The+One+Best+System+Part+I


 * Return to Reading Response and Discussion**


 * The One Best System: Part I**

In part 1 of The One Best System, Tyack discusses the differences the rural education system and the changes in the system over time. The author cites the views of people living in this time and their ideas on education in the rural setting.
 * Summary:**

As discussed in class, we have already learned about the poor learning conditions for the students and teachers. But, the NEA was a significant player in changing rural school systems to more closely resemble urban schools in education at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1890’s the National Education Association played a major role to changing the rural school systems. They stated that children should be taught by professionally trained teachers, that schools should not be political, and that there should be a correlation between the community and the curriculum. According to Tyack, children would learn sound values and vocational skills. The teachers were obligated to follow the State Course of Study, have an organized curriculum which was to be approved by the county’s superintendent, as well as many other things.

This change of schooling had a big impact on the community. Many community members, or people who were involved with schools on a local, communal level, were concerned that turning over schools to educational professionals could cause a loss in social identity. According to the text, people felt very strongly towards their ideas and there was a big opposition between controversial sides, while the new schools were opening up opportunities for the students in the modern society; it was also causing the diversity of lifestyles to deteriorate.

“Beginning in the 1890’s and gaining momentum in the early twentieth century, reformers mounted an attack on the Rural School Problem. The “bookish” curriculum, haphazard selection and supervision of teachers, voluntary character of school attendance, discipline problems, diversity of buildings and equipment--these were but symptoms of deeper problems, they believed. What was basically wrong with rural education was that rural folk wanted to run their schools and didn't know what was good for them in the complex new society." (p21).
 * Key Passages:**

“In the form of the one best system designed by professionals the rural school would teach country children sound values and vocational skills; the result was to be a standardized, modernized “community” in which leadership came from the professionals” (p23).

“In the cities schoolmen pioneered new bureaucratic patterns of educational organization. They sought to “free education of politics” by state laws coercing rural communities to consolidate schools. From 1910 to 1960 the number of one-room schools declined from approximately 200,000 to 20,000. In trying to modernize rural schooling they believed that children as well as teachers would benefit, and indeed the students did gain better school buildings, a broader and more contemporary course studies, and better qualified teachers and administrators” (p25).

“As “symbols of community ‘modernity,’” the town high schools gave local people the feeling that they had access to a mass society while they still enlisted local loyalties and integrated rural people in social networks. Thus they became institutions valued in themselves, quite apart from the goal of teaching students certain skills and knowledge." (26)

The "rural school problem"- Tyack describes the symptoms of this problem including a 'bookish' curriculum, haphazard selection and supervision of teachers, voluntary character of school attendence, discipline problems, and diversity of buildings and equiptment. There was many differences between each of the rural schools and therefore, they were not prepared to respond to the growing factors of urbanization and industrialization.
 * Important Terminology:**


 * Discussion Guiding Questions:**
 * 1) What do you believe are some other reasons that the rural communities opposed the new system of education?
 * 2) Since the National Education Association made changes in the system of education in the late 1800s, what has changed from their rules to the way things are today in schools, what is the same?
 * 3) Do you feel that all changes were positive, if not what was some negative ones?