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5/13/1971 - Promises and Problems: An American Fortnight in Education (Part II) by Irving J Spitzberg

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS IJS PROMISES AND PROBLEMS Program Public Policy Studies AN AMERICAN FORTNIGHT IN EDUCATION Claremont Colleges continued Part II Bonita Avenue Claremont California 91711 May Richard H Nolte Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York lOO17 Dear Mr Noite II HIGHER EDUCATION All problems primary secondary schools identified first newslatter their counterparts higher education Yet there particular problem facing higher education which deserves special attention problem homogeneity every college whether community college California Midwestern multiversity aspires Harvard This these institutions aspires excellent educational institution instead excellent educational institution exact image Harvard T observation novel Indeed recently report Secretary Health Education Welfare committee under Chairman Mr Frank Newman Associate Director University Relations Stanford point This observation which casual observer American higher education might But participates institution higher education travels around country observation becomes quite clear The diversity would important small homogeneous country United States where differences important similarities diversity devastating As needs students society whole become diverse ability single institution respond broad cross section demands becomes difficult The crucial challenge facing American higher education learn range demands ociety students within limited means During travels I visited institutions which attempting particular challenge through association Pitzer College Claremont Colleges I report third attempt challenge diversity An institution which attempting contribute diversity American higher education College Human Services This institution founded lower Manhattan Mrs Audrey Cohen grant U So Department Labor The College Human Services started manpower training operation The College persons completed their school education provide Report Secretary Health Education Welfare Frank Newman Chairman February skills necessary positions various social services Most positions which these persons trained exist Not institution supposed serve constituency served American higher education create whole career leaders sectors which crying ginative approaches social problems The College Human Services established program prepare persons become paralegal paramedical profession social welfare professionals Although college started strictly vocational training exercise quickly become institution which attempts provide students sound social science education The social science component program interdisciplinary program drawing social sciences The curriculum College Human Services distinguished imagination ability break disciplinary straight jacket O The vocational training curriculum college based internship procedure during first students basis social service agency during second students gency attend school during other It hoped future expand activities College program however institution College intends maintain mixture training social science education In process providing education constituency personnel agencies College Human Services transformed training dropouts unemployed invigorated delivery certain social services accomplished breaking rigidities traditional undergraduate instruction The College example diversity contribute innovation Hampshire College Amherst Massachusetts another experimental endeavor attempting contribute diversity American higher education albeit traditional manner traditional setting Hampshire College experimental college created through cooperation Smith Amherst Mt Holyoke University Massachusetts Although focusing usual upper middle class constituency American higher education Hampshire attempted develop curriculum which confronts difficult problems facing higher education The curriculum attempts break disciplinary framework although still organizes knowledge schools social sciences natural sciences humanities Within these schools disciplines identity courses across disciplines Actual experience important component Hampshire curriculum quite similar though vocational College Human Services Each student encouraged undertake experienti internship program Other curricular innovations Hampshire include Course Guide C ollege Human Services January When students pursue particular interest outside course framework undergraduate course sequence This program guided Professor Lester 4azor Henry Luce Professor Law intended contribute understanding social political institution preparation vocation lawyer Hampshire innovations transcend curriculum changes For example Hampshire built relationship faculty member institution Tenure established Hmpshire Instead faculty members hired contracts ranging theory seven years however present longest contract seems years Although tenure create greater flexibility perhaps quality performance faculty members school arrangement drawbacks According comments faculty members Hampshire there appears great insecurity among faculty young because uncertainty future association Hampshire difficulty finding position elsewhere The teaching demands Hampshire leave little minting academic realm publications Although administration created possibility contracts without tenure appears these contracts created numbers would expect order minimize insecurity tenure creates The problems Hampshire result dream persons administrators created institution Commitment ideas about institution should future founding fathers seems created tensions those later however interest Hampshire recruited faculty instead responded flood applications positions Although catalogue institution claims Hampshire intends process becoming never finishing appears intention manifested policy An exciting place Hampshire moment future seems require those participating Hampshire experiment seriously commitment process change which catalogue claims Hampshire College spawned cluster independent colleges cooperating together certain limited There claim concept cluster colleges offers greatest diversifying higher education By creating complexes relatively small institutions perhaps create diversity which looks needs different groups individuals humane manner without losing advantages large shared resources My experience cluster colleges Claremont indicates there something belief However often within particular cluster innovative experimental institutions fight maintain their identity pressure conformity other members cluster Indeed Pitzer College newest experimental Claremont Colleges found itself since inception peculiar position sister institutions quite radical rhetoric financially Most innovative experimental institutions United States relatively therefore underfunded marginal economic existence Pitzer exception therefore vulnerable Pitzer experimental college quite different Hampshire result dream worked their ideas Instead response donation money attempt power relationships standing Colleges Claremont cluster It Pitzer originally unded conservative school complement Claremont Men College conservative Claremont Colleges But through