scores

100 per cent.

class rang~ frOfll Oto grade felt

the eleventh

students

thee~••~

s<?lf•eontained

in the

not E:'nouv,huse of nctivitics

in

100 per cent of the students

there wer~ .n,ot en~u,s!! field

tripa but none of

there was not ~noup,11naking and keeping a ache•

felt

dule~

1,per

· 73 per cent of the seventh grade students,

grade, 83 per cent in the ninth grade and 90 per cent in the

eighth tenth

cent in the

tbere had been not enouz~ field

grade f~lt

contai~d

in the self-

class.

'nlf! score distribution

eontained

trips

for enough use of activities

elassrOOll ranges f~Ot'!l100 to O per cent. grade students

schedule

and nont of these students

felt

78 p~r c~nt of th~ seventh grad~ students

there wae enough field

trips.

and 88 per cent of the tenth

there had be~n enou3h work with bull~tin

83 p~r cent of the ei ghth grade students

book reports.

100 per cent of the

there had N'!en enough making and keeping a

felt

eleventh

grada stu dents felt

in the St"lf-

felt

boards.

ther~ had been enough

83 per cf'nt of the ninth grad~ students

felt

there had

been enou«h radio progra1'11S. flle score distribution ranged from Oto rated

for activities

33 per cent.

the uae of book reports

grade •tudenta

which were rated t29 pueh

33 per cent of the tenth too much.

grade 1tudenta

16 per c~nt of th@ a~venth

and 22 per cent of those in th~ ninth grade rated

use of oral r~orta

too ~uch.

10 ~r

cent of the eighth

grade

the


59

st udenta felt

there

bad been too much teaeher•student

tive writin~

23 per

there had been too much crea•

felt

grade students

cent of the eleventh

planning.

reports.

and oral

Conclusions

trips.

A greater

percentage

of students

student

interyiews

and free

Those activities book reports,

rated

by

activities

field

were not used enouP.h.

as being used too much included

-oral reports,

a greater

However in each instance, these

reading periods

more students

group discussions,

felt

at all grade levels

percentage

writing.

and creative

of the students

felt

had been used enough.

A much greater

percentage

not been used enough,

All

o(

of all the students the eleventh

felt

grade students

trips

had not been used enough since no _field

first

year of the self-contained

trips

field felt

:

had

field

were taken in the

cl~ss ~t Linden-McKinley •

.

trips


'.

TADLJ?.8 S'l'UDENTS'OPINIONS Of PARfilffS' ATrfflJ DE TO\'ARD mE SELF-CON'.mINIID CLASS UU? (JJESTI ONNI\

, Howdo, your parmts

PaYOr tj S

Grade

secio 1nose _ • iJ

sec ·

10

Ii

Don•t ln ow 1

8

f eel

about the ~lf-containe

d

~

74~

75~

73~

78~

~

4~

11~

11%

0

7~ 24~

9

141

10

l1

16% 23~

classroom?

...

0' 0


61

0 inions

Stu~ents'

of

Class.

Attitu de Toward the Se lf-Contained

Parents•

Questio nnaire Interpretation for par ents Who approved of the self-contained

The sct>re distritution class

cent.

in the tenth

The score

their

grade felt

to the opinion

No student

grade and 73 per cent

parents

favored the aelf•

ranged from Oto his parents

grade felt

for those students

' of the aelf•contained

opposed the

clasa.

opposed the self-contained

The score distribution

11 per

and tenth grade stu-

and 11 per cent of the ninth

par~nta

opinion

who opposed the self •contained

of' the student

in the eleyenth

class,

their

felt

parents•

in the seventh

for parents

distribution

according

self-eont~ined

dents

ranged from 90 to 73 per

class.

contained

cent.

of the students

90 per cent

of the students

class

of the student

accor ding to th e opin:on •

who did not know the ranged from 24 to 7 per

class 1

24 per cent of the students

cent.

· opinions

not know the parents' cent

of t11 e seventh

grade felt

in the eighth

of the &elf-contained

grade students

felt

class

they

fil

and 7 per

they did not have this

inf orma•

tion. Conclusions

At every grade level their

parents

grade felt

the self•contained

hia parent•

cent of the•e parent•

liked

more than two-thirds

atudenta

disliked

felt

class.

of the students

felt

No student

in the eleventh

class.

however 23 per

the self-contained

they did not know the OJ)inions of their

toward the eelf•eontain~d

class.


TABLn 9 STUDEN'l'S• OPINIOHS COJCERNI?G .EXTENSION OF SJ!J,F-CONTAINED CLASS TO GRADE 8 (JJJ!STI~ 1"iA I Rl!

Grade 7

Would you like

the

.

,:

. rJl.

Yes ~

Io it

No

1

8

9

16 11

ft

self•

contained clasarOO!!l e:xtend~d to the eighth grade? ·~

651.

~9% 36% 3(1r,, 46 %

351, 11i

64% 611

54%

,. ~

I'

....

~

t+>


63

inions Students• Grade Eight.

C

to

Class

of the Self-Contained

Extension

oncernin

Questionnaire Interpretation The score extended

class

for those who would like

distribution

to the e1·ghth grade range d f rom 6c~ to 29 per cent.

to have the progr&.ft\ extended cent

grade

of the eighth The score

felt

they would favor an extension.

the seventh

grade

the extension

of the

for those who opposed the extension

distribution

in

3S per cent of the students

ranged from 35 to 71 per cent.

program

while only 29 per

grade,

to the eighth

students

they would~

grade felt

in the seventh

of the students

65 per cent

the self-contained

opposed

grade students

and 71 per cent of the eighth

of the program. Cone lusions

With the exception

of the seventh

extended

class

do not want the self-contained

students

of all

a majority

grade,

the

to the eighth

grade. As stated

high school.

junior .

hie place

in the departmental

explained

but they belieYed pliahed. dent,

the students•

It would seem the student setup at thia

were not asked for comment on this

getically

Many felt had "babied"

that their

feels

point.

question,

adjustment

to Junior elasa,

to

adjustment

he is ready to take Although

the stu-

more than half

the program waa very good for the seventh

the aelf•contained them.

of the self•contained

I, one of the purposes

program in Columbus was to facilitate

class

dents

in Chapter

high school

apolo• grade,

had been aceom-

in the words of the stu•


64

Section 2 Class

Wha! the Te•cher,! Think of the Self-Contained Hiv.h School.

.run1or-Senior

i at Linden-McK nley

Interyiews

type of interTiew

The semi-structured Chapter

All teachers

II.

in the aelf- ,contained

study halls.

