Curriculum problems of the small school

128 Pages·04.745 MB·English

by  Moyer, William D

This thesis, having been approved by the
special Faculty Committee, is accepted
by the Graduate School of the
University of Wyoming,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree o/—Mas:ter._af,_Jrts._____
______
Dean of the Graduate School.
nntj> August 20, 1951
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CURRICULUM PROBLEMS OF THE SMALL SCHOOL
Thesis submitted to the Department
of Educational Administration and
The Graduate School at the University
of Wyoming in partial fulfillment
of requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
by
William D. Moyer
Laramie, Wyoming
August, 1951
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
UMI Number: EP25328
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HEBARD ROOM
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writer wishes to acknowledge his Indebtedness to Dr.
Roman J. Verhaalen of the University of Wyoming, under whose
guidance this thesis was prepared. He also wis'hes to express
his appreciation to Dr. Harold Spears for his suggestions in
conference and to the Departments of Education in the states
covered by this study for the materials which they graciously
supplied.
Expression of acknowledgment is also due the superin­
tendents in the several states who responded in helping to
supply the information used in this study.
W. D. M.
18£|£7
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. THE PROBLEM.................................... 1
Purpose............................. '........ 3
Development .................................. 4
Method and Procedure ........................ 6
Need for this Study.......................... 7
II. PERTINENT LITERATURE ABOUT THE SMALL SCHOOL . . . 9
The Small School, Size and Preponderance . . . 10
Some General Problems of the Small School. . . 16
Small School Curriculums .................... 19
III. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION OF THE SMALL HIGH
SCHOOL........................................ 25
School Organization .......................... 26
Status of Accreditation ...................... 28
Type of School District Organization ........ 29
Teacher Distribution ........................ 31
Special Teachers ............................ 31
The School D a y ................................ 34
Length of school d a y ........................ 35
Starting and closing time.................... 35
The noon lunch hour.......................... 36
Class periods................................ 37
Arrival and Leaving Time of Teachers.......... 39
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iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Chapter Page
Opinions and Reactions of Superintendents . . . . 40
IV. CURRICULUM PRACTICES IN THE SMALL SCHOOL.......... 45
Curriculum Expansion Suggested ................ 46
Determining Pupil Needs ........................ 51
Curriculum Provisions Outside the Traditional
A r e a ......................... 56
Athletic Activities ............................ 59
Provisions for the Slow Learner.................. 59
Curriculum Provision for the Gifted Pupil . . . . 63
Expressed Opinions on the Types of Curriculums . 66
Conclusions...................................... 68
V. ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACTORS
INVOLVED IN CURRICULUM EVALUATION .............. 69
Factors Affecting the Elementary Curriculum . . . 70
Pupil Evaluation................................ 72
Community Background .......................... 73
Does the Curriculum Meet the Community Needs? . . 76
Creative Efforts .............................. 77
Drop-Outs . . . . . . . . ...................... 79
Are Teachers Adequately Prepared? .............. 81
Minimum Requirements .......................... 82
Basic Experiences................................ 84
The School D a y .................................. 85
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IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Chapter Page
Basic Skills................................ 86
Interschool Cooperation .................... 87
Reorganization ............................. 88
Implications ................................ 89
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............. 91
The Problem................................ 92
Conclusions................................ 92
Recommendations ............................ 95
SELECTED REFERENCES ................................ 97
APPENDICES........................................ 99
/
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
I. The Trend Toward Larger School Unite......... 13
II. Distribution of Secondary Schools by Size
in the United States...................... 14
III. Distribution of Four Year High School on the
Basis of Enrollment...................... 15
IV. Types of Small School Organization .......... 27
V. Status of Accrediation...................... 28
VI. School District Organization ................ 29
VII. Distribution of Pupils by Schools.......... 30
VIII. Teacher Distribution by Schools ............ 31
IX. Number of Teachers per School by Per Cent
Distribution .............................. 32
X. Distribution of Class Period Organization . . 39
XI. Teachers Arrival and Departure from School . . 41
XII. Suggestions for Curricular Changes .......... 50
XIII. Methods Reported for Determining Pupil Needs . 57
XIV. Athletics in the Small Schools.............. 60
XV. Curriculum Provisions for the Slow Learner . . 62
XVI. Curriculum Provision for the Gifted Pupil . . 65
XVII. Pupil Progress Evaluation .................. 73
XVIII. Per Cent of Pupils Remaining to Settle
Permanently in the Community.............. 74
XIX. Per Cent of Pupils Going to College........ 74
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vi
LIST OF TABLES (continued)
Table Page
XX. Community Types............................... 75
XXI. Main Occupations............................ 75
XXII. Mean Results of Drop-Outs in 71 Schools . . . . 79
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