serendipitous accident history Pitzer become institution following experimental ethos Pitzer experimental anarchic manner result grand design combined effect number young enterprising faculty members doing thing It difficult evaluate Pitzer experimental institution single experiment institution The greatest asset which Pitzer flexibility supportive environment which gives innovative faculty But asset often wasted because institution itself lacks continuity agreed purpose What Pitzer gained flexibility identity The strategy encouraging innovation liberal under graduate education clear But I would conclude presently nearer Hampshire Pitzer All these experimental institutions share common problem endemic American higher education especially crucial innovative institution their financial positions precarious Although individuals foundations government agencies generous their generosity match innovation Experiments entail risks risks expensive tried activity whose return established For every succeeds experimental colleges there usually failures someone underwrite success failure The challenge public policy toward higher education develop modes financial support which encourage attitude experimentation among institutions Today In future newsletters I shall suggest particular modes funding which I believe serve purpose III NEW TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Following ggestions Ivan lllich education require doing schools persons system developing alternatives traditional schools One institutional alternative being developed around instructional television In report submitted Corporation Public Broadcasting prepared International Center Educational Development suggested Corporation other agencies found institution develop comprehensive television programs formal educational purposes In addition recently suggested Alan Pifer President Carnegie Foundation Ewald Nyquist New York Commissioner Education external examining authority established certification accomplishment higher education pursued instructional television This flurry activity along success Sse Street_ indicates awareness television offers whole medium delivery education which tapped effectively What often overlooked sophisticated proposals utilizing television educational instruction importance developing social support system By social support system I development formal informal institutional arrangements assist those television educational experience The Open University Englan gives opportunity whether these technologies limited attempts developing social support systems succeed England Open University enrolling students television courses providing limited tutorial assistance local level New sources tutorial support opportunities discussion among television students constitute social support systems instructional television Exactly these tutorial systems ought ought organized question question I shall direct great attention England Another experiment alternative education communal organization social While Boston I stayed members commune Somerville Many those living commune involved another educational process One person teaching school another teacher public school system others taught studied institutions higher education Boston Cambridge The exciting aspect commune opportunity those interested education share their commitment reinforced others attempts improve experience those commune those taught studied members commune This commune educational commune sense members involved single educational enterprise communal activity However vitalit concern those living commune indicated should explore again contemporary America possibility developing small learning teaching communities communes where those participating communal would contribute common educational project This would create rewarding experience commune member student alike indeed students teachers could share communal framework One further observation order based brief encounter commune there number dedicated intelligent excited young people interested teaching endeavor However these young people alienated formal school system participate activities designed offer education totally outside public schools universities Yet students future educated formal system The challenge facing system convince young educators system offers opportunity conduct effectively learning process To system responded How system respond question which IV STRATEGIES FOR REFORMING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM The striking impression which I brought apparent coherent strategies encouraging approaches problems education implementing desirable innovations Although point I shall offer detailed suggestions dealing problem I offer detailed statement problem I reporting commenting conversation Dr Sidney Marland U S Commissioner Education During visit Office Educ Washington I struck attitude level officials sincerely looking suggestions reform which could implemented quickly impact large sectors America education However there little sense accomplish In conversations Dr Marland suggested important project convince those within system teachers administrators politicians various substantive reforms necessary appropriate He correctly indicated first condition accomplishing reform recognize something wrong state affairs which finally occurred public education which still higher education But pressed about strategies persuading those system needed reform traditional suggestions retraining teachers Teacher Corps prototype programs University without Walls Experimental Schools Program Dr Marland emphasis prototypes special interest because strategy reform which favorite governmental gencies priva foundations An example strategy Experimental Schools Program Office Education This program allocate fifteen million dollars during fiscal three prototype schools which models school systems ought Yet thought given these prototypes would influence education general And prototype general application which overlooked those seeking change American education In order induce change develop prototypes ranging strategy implementation reform This strategy extend every district institution education United States And involves those system those A network change agents created responsible positions within system It interesting Parkway School Philadelphia public relations officer school system professional educator created within system visitor sorts school emerged within system contributed significantly success The Parkway School example power change agent within system Details strategy reform cannot offered although future newsletters I shall attempt comment length possible strategies The important point which I communicate spite number encouraging experiments education levels little developing approaches implementing experiments large scale Indeed seems limited issues instructional television It problem those interested educational policy their attention CONCLUSION I shared impressions promises problems American education parts thereof departure examine similar problems prospects education other parts world The which I myself report future travels women confronted similar issues their approaches problems future More subsequent newsletters Yours sincerely Received New York May