Since all seventh grade students

of students

list

betical

Teachers

grades.

seventh

who are presently

classes

their

of the interview students discussion school.

were interviewed

waa explained.

of the adjustment

informally,

class

of these

in 7A and 8B. Thia, of course,

• eluded 1D

class.

followed a

in 7B and

meant that the

half of the subject

matter

during the time he was

Teacher• who taught

in the interviews.

of those

areas of the

provid .ed for citizenship

found in the textbook for each of these courses in the self•contained

and there

in other

students

student was expected to have covered at least

were

as a claas

After the purpo.se

the teacher waa given a list

1957, the curriculum

8A, and American history

•ubjects

to home roorna

remain together

classes

who had been in the self-contained

until

and ninth

courses. teachers

Fifteen

according

The ae student a were identified

grade.

from an alpha-

courses during the

for exploratory

since members of the self-contained

for all

in the eighth

these

arta, home econOllics, 1111sic, and art

in industrial

have the self•contained

to identify

every other student

Thia was done by selecting

students.

at Linden-MclCinley had

it waa necessary

class,

or in

in clus

either

claasroom,

with students

not been in the self-contained

contact

at some time had direct

interviewed

in

was used as explained

these eighth

grade

'lbe comments made during the

course of the interview• have been categorized

according

to faYOrable


65

a

nd

Stat ements are list ed

class

students.

only once. even thou gh they might have been made

persons.

by several

Attitud es Toward Students

Favorable 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

toward the self-contained

attitudes

unfavorable

Classroom.

of the Self-Contained

with their classmates and work" "Happy and satisfied "Use time wisely .. books" "Read better in clasa problems and projects" ''Cooperate with other students done" be to work on "Concentrate •Judge good and bad points in reports to class" "Social adjustment good" "Conduct themselves with more maturity" probleMs" "Very few behavior and discipline "\~id~ ran ge of interests" ''Rave more and better ideas" "lfork on their own" "Conformed well when they knew what I expected" "Ilxpresa themselves well in written and oral work" ''Good background in English" "More leaders a11011gthe group" well" "followed directions "Did more than the required wort" "Made more progress in remedial reading" in current events., ·~nusual interest

17. 18. 19. 20.

Unfavorable

"Think

1.

they

of the- Self-Contained

Toward Students

Attitudes are

Classroom.

because they were in this

something special

program" "Too critical" "Get away from the subject too much" "Babied too long" time in doing things and not enough in learning "Spent too J11UCh facts" "\fon• t work in study hall" - restless" "Can't be still "Have been allowed to do what they wanted too lon g"

2.

3. 4.

s.

6.

7. 8.

Conclusions Sixty-seven opinion

that

per cent of the teachers

the apparent

due to the teachers the method•• uation

good results

interviewed

of the self-contained

in the program at Linden-McKinley,

They felt

the results

with aimilar teachers.

expressed

rather

the

class

were

than to

would have been the sa me in any sit•

Aa thia line

of conversation

was pursu ed


66

further

' 50 per cent expressed

backgrou nds , abilities,

since period

Aa stated

earlier,

were aated to identify

teachers

that

1S included contained

class

those they bad eTery other

students.

After looking Oftr this

class. that

the list

list,

waa composed only of

It was hard for them to believe

was not made on the basia of performance and ability.

the selection

• contained

the opinion

and superior

The general

pr~isions

of all eighth and ninth grade students

list

who had been in the self-contained

·above average

when similar

claaaea.

person frOl'll an alphabetical

expreaaed

to have

and extra mapa and

which had been compiled by aelecting

from a liat

two teachers

classea

to the aelf•contained

anilable

waa unfair

it

cabinets,

file

confidence

and is with them a lon1er felt

of the teacher•

equipment,

books, ·art

were not made for other

taught

problems and to win their

interests,

Three

of each day•

to learn the students•

position

a better

works with fewer students

~•ch teacher

supplementary globes

is in

classroom

self-contained

the teach~r in the

that

the opinion

opinion

among the teacher•

(95')

haa been good at Linden-McKinley•

in the survey felt c laasroom.

that

he lft>uld prefer

waa that the aelfbut not one of the to teach in a self-


67

3

Section What th e Administrators

Class at Linden•

Thint of the Self-Contained

McKinlet•

Interviews of the central

'nle administration

class

surTey of the aelf•contained

at LindeN1cKinley1

Pereona involved include

achool.

individual

'nle data used in this

principals.

in the

it seems likely

class

the attitudes

of this

group reflect

the results

group toward the

It is not known to what extent

at Linden-McKinley.

aelf-eontained

Since one hundred per

of thia particular

the attitudes

accarately

represent

from verbal re•

study were obtained

were involved,

cent of the administrators

and two vice

the principal

type of interview.

to a aemi•atructured

the

therefore,

expreaaed here are those of the local administration

attitudea

sponses

in this

was not included

office

the attitudes

of •slmilar

groups in

achool situations.

other

The three administrators class.

of the self-contained

class

the self-contained and junior

high school,

helpful

been particularly

student thousand,

enters

a building

including

conceptions

All agree the most important

of the purposes purpose of

has been to bridge the gap between elementary thus providing

a amooth transition

high school.

to the junior

adjustment

tates

haYe identical

that

facili•

All agree that this baa

at Linden-McKinley since the seventh grade where the school population

both junior

ia more than two

and senior high school students.

All

agree the aucccaa of the program depends to a large degree upon the

cla•stoOII teacher. aary in thi• that

thi•

The point was made that good teaching

type of program than the departmental.

was the reaaon all

teacher

i.s more neces•

It waa pointed

appointmenta were voluntary

out

in the


68

daya of the program,

early

would accept

a block class

The following the ae lf •contained

aince

if be were not willing

are typical claaa

the adminiatration

felt

no teacher

to work.

comments of the adminiatration

toward

,at Linden-McKinley.

1. . "Shows reaulta of being with one person" 2. "Scholarship is better due not to just expert teaching, but reaction to SOJleonewho is interested" 3. "Allows leaderShip to emerge" 0 4. Acquire attitudes they don't get in the departmental program .. "Pine for transition•

,.

r

6. 7•

"More modem approach to leaming"

8.

"Demands A•l teacher•" "Success due to the teacher"

!'Provides

proper

orientation-"

Conclusions

The findings

indicate

the administration

feels

the program has

.

been · successful

success

at Li.nden-M~inley.

The administration

indica tea the

of the program depends to a large degree upon the individual

teacher.

.i

•.

...

.

..

... '

'


69

PARENTS•

TJ\BLE 10

CLASS OPINIONSC~CERNIMJ 'mE SELP-COOTAINED

Per cent of Parents Selecting Each Weighted Answer Poor Fair Good Excellent 1. 2. 3. 4.

s. 6.

