A study of the school newspaper as a factor in orientation

80 Pages·04.009 MB·English

by  Kamrath, W. A

A STUDY OF THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER AS A FACTOR
IN ORIENTATION
A project
Presented to
the Faculty of the school of Education
The university of southern California
jn p artial Fulfillm ent
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of science in Education
hy
W* A. Kamrath
July 1950
UMI Number: EP46393
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This project report, written under the direction
of the candidate1s adviser and approved by him,
has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty
of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science in Education.
Adviser
Dean
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I* THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED * • • • 1
The problem • « • • • • • • • • • • * * • * • • 1
Statement of the problem* • • • • • • • • • • 1
Importance of the study . . . . * . . . * • • 1
Definitions of terms used • * • • • • . • • • • 5
Orientation • • * . . . * * . . . * 3
Newspaper :* ............................................ . . . . . . 4
School * • • . * . . • ........................................ • 4
Organization of remainder of the project* . . * 5
General background of orientation ...................... 5
planning the orientation program* . . . . . . 6
important features of the orientation
program . * • * , . , * 6
The role of the school newspaper in
achieving orientation goals * . ....................... 7
I I. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.......................... 10
Literature on the orientation program in
g e n e ra l.......................................................................... . 10
Limitations of previous studies * . . . . . . * IS
III* GENERAL BACKGROUND OF ORIENTATION...................... * * 13
Special problems of the senior high school* • • 17
Curricular and extracurricular choices.................. 18
ii
CHAPTER PAGE
Vocational cboiees. * .................. . . . . . . X9
Encouragement to attend college . . . . . . 20
Preparation for college ........................... SI
Outside a c tiv itie s..................................................... 21
Recreational fa c ilitie s . . . . . . . . . . 21
Changes .............................. 22
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
IV. PLANNING THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM* . . . . . . 25
Vision needed 26
One fa c ility —the staff . . . . . . . . . . 27
student assistance and guidance • * • • • • 27
Other fa c ilitie s . . * . . . . ........................... 28
V. IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM 30
Methods utilized to assist In bridging
the gap • 30
Parental contact. • • • • , « • • . . . • « 31
Other techniques in bridging the gap, . . . 32
Records needed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
School v isitatio n , ...................... • « . . , • 34
Further visitation for orientation. • • • • 36
Publications, . 3 6
I - '
The student handbook. . , • • • • • . • • • 36
Yearbooks 37
Booklets, pamphlets, etc. 42
i i i
CHAPTER PAGE
The school newspaper, . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Career day.............................. 43
Other vocational opportunities, . . . . . . 45
College day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Presentation of curricular information, . , 46
Course approach .................. . . 46
Home room approach, ................................ , . . 48
Conclusions 50
VI. THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER IN ACHIEVING
ORIENTATION GOALS * . 51
Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Background and p ossibilities of the paper
as a factor in orientation. . . . . . . . 53
Extent of orientation defined 54
Papers can meet the objectives of guidance. 54
The need for orientation. ..................... 55
Campus, rules, fa c ilitie s 55
The paper its e lf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Introduction of legal aids, standards, etc. 58
Recognition as a phase of the orientation
process 59
journalism students aided 59
The general student body aided. 6Q
A proper balance of news is essential . . . 61
iv
CHAPTER PAGE
Orientation toward better thinking. . . . . 62
Columns can be improved . . . . . . . . . . 64
Supplementary orientation aids..................... • 64
Broadenedv iews of education. 65
The future of orientation by newspapers • . 66
P o ssib ilities of improving public relations 66
VII. CONCLUSIONS . . .................. . . . . . . . . . . 68
School papers are practical factors in
orientation 68
BIBLIOGRAPHY. ............................................................. 69
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
X* Nature of content in student handbooks of
nine southern California schools 38
II. Number and percentage of 163 schools
supplying information through home rooms . . 49
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE RAGE
I. Ten factors contributing to the wholesomely
integrated individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
II. Comparative percentages of the news sources
of seventy-four leading school papers in
the united States .................. . . . . . . . . 63
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TEEMS USED
Many effective devices have been utilized by schools
to assist students to adjust to new situations, in the
majority of the reports w ritten, however, some of these
devices have been overlooked with surprising consistency.
Among the factors in orientation which seems grossly neg­
lected is the school newspaper*
I. THE PROBLEM
Statement of the problem* I t was the purpose of this
study (1) to determine the extent, the necessity for, and
the aims of the general orientation program; (2) to plan and
observe the important features of such a program; and (3) to
evaluate the importance of the school newspaper as i t assumes
its role in the orientation plans of the school*
Importance of the study. Modern concepts of education
increasingly tend to emphasize the importance of assisting
students by giving them recognition, security, and opportunity
for adventure, and by satisfying the need for response. A
large measure of the fulfillm ent of these educational goals
lies in the organization of an effective program of orienta­
tion. These goals cannot be effectively achieved by the
guidance director without the assistance of adm inistrators,