“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