Stories of the Eight-Year Study: Reexamining Secondary Education in America

by Craig Kridel, Robert V. Bullough (Contributor)

Craig Kridel is Professor of Educational Studies and Curator of the Museum of Education at the University of South Carolina. Robert V. Bullough Jr. is Professor of Teacher Education and Associate Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling at Brigham Young University.

298 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah]

Admittedly, if you haven't read the original text this book is based on, this is mildly useless.

However, if you did read the original study findings, you know how wishy-washy they were. Most people wrote off the improperly-titled "Eight Year Study" as being a failed experiment, but really it did prove that one method was NOT superior and it was probably better for college preparation and general education for teachers to experiment.

Reading this follow-up to the Eight Year Study actually shows how decades later, this study was foundational in school reform and many of the theories used as experiments are now found in schools that have exceptional literacy programs. Moreover, everyone who was interviewed (who actually participated in the study) saw the inherent value, especially many years later, past college and into adulthood.

I would contend that these two texts should be bought and sold together to get a true picture of how important of a study it was for education.

[Ivan]

The sole person who reviewed this book and gave it one star clearly does not appreciate the value of school experimentation.