7.

s. 9.

Students proble ms. Stu~t!nta learn to wo.rk with others in solving problems. Students learn to think efficiently by solving problems of real concern to them. Students learn to get along with their claaamates. Students learn to develop a spirit of cooperation. Students are not forced to accept the opinions of teachers nor those in textbooks. Stu den ta are encouraged to think by stu dying many opinions about a subject.

Students are encouraged to seek information from many sourcea. Students learn to develop an under• etanding

and appreciation

- -

-

learn to ao.lve personal

5

65

27

3

23

59

16

3

9

59

32

0

3S

.53

9

3

29

54

11

6

27

42

22

4

32

54

15

3

54

30

11 .

s

38

46

16

0

31

ss·

14

0

40

44

11

5

-43

38

16

3

28

42

24

6

32

38

24

6

17

45

29

9

34

•s

20

0

37

45

20

3

43

38

16

4

37

4V

16

0

37

48

15

0

of the

American way of life. 10. Stadenta are given an opportunity to in the classlive democratically room. 11. Students are encouraged to be tol• erant toward the ideaa of others. 12. Students are encouraged to develop useful work and study habits. 13. Students learn to express themselvee clearly in written work. Stu dents learn to express themselves 14. clearly when speaking. 15. Students proceed in their work as regardless rapidly as possible, of what others are doing. 16. Students learn how to work inde• pendently. 17. Stu dents are encouraged tol dewlop health. good mental and physica nity opportu 1&. Student• are giyen the to study current e•ents. ai• 19. Student• learn to accept respon bility for their own actions. good citi• 20. Students learn to beca11e irien• of Linden-Mel.inley.


70

Section

What Parents

4

'f!link of the Self-Conta1·ned

Class at Linden•McKinleI•

Questionnaire study were obtained

The data used in this

to questionnaire&. appears likely

it

these

parents

Sicn e f or t y-two per cent of the parents the results

toward

The questionnaire

had children order

the attitudea

class

of It

·of thia group reflect

the

situations.

at Linden-Mc:tinley.

parental

toward

attitudes

All parents

who were in this program during the seventh

response

responded,

at Linden-Mdinley.

to obtain

was deftleped

to keep the questionnaire

a four-way

class

responses

the attitudes

accurately

groups in other school

of similar

the self•contained

represent

the self•contained

is not known to what extent attitudes

from written

in the survey grade.

In

from being a time consuming instrument,

t,lan was developed.

An additional

unstructured

'

portion

for e:aeh question

also allowed free respon$e..

questions

cluded at the beginning The following questions 1.

Students 2. 3.

Students

1. 2. 3.

4.

s.

A letter

from the parents.

of explanation

Six

was in-

of the questionnaire.

is typical

for free

set aside

1.

2.

allowed free responses

of comments found in the portion

of the

response:

learn .to solve personal

problems.

: ·

"Need help from. teachers too" ''Teacher can spend more time with the student and help him solve his personal problems" "Created a problea with my child aa he thought he was debased by being assigned to the be.hied group .. learn

to wort with others

"Did not

do well

in solving

at bODte in solving

problems. problems"

the bright child, poor for the slow child" "No more than an ordinary classroom" "Excellent trainins for 1IIYchild" "Hil teacher helped" "Good for


3.

71

Student& learn to think concern to them. 1•

2. 3

"'Need to think

"T . b

"C::~ era help teach• 0

4•

4.

2. 3.

4.

s.

Children 1.

2. 3. 4.

6.

, -~

1.

solving problems of real

th

ey are solving their problems" aometimea ld'len parents fail" child eff~ient thought. He learns this by his environment long before he is exposed to

serving the seventh grade" "Become more self•sufficient"

classmates.

"Don•t ~now how he did at •chool, but he had a problem with friends at homett t•t>oea not off er enough contact with other atudents" "Have been learning this since they started playing with other cbildren" "Got along well with children in that class" "It•, up to the teacher" learn

to develop a apirit

of cooperation.

''Life more successful and fun if this is developed" "Jo more than in any other clas$room" "Would~ the same with this teacher anywhere" "'Teacher must help

Students •re not forced those in textbooks.

them do · this"

to accept

the opinions

of teachers

nor

· · 1... "Teacher should be the authority" 2. "Can learn to separate fact and opinion" 3. "Some· easi -do tbi ,s, aome can't" 4. "All depends on the teac:her" Students subject. l. 2. J,. 4 __

8.

by

5t uctents le.Arn to get · along with their 1.

s.

~

efficiently

Students 1. 2.

... 3.

are encouraged

to think

t,y ·atudying many opinions

about a

ttBrigbt child• yea• alow one• don't haw a chance" "This confuses many of them" "Should learn the facts and stiet to them" "The· only way to have a good education program"

are encouraged to seek information

from many sources.

"Not the right sources as a rule'' "Learned to use many more sources of information" "Gained an excellent foundation for the higher grades" "Made his work more interesting"


72

9.

to d

learn

Stud~nta

American way of lif:~e 1. 2. 3.

4.

1

of th~

and appreciation

op an understan~ing

''Teacher must explain this" "All depends on the teacher" ''He should

"It

all

learn

th is

before

h~ geta

dependa on the teacher"

to aeventh grade"

10.

5 tudenta are given an opportunity to live democratically c 1 asaroom. "SOIRetimea they can and SOllletimes they can• t'' 1. 2. ~ust be taught thia" helps a lot" flit J. 4 • "nu.a teacher would do the same in any classroom"

11.

Students

are encouraged

to be tolerant

in the

toward the ideas of others.

is needed" '1iiore discipline 1. 2. "Given too much f reedoa" child with this" 3~ "Did not help-, 4. "One year of thia cannot hope to make up for all the other teaching" yeara of authoritative r thia" s. "Teacher encouraged

12.

Student•

1. 2.. 3.

4.

13.

Studenta 1. 2. J.

4. 5. 14.

Students 1. 2. 3.

are ~ncouraged -to deyelop

uaeful

wort and study habits.

"Too young to cbooae for themaelvee" "Need. t~ learn correct uae of their time" "Too much homework" "Teacher set a high standard adjusted to child'•

learn

to exp~e•s themselves

clearly

in written

ability" work.

waa gi.en for tbia and progress noted" "Ample opportunity "Slow one• •ed much help" ''Some are better speaker• than writers" in the whole school system" "Inadequate instruction "Depends on the teacher" learn

to expreaa them.1el•es clearly

whEn speaking.

