“The Period of Expanding Knowledge and Technological
Revolution”Perspectives from
Nila Banton Smith &Matt Sutton
Introduction• The period 1950 to 1965 is a time of knowledge growth and
technological innovation. (Sound familiar?)• Nationalism is at the heart of education during this era.• Gwinn stated, “The task of public education in this age is to
develop the knowledge, appreciations, skills and attitudes necessary for living in in a changing world [and] to defend democracy against the threat of totalitarianism” (Smith, 2002, p. 289).
• We must read to defend the U.S.!
Pressures Following the Flight of Sputnik
• The Russian orbiter prompted a “thundering public demand for education” (p. 290).
• Reading was deemed essential in raising one’s level of education.• The criticism levied by laymen against reading instruction did have
three positive effects: • Methods were examined in more depth.• Parents and other concerned members of society get more involved.• Research, along with the psychology and philosophy upon which it was
based, received more attention.
The Impetus of Government Support
• “President John F. Kennedy took an unprecedented interest in education and asked Congress to approve larger amounts of money to promote education” (p. 291).
• President Johnson declared war on poverty.• Most of the one fifth of the U.S. population living in
poverty were “functionally illiterate,” et cetera (p. 292).• Job training centers educated those who were out of
school and out of work.
The Impetus of Government Support (Continued)
• Education was viewed in socioeconomic
Reading Objectives and Courses of Study
Professional Books on Reading
Materials Provided in Basal Reading Programs
Materials Provided in Basal Reading Programs (Continued)
Methods of Teaching as Advocated in Basal Reading Programs
Reading Instruction at High School, College, and Adults Levels
The Individualized Approach
Reading Programs That Include Different Ethnic Groups
The Linguistic Approach
Reading Programs Using the Pitman Augmented Roman Alphabet
Programmed Learning in Reading
Reading Research Grows in Quantity and Quality
Interests in Reading Disability Continues and Expands
The Outloook for Reading Specialization and Teacher Preparation Is Optimistic