'1More- emphaaia •hould be kiftn to thia" with claasmatea makes this "familiarity "Bxee lled

in thia"

easier"


73

15.

S t udents proceed in their wort aa rapidly of what others are doing. 1. 2. 3. 4.

s.

16.

''Hurrying waa a definite worry to my child" "'Not a good idea •• all should do the same" "If one ia too slow, he should get extra help at home" "Thia provides for all levela of ability" "More than in any other class"

Students 1. 2. 3.

17.

Students 1. 2. 3.

18.

Students 1. 2. 3.

4. 19.

20.

Students

21.

learn

to wo~k independently.

"They enjoy this and are not so dependent" "Bxcellent training" my. child ever had" "Beat training are encouraged

to develop good mental and physical

are given the opportunity

learn

to accept

responsibility

2.

"Some did,

3.

"Drill learn

2. 3.

•• ,. 6.

7. 8.

9.

events.

for their

own

actions.

some didn't"

ia aore important" to become good students

of Linden-McKinley.

hope so" "I certainly •'Must be taught this aa a group" "Gives them a good start"

What one thinJ 1.

to study current

"Began reading newspaper more then" "Easy for my child because he was interested" "Thia waa not streaaed" "Made hia · atudy more meaningful"

"Depends on the teacher"

Students

habits.

"Should be stressed in every class" "Dei,ends on the teacher" "This must be done"

1.

1. 2. 3.

regardless

aa possible

do you like

beat about the self-contained

classroom?

"Children of thia age not ready to do as older children, and this segregates them" "Student can become better acquainted with teacher and fellow students" nstudent can learn the new school easier and 111.orequickly" "Same teacher helps both to understand each o-ther better" "Don't haw to hurry between classes" to concentrate on l~••ons" "Better opportunity child" ed "Oood for handicapp audden change from elementary to junior high" "Blialnate• "Good for slow or frightened child"


74

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

"Teacher has more time with the child and can give individual instruction" ••nqualizes homework" ::me for more atudy without interruption" il~ can . adjust to school at a speed or pace he sets for h1.DL1elf" , . "Don• t think he t,ver had or ~ffr

will have a teacher that ••• ao interested in the students · and their problems" "The activities 111adeit a pleasure for them to go to school" "The interest showp in current event• and the det'IOcratic way of life"

17. 18. 19.

22.

,an co-ordinate English. reading, and spelling more than is possible in other .clasaea"

"T~acher

What do you like 1.

2.

·

Nothing The teacher

least

about the self-contained

classroom?

"Gave my child an inferiority complex" "My child became contrary at hC!)llle &nd misbehaved because he

did not feel important at school" "Each subject should be taught by a specialist" "Does not give a chance to meet many other students" s. "Same teacher for too many subjects" 6. "Hard to iearn new aystem in eighth grade" 7. "Too little contact with other teachers" 8. "Not enough _drill 11 9. "No problem that would not have been otherwise present" 10 .... Disliked nothing about the clasatt 11. "'Conf ineaent of overactive children who need the walk and rece&•" 12. "Some subjects are neglected" 13. •·1Scheduling ia poor" 14. "Too long in one classroom" lS. . 'fffot all seventh graders in the program" J.

4.

23.

In what · wa.ya would you like improv~d?: · 1.

2. 3.

8. C).

10. 11.

claasrOOll

·

"Extend to all seventh ''More authority"

... s. 6. 1.

to aee the aelf ..contained graders''

"Leas homework" "More supervision" "More aelf-eontained claase• .. "Integrate children more into school activities" "Extend eorae of these activities to other classes" "Larger classrooms" "Reaults fine" "Can't auggeat improvements" "Do away witb the•"


75

24.

Please 1. 2. 3. 4.

class.

about the self-contained C<>m!llent

any additional

write

"Should be extended to all junior high students" "Good for some•• poor for others" better results" to teacher, :~loser in a set-up like this" more much h ccomplis "Elementary school does not prepare the child for such a change into junior high" drastic "It accomplished its purpose" "Teacher determines the success" "Junior and •~nior high should not be in the same building" should be provided for junior and "Separate activities senior high" "Work was of the same caliber as in other classes" "Always thought this type of e1ass was for the shy, maladjusted pupil" and would have been the same in any "Teacher excellent class .. "Not in favor so far as my child is concerned" lites and dislikes might influence my opinion" "My child's

5.

6. 7. 8.

9. 10.

11.

12. 13. 14.

Inten>retation

The scores

range from 54 to 5 per cent.

the needs of the student

in meeting

felt

54 per cent of the parents students

in "Encouraging

class

the self-contained

learn

was excellent

from many sources."

to seek information

ranked "Students

S per cent

class

of the self-contained

contribution

for excellent

to solve personal

problems" as

excellent. The score distribution class

the needs of the student

to meeting

"Students

of the self-contained

range from 65 to 30 per cent.

the program had made a good contribution

felt

cent 65 per

for good contribution

learn to solve personal

program was .s.ood in "Encouraging

problems," students

by

helping

and 30 per cent felt

to seek information

the

from

many sources."

The acore dl•tribution c:la•• in

••tin• ...

ffl

32 per cent

'S'

flte

for fair

contribution

the need• of the student

of the self•contained

range from 32 to 9 per cent.

"

the program waa

!.!!£

in helping

"Students

learn to


76

th 9

ink efficiently per cent felt

by solving

the program was .f.!.!.!:_in helpin g "Stu dents learn

get along with their

of the program was poor in helping

possible

regardleaa

None of the parents

poor contribution 1.

2. 3.

4.

s.

6.

of the self•cmtained

for poor contribution

ranged from 9 to O per cent.

rapidly••

to

classmates."

The score distribution

clasa

problems of real concern to the m."

felt

9 per cent felt

proceed in their

"Students

of what others

are doing."

the self•contained

class

the following

to meeting

the contribution work as

had made a

needs of the student

i

~tudents le•rn to think efficiently by solving problems of real concern to them. Students learn to deyelop an appreciation and underatanding of the Ameriean way of life. Students are ginn an opportunity to liYe de11ocratically in the claaarocm. Students learn how to wort independently. Students learn to accept responaibility for their own action. Students learn to become good citizens of Linden-McKinley. Conclusion

A lar ge number of the parent• self.,contained

claa•

who felt

had been excellent

More of those 'Whowere diapleaaed

comment.

The findings

the claas

at Linden-McKinley some following

cent

is responsible

aince

that•

majority

for the success

of the parents of the program

a comment having to do with this

so per

cent of the parents

had made an excellent

of the needs of etudenta

diatribution

with the program chose to

waa made by

each question.

More than classroom

aeem to indicate

teacher

of the

or good did not make additional

c:on.aent.

feel

the contribution

for excellent

felt

the aelf•contained

ol." good contribution listed

to meeting

in the questionnaire.

6.5 per

The score

or good in the remaining 35 per cent of the

needa ranged from 79 to 62 per cent.


77

Following

are the needs of the atudent

combined excellent 1.

2. 3.

4.

s.

6. 7. 8. C).

10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 1.S. 16.

17. 18.

19. 20.

nine their

in the order of the

of the parents,

to get along with tbei~ classaatea. to think by studying many opinions about a subject. to live democratically in S t udents are given an opportunity the classroom. Students learn to become good citizens of Linden-McKinley. Students are encouraged to aeek information from many aources. Students learn to develop an und~rstanding and appreciation of the American way of life. for their own action. Students learn to accept responsibility toward the ideas of Students are encouraged to be tolerant ot~rs. Students leam to develop a spirit of cooperation. Students are encouraged to develop good mental and physical health. Students learn to work with others in solving problems. Students are encouraged to dewlop useful work and study habits. Students are given the opportunity to study current events. Students learn how to work independently. Students learn to express theaselves clearly when speaking. Students learn to solve personal problems. Students learn to express themselves clearly in written work. Studenta are not forced to accept the opinions of teachers nor those found in textbooks. by solving problems of Students learn to think efficiently real concern to them. rapidly as possible regard• Students procet'd in their work less of what others are doing.

Students

learn

Students

arc encouraged

a•

Although contained

or _good ratings

listed

the score

classroom

distribution

to meeting

to %ero per cent,

for poor contribution

the needs of the student

those needs are listed

of the selfranged from only

below in the order of

poor rating: 1.

2. 3.

•• s. 6.

7. 8. 9.

students less Students studmta students Student• Students Student• thoae Student• student•

proceed in their work as rapidly as possible regard• of what others are doing. learn to express themselves clearly when speaking. learn to express themselves clearly in written wort. learn to develop a spirit of cooperation • are encouraged to seek information fr0111many sources. are encouraged to be tolerant toward the ideas of others. are not forced to accept the opinions of teachers nor found in textbooks. are giyen the opportunity to study current e•enta. learn to aolYe personal problems.


78

10. 11. 12.

Student& Students Students about Students Student& · health

13. 14.

"Students ble

are allowed

regar4le&•

excell~nt

childien the cule.

thai

thia

others in solying problems. with their classmates. think by studying many opinions

develop useful work and study habits. develop good mental and physical

to proceed .#Ji their

of what oth,ra

or 500<1 rating

to indicate classroom

learn to work with learn to get along are encouraged to a subject. are encouraged to are encouraged to •.

are doing.''

and the highest

work as rapidly

waa given the lqweat combined poor rating.

is one of the weak aapecta

at. -Linden-Mc~inley. . . of a given grade level

aa possi-

'fht• aay indicate

This

would aee11

of the aelf~ontained the conception

that

au.st achieve a 1ingle atan4ard remains


V CHAPTER '\RY J\ND CONCLUSIONS Stnf.11-

Summaq

· a reorganization of e d uca t ors 1n

The interest in th e secondary common citizenship

this

s·tudy •

an over•all

to provide

were conducted

with 102 students

administrators

of Linden-McKinley

data were secured

through

who taught class,

had been in the self-contained mailed

a questionnaire

aeveral list•,

conaiderationa:

quotation•

ferbatim

(1) selection

quotations

constitute

of theae students

waa determined

for interviews

(2) balance of boys and girl•,

tation.

Parents

Additional who were

and 40 per cent responded.

of the students

'lbe selection

and with the local

to 229 students

administered

classroom.

the students

High School.

Junior-Senior

questionnaires

year in the self-

their

the yea .r they were in the self-contained

during

of departmental

grade ·, teachers

area teachers

interest

special

class,

contained

who had been in the self•

following

the students

who had taught

subjects

and

and interviews.

by means of questionnaires

classroom . during the se.enth

contained

Ohio,

of the program.

evaluation

The data were gathered Interviews

Columbus,

High School,

Junior-Senior

the attitudes

toward the self-contained

and parents

administrators

at Linden-McKinley

class

were to discover

to

gave rise

place

is taking

purposes

two principal

Its

teachers,

of students,

and the need to know more about actual

in which reorganization

situations

school

education,

in

more effectively

it may function

so that

school

education

of general

of students

through

(3) proportionate

were noted during

79

.....

alphabetical

grade represen•

the interyiew

the baaia for 1ome of the tables

by

and these

which preaent

the


80

of student

picture

f · · op1n1on o the self-contained

class

at Linden-

Mclinley.

st udenta,

baaed only on attitudes

and in its

of students,

The attitudes

class

in the Columbus Public

adMinistrators

teachers,

High School.

Junior-Senior

at Linden-McKinley

setting

high school

of the junior

of the purposes

of the self-contained

led to a description Schools

and opinions.

consideration

A brief

it is

that

and the fact

the time element,

bias,

interview

of

having to do with selectiYity

The study has the limitations

and parents

class were present~d and interpreted

toward the self-eontained

in four

sections. Conclusions

according

most liked

were "Direct

solving" 2.

classroom,

to

and pro blem

class

we like"

(7~),

(52~).

they disliked

most about the self• (38%), "Not enough time

"Too long in one class"

and "Too much study about Ohio" (22%).

(29~).

• t'otal

most help

along with others"

"Getting place•"

the things

felt

included

expresaed

about

(8JJ.),

help in the

they had receiv~d

indicated

how to act in different

The students

to do things

liled

students

to know the achool"

and "Learning

students

planning

and "Student·t~acher

things

adjustment

to judge in what ways they had received

When asked

in "Getting

contained

The tbre~

(62%).

self•contained

3.

"Pacilitates

(84~),

experience"

(79~),

high school"

junior

of core.

to some of the purposes

categorized

classroom were

a bout the self-contained

most liked

The things

1.

of four

the ae1f•contained

hundred

cl•••,but

•nd

tlttnty•aev~n

only o~

bundrtd

things forty

The they

things


81

4•

When asked in the questionnaire

wi th which they had received ting

help,

along with classmates"

"Getting

S.

least

skills

ranking

class were

{10ft), "Giving in gracefully along with yout teacher"

class

skills

included

Yarious aources (24-J.), use of correct pression 6.

yourself

Students

felt

their

gr~atest

wort {95%).

in .written

they had receiyed

finding

information

from

(20%), and creative

underetandings

ef ~ifeu (941).

no help in the self•contalned

in the atomic age" (22~),

and "The place

of the United

Students

eelf•contained

(9.Si),

The three top understanding•

they had received

felt

ex•

uMd enough included

field

survey•

( 57't).

report•

(161), . and creative

through

States

with which atudents

of Columbus"' (141,),

in the world today" (11%). had not been used enough in the felt

trips

periods

(841),

indicated writing

felt

classroom were "Your

ntose which more students

More atudents

{96J),

and the "Democratic Way

"The growing pains

some activiti~•

cla&aroom.

received

were the "Duties of ,citizenship"

classroom

"The part 10Yernmenta play in your life"

, 1.

most

(96%), understand•

felt

English

(~).

(13,.).

the aelf•contained

future

spelling

c:laaaroom ~re

if you

they had received

felt

with which student•

no help in the self• .contained

J.n study halls"

help in the self•contained

ing what yon read (96%), ,and ·e:xptessing The highest

problems were "Get-

The problems

··with which pupils

help in the self-contained

problema

( 1001').

and "Getting

The three

specific

conduct

in the classroom"

along with your family"

are wrong" (101),

the top-ranking

{ 100%), "Improved

( lOO%)• and "IMproved conduct with which they received

to indicate

free

reading

that

oral

reports

bad not been (62%), and

(17~),

(141) had been used too much.

book


82

8.

have th e self-contained

classroom with

which parents

the self-contained

felt

adequately

were "Students

learn to get alon g

claasmatrs"

(881),

"Students

are encouraged

to think

about a •ubject"

to live

opportunity contrast,

the three

contained

class

democratically ranting

highest

(86~),

proceed

learn

to express

themselves

clearly

when speaking"

learn

to express

themselves

clearly

in written

•ell-contained

the facilitation

were asked to state

classroom,

a majority

of adjustment

When aaked to state

claaaroOll, a majority

(9!.),

work as "Students

and "Students

(61,).

the thing 11tost liked about the

of the answers (75~) had to do with

to junior the thing

way of

the self-

in their

(6~),

work"

By

felt

needs which parents

of what other& are doing"

regardless

When parent•

(861).

in the classroom"

by study-

are given an

and "Students

had met poorly were "Students

a.a possible

1~.

of

aost

ing many opinion•

13.

the adjustment

bad fulfilled

their

rapidly

believe

the gap between

is to bridge

and thus facilit-.te

needa of atudenta

The three

teacher.

the program at Linden-McKinley has been successful.

They feel

the student. 12.

high school

and junior

elementary

at Linden-McKinley.

.at Linden-McKinley

class

of the self-contained

the main purpose

in the study felt

good resulta

and two vice-principals

The principal

11.

grade.

were due to the individual

results

these

(67~) felt

A majority

included

had achieved

classroom

the self-contained

to

they would not like

to the eighth

classroom extended (95~) of the teachers

A majority

lO.

(531.) felt

of the students

majority

A

the

liked

parents

their

classroom.

self-contained 9.

felt

(1ai)

of the students

A majority

high school. least

liked

about th~ aelf-c:ontained

of the answers (86~) had to do with poor scheduling

and too long in one classroom.

11111


83

Recommendations F

1.

by those who are . concerned

program are recognized

a study of the Yarious

student

individual

aeema desirable.

help in .solving 5.

standings

far outranked

6.

those llho f~lt

In view of the fact free reading

(84~).

1e

a

a majority (62~),

of the students

felt

field

and surveys (57',) had not been

it might be well to re-examine

claaaroom in an effort

of the parents

about the self-contained and poor scheduling,

problem••

·

to reaaona why acme atudenta

all

of the

to determine

program.

Since a majority

in one class the

that

of the self•contained

most desirable

lea•t

and unde,r-

and imprOYe in skills.

periods

ua~d enough in the program,

activities

in the program ..

they had not been helped,

of methods may point

understandings

to pin

failed

they had received

they receiTed help in skills

Although those who felt

examination

furthe~

felt

might lead to an improfttllent

.

7.

·

A study of the problems which students

4.

little

the degr~e ~f growth of the

to indicate

A program of research

3.

and appra-isal by the

evaluation

of what is being accompliahed.

and students

teachers,

principal,

trips

of core.

concepts

There ia a need for continual

2.

with the self•

it 111igbt be well to consider

at Linden-Mdinley,

classroom

contained

no.t all of the purposes of a core

that

In view of the fact

felt

the things

they liked

claaaroom had to do with too much tim~ it might be well to investigate

the


8• all

felt

Since some (20CX.}of the teachers

9.

additional

to receive

classes

subjects,

of departmental

pared teachers

meetings.

attitude be

in in·s~rvice

participate

preparatio!l

ones offered

in •ecuring '

a consideration

i.

.

made to invite education

of resource

the self-contained

.'

'

..

to teachers

the total

adequately

class pre•

and evidenced by the

toward the program.. staff

It i .s sug1ested of the school

to

programs such as workshops, planning material,

class

and aeminars ·similar to the

teacher •

for these

of the self•contained

aa indiea~-ed by the administration teachers•

departmental

it wae unfair

it would be well _to examine this policy~

has .been the -difficulty

at Linden-McKinley

be continued,

aids not available

teaching

One of the blocka to the extension

10.

class

were not in the program.

grade atudenta

seventh

in 1957 to include

concerned the fact that all

from parents

much of the criticism

since

that

in the .self-contained

grade atudenta

seventh

initiated

the policy

that

It is suggeated


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85

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Action

Wilf Ord, The Story and Broth~r,, 1941.

Aikin,

Alberty,

Harold,

of the Bight-Yrar

"Bridging

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J?dueational

1949)

"Reorganid.ng th~ Junior High School CurriculU'Ol." The National Aasociatic,n of Secondary School Principals.-

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1945) pp. 17•28.

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Harold, et al. How to Develop a Core Pro.1ram in ,!he Hi,gh School. Oameograpbed) 1be Ohio State Univeraity, Columbus, Ohio, 1949 ..

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Publiahing

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1946.

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New

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Harper

Coon, Herbert tee, "A Study of the Attitudea of Te-ac:her1 and .A&niniatratora Towrd High School Curricultml Reorganization." Unpublished Doctoral

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19,t. ~wey, John, 111e Child and the Curriculum . . Chlc: .. o Pre••, 1~02.

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Dewey• John , D,emocracy pany, 1916.

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Henry Holt and Com•

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Waahington;

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Faunce, .Ronald C. and Bossing, Nelson L., DeYeloping the Core Curriculum. New York: Ronald Press Company, 19-47. and M~thods. Its Principles A., Interviewings Garrett, 1942. America, of Association Family Welfare Gruhn, William T. and Douglass, Harl R., 'nle Modern Junior Renald Press Company, 1947. New York:

NewYork: High School.

Values and Methods Hand, Harold, What P eople 'lbink About Their Schools. Yonke rs-on• Systems. School to of Public Opinion Poling as Applied Huc:1son: World Boot Company, 1948.

Hart, . Prank W., Teachers and Teaching 1?fTen Thousand High School New York: The Macmillan Company, 1934. Seniors.

R. J., Taha, H., Adolescent Character Havinghurst, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Incorporated, How Mpch Did

TheI Grow?·Bulletin

Jersild,

A. T., and Tasch,

Suggest for Education. College,

Leonard

Brothers. I.rug.

Inttreat and What They Ruth T., Chil~ren•e Teachers New Yorks Bureau of Publications,

Columbia University,

toopman, Robert, Tbe Nttions l.oos,

No. 164, Kalamazoo Public Schools,

1951 (Mi meographed).

Michigan.

t.alamazoo,

"A Natural

Pattern

19-49·.

Growth and Learning ... 1952) pp. 49•52.

for Child

XLIX (January,

Schools,

V., Junior

and Personali!7. 1949.

High School

Trends.

New Yorks

Harper

and

1955.

Planni1'&•

New Torti

Harper and Brother&,

~hanging the CQtriculum.

New Torti

D. Appleton-C~ntury

Bc:twardA., Curriculum 1950.

Miel,

Alice,

company,Jne., 1946.


87

Mooney, Ross J. • , Problem Check List. Junior High School Form, New York City, 1942. Corporation, Psychological "Surveying High School Students' Mooney, Ross~·· 8 Research Bulletin. F.clucational Checkh.st,"

by Means of XXI, pp. 57-69 (March 18,

Problems

1942).

of the National Assoc iaClasses in Wisconsin t• Bulletin (October, 1954) pp. 78-80. 204 No. Princip~ls, of ~econdary School

"Multiple-Period

tion

Noar, Gertrude, Prentice

The Junior

Hall,

Inc.,

High School Today and Tomorrow.

New York:

1953.

Sidney L., and Robinson, Francis P., Psychology 1944. New York: Harper and Brothers, Education.

Pressey,

and the New

of University Reynard, Harold, "Follow-Up Study of Selected Graduates State Uni• Ohio The dissertation, Unpublished . Doctoral School." Columbus, Ohio, 1954. versity,

Cl1ssro01J11 Grade 7 (Mimeographed), Teaching Guide, S~lf-Contained bus Public Schools, Columbus, Ohio, 1957. Thayer, V. T., The Passing Company,

of the Recitation.

Boston:

D.

c.

Colum-

Heath and

1928.

Ruth, Reorganizing Secondary Thayer, V. T., Zachry, Caroline, and totinsky, New·York: D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc., 1939. Education.

Thirty

Schools Tell

Their

Stopr.

New York:

Harper and Brothers,

1943.

Van Til, William, "Consumer Problems of the High School Student," Bulletin XXVIII, of the National Association of Secondary-School Principals, pp. 79•86 (November, 1944). Bulletin, Curriculum We Study the Junior High School. Schools, Columbus, Ohio, 1953 (Mimeographed).

Colu mbus Public

Core Curriculum Development, Problems and Practices. Wright, Graces., No. 5, Federal Security Agency, Office of Education Bulletin 1952. Office, United States Government Printing Wa.shington, Office of in Public High Schools. Core Curriculum Wright, Graces., No. 5, federal Security Agency, Washington, Education Bulletin United States Government Printing Office, 1950.

J.

Wayne, A Second Report on ~he Evaluation of Pupil Growth New York: 1952-53. in the Core Pro ram in Two Academic H1 h Schools (Mimeographed). 1954 Board O Education of the City of New York, March,

Wrightstone,

J. Wayne, A Second Report of t~e St~dy of the Introduction of Wrightatone, New 1952-53. The Core Pro raa in Selected Vocational Hi h Schools 1954 March, York, N~w York: Board o Education o the City of (Mimeographed).


88

'

•. t .

APPENDIXA

SAMPLBOP (JJESTI~AI~

J

G~_VEN-~ ,S111DEMTS WHOHAD BEEN .

i,

IN THE SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM AT LINDEN-Mc~INLEY • t'

_,.

4

••

l

~

,r'

.,,,

.

.· .. '.,, ... ~'

- ,,..

....,, ......-

,,,...

#

•••

I' ' . ~ •

''

I

..

.. ' . .,

I


89

Please questionnaire. and teachers. I.

answer all questions honestly on the following It may prove • great help to your classmates You nee4 not sign your name.

In your opioion, has .thJ ·Self•(ontained class understand or do the following?

helped you

to better Before belief.

eacb- . item place

your

3 -- not at all aome 1 •• very much

, .•· ·

.

the number which expresses

2 -

1,

'

1.

Getting

along with your family.

2.

Getting

along with your claasmatea.

3.

Getting

along with your teachers.

4. · Giving

in gra .cefully

s • . Completing

work once

. ?. ~·:C_911aideri"1I · all :,1.

aide•

. ·8 •. . .Conducting . yourself Clasarooaa. Study

begun.

tesponai bili ty ...

·-6 .., Accepting

..

if you are wrong.

of every question • in an approved

manner in:

.,

ha lla"'

Lunch room. Asaeably ..

Halls. Athletic: .

------

9. 10.

eventa.

Solving your own problem• i -ntelligently

Acceptin1 a pereon for lfhat be ia. regardless of race, clothea, or the aaount of money be baa.


u.

90

Has th e self --contained of the followin g?

c1 ass encouraged you in your understanding

B~fore each ite- place ...

the number which best expresses

your be

1¡1 e f :

not at all some 2 -1 -- very much 3 --

1.

The place of the United States

2.

The part federal, your lives.

3•

Your duties

4.

A democratic

S.

Your basic

6.

The importance

7.

The problems

8.

The opportunities Ohio offers and natural resources.

9.

The growing pains and problems of Columbus.

10. III.

state,

as a citizen

in the world today.

and local

governments play

of your school

in

and community.

way of life. civil

rights. of a high school

education.

of your for~fathers

Your future

who settled

Ohio.

you with her location

in the atomic age.

Has the self-contained

class

Before each item place

the number which best expresses

helped you with these

special

skills?

your belief:

not at all some very much

3 -

2 -¡ 1 --

1.

Speaking

2.

Expressing

3.

Spelling.

4.

Understanding

s.

Outlining

6.

finding

7.

Expressing your understandings in creative ways, such as original stories, poems, playa, or use of different art materials.

8.

Improved study habits.

9.

L~erning and using new words.

10.

before

a group.

yourself

in written

work.

what you read.

a problem and developing

information

Use of correct

from various

English.

it. sources.


91 IV.

It ia felt by soae t enrich learning hat th e following activities and stimulate int they were feel you do extent what To erest. included i n Your program? Before

th• '- number which best expresses

each item place

3 -- too much enough

2 -

1 ·- . not enough

trips.

1.

Pield

2.

Resource peq,le

3.

Radio programs •

.4.

Dramatizing and role playing • .

5.

Films and filmatripa.

6.

Individual

7.

Group projects.

8.

Committee wort.

9.

Teacher-pupil

-

in the community.

projects. .

.

planning.

10.

Pree reading periods.

11.

CreatiYe

12.

Panel diacusaiona.

13.

Debatea.

14.

oral reports.

1s.

Student

16.

Sur•eJ••

11.

writing

interview•

plays.

of peraona.

Group discussion.

18.

Boot reporte.

19.

~eeping

20.

of poems, stories.

Mating

i boards interesting. t:,ulle t n schedule. -A keeping a definite

• pu

your belief:


92

,.

VI.

what do your parents

Would you like

to have the self-contained

eighth

VII.

think of the self-

In your opinion, contained class?

class extended to the

grade?

What is your present

grade level

J

.. . •

.. ;

at Linden•Mc~inley?


93

.

.

B APPENDIX "I,

_:

.•

TO .PARENTSOF Sl\JDJ!NTS SAMPLE OP <JlESTICl4NAIRB-SUBMITTP.P \

WHOHAVB .BE£NIN

nm

I LINDEN-MdINLEY · AT SBLP-CONTAINEp CLASSROCJ.

.,.,

(

.. .... ..

.

'

..,-

'

.

.

.,.

"'.

...

..

_

.

.. ' t

t

. ,.

.,.


August

15, 1957

1199 Norris Drive Columbus, Ohio

Dear Parents: Thia questionnaire has been designed to determin~ what you think of the self•contained class at Linden-McKinley Junior-Senior High School. Since your child has been in to this type of class fer one year. you have been selected participate in this surwy. We are equally

aa interested in what you like, as well about the program. The results of this study will be used to help us improve our teaching. Theref' ore, your cooperation will be of great •alue to your children and the school. as what you do not like

Please do not .sign your name. It is hoped you will feel free to answer all questions honestly and return them promptly in the enclosed self-addressed envelope. We will be grateful for your assistance. Very Sincerely,

Evelyn W. Cummins


9S

The following i believe are p , . • a 1iat of characterietica uny educators how satisfactresent in a good school program. Please indicate needs by che you feel the •elf-contained class met theae Space is procidngd fth e word which best expresses your belief. v e or additional comment.

:?

1.

Students E:xce ll~nt

learn ___

to solve

th c i r personal

1 Good ___

1

problems.

Pa1r . ___

:

P oor ___

•,

Comment:

2.

Students

learn to work with others in solving problems •

.Excellent ___

: · Good ___

;

;

Poor ___

by solving

problems

Fair ___

;

Comment:

3.

Students learn to think efficiently of real concern to them.

Excellent

---· ,

Good

C:ommentc:- ;

---

i

Pair

---

;

Poor

---

;

,. • ..

.c. Students Excellent

learn

___

to get along with their ;

Good ___

;

\.

t

classmates.

Fair ___

;

Poor __

_

Comment, •

s.

Students Excellent

le~rn ' to develop a spirit __

,... __:

Good ___

;

of cooperation. Pair ___

;

Poor ___

;

Comment:

6.

Student• are not · forced to accept nor thoae found in textbooks. ___

Excellent Coamenta

-

,

,

Good ___

1

the opinions Pair ___

;

of teachers, Poor ____

1


96

7.

Students are encouraged about a subj~ct. Excellent

____

1

to think by studying

Good ___

;

Pdr

many opinions

___

;

PoM __

_

Comments

8.

S t udents are encouraged to seek information sources.

Bxc~11ent Comment,

9.

• Good ___

;

Pair

___

Students learn to develop an understanding of the American way of life. Irxcellent

Comment:

10.

---· ---

;

Good

---

s

Students are given an oppe•tunity in the classroom. Excellent

___

;

Good ___

;

Fair

from many ;

Fair ___

_

and appreciation

---

to live

Poor __

;

Poor

---· •

democratically :

Poor ___

;

Comments

11.

Students a.r.e enc-bUraged to be tolerant - toward the ideas of others. Excellent

___

;

Good ___

;

Fair ___

;

Poor ___

Comnents

12.

Students

to develop useful 0 are •ncoura•ed •

wort and study

habita.

Excellent ____ Conneent1

,

,

Good ____

;

Fair ___

;

Poor __ _

;


97

13.

Students wor.k

leam

to

Good ___

••

____

Excellent

in written

clearly

express themselves

Poor ___

;

Fair ___

;

;

Comment:

14 •

Stud .ents

learn

Excellt!nt

___

to express

Good ___

;

when speaking.

cl~arly

themselves

Poor ___

;

1 Pair ___

;

Comment,

15.

Students proceed in their of what others regardless Excellent

---

;

Good

work as rapidly are doing.

---

;

Pait

as possible,

____ --.., Poor

;

Comment:

16.

Students Excellent

learn how to .work independently. ___

;

Good ___

;

Pair ___

Poor ___

,

;

Commentz

11.

Students

are encouraged

to develop good mental and physical

health.

Bxe~llent

___

;

Good ___

;

Pair ___

;

Poor __ _

Comments

18.

Students Excellent

Comment,

are given the opportunity

---=~-f •

Good ____

;

to study current ev~nts. Fair ____

,

Poor ____

,

,


98

10.

Studenta actions.

learnt

E~cellcnt

____

0

accept responsibility

1

Good

Comment:

20 .

-----t

Pair ___

Stu c!e.nts l e arn to become Jt.mior•S enior High School~ood citiuna ellent 11-xc

Good

,

___

for their 1

own

Poor __

_

of Linden 4.tcKinley

____ a Fair ___

1 Poor ___

1

Comment:

2l.

22.

What one thing

class?

do you like

\\'hat do you like

least

beat about the self-contained

about the self-contained

class?

the aelf•contained

In what ways would you lite claGs improved?

to

24.

Pleaee write any additional

cor.t11tntabout the •elf-c:ontain~d

a,.

WMn was your child

Me

class.

a atud«it

in the ae lf •contained

c lua?


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