Research -- comparing schools today vs. 25-40 years ago?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone point me in right direction? I am trying to find either published articles or raw data that would enable me to compare the core dimensions of high school demands over time. For example, how much homework did pre-college students typically get 25-40 years ago vs. today? How much math did most students attending college complete in high school (and, better yet, different types of colleges -- local state up to say MIT)? How many AP courses or equivalent, etc. (the answers here need to be more specific than 4 years of math, English, history, etc.). I am also interested in looking at participation rates in athletics and other major extracurricular activities that require substantial time commitments, and how have those time commitments changed over time. Public or private school data. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

How is this info relevant or of use?

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you would find them. I know that in the early '70's that any new program in elementary education was well studied and piloted. I'm not sure about high school.

[Anonymous]

I think I would start with the library at a college with a School of Education.

[Anonymous]

AP didn't really get into full swing until the '70's and '80's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I would start with the library at a college with a School of Education.

Yes, I agree with this, but even then it can be difficult. I'm a student majoring in teacher education, so I look for lots of articles about the changes in schools and education over the years. It seems like there is a strong bias in what is researched and what articles you can find. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

OP, it sounds like your research covers lots of issues. If you are a student, I would advise that you narrow it down a little.

[Anonymous]

OP - this seems a weird place to start your research.

I suggest you go to an academic library and get some help from a professional.

There are journals with time studies -- I remember reading some in the 90's. You can compare over time.

And, "schools" - primary, secondary, postsecondary? Your paper can't be about all of them.

I recommend "shopping mall high school," which is definitely out of print, if you want to know what high school was like in the 80s.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you doing a serious research article or paper, or is this just for your own information?

[Anonymous]

OP, anectodatal, but I graduated from high school in the late sixties. Plenty of homework. Some activities, but nothing like those today. We only had three networks on tv, too.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- My focus at this point is on high schools. I want to find out whether anyone has explored in a serious, systematic way whether educational leaders have taken into consideration changing demands on students' time relating to common activities in making policy decisions relating to graduation requirements, course selection, homework expectations, sports/phys ed requirements, club expectations, etc. and if anyone has meaningfully documented what those changing demands have been. My suspicion is that there has been little serious work in this area or, if there has been, that it has not seriously influenced policy decisions in both public and private schools, although it may play out differently in the two arenas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: OP here -- My focus at this point is on high schools. I want to find out whether anyone has explored in a serious, systematic way whether educational leaders have taken into consideration changing demands on students' time relating to common activities in making policy decisions relating to graduation requirements, course selection, homework expectations, sports/phys ed requirements, club expectations, etc. and if anyone has meaningfully documented what those changing demands have been. My suspicion is that there has been little serious work in this area or, if there has been, that it has not seriously influenced policy decisions in both public and private schools, although it may play out differently in the two arenas.

Well, my suspicion is you won't learn it here on a parenting board. National center for Ed stats has been doing cohort studies since the 70s. There is a lot of research on algebra 1--- more than you would believe-- and it has influenced policy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I will check that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: OP here -- My focus at this point is on high schools. I want to find out whether anyone has explored in a serious, systematic way whether educational leaders have taken into consideration changing demands on students' time relating to common activities in making policy decisions relating to graduation requirements, course selection, homework expectations, sports/phys ed requirements, club expectations, etc. and if anyone has meaningfully documented what those changing demands have been. My suspicion is that there has been little serious work in this area or, if there has been, that it has not seriously influenced policy decisions in both public and private schools, although it may play out differently in the two arenas.

Try Google Scholar to see if others have researched this topic. If they have not, and you want to do the primary research yourself, I'd suggest you track info from old books and newspaper articles. Start by picking 3-5 topics to track (eg time spent on homework), and create a simple tracking matrix showing each topic and various decades (eg 1970s, 1980s). Then try to find pieces from each different decade that discuss the topic. Maybe one article from 1984 will say that students often have 1-2 hours of homework a night. Another article from 1997 might report roughly 2 hours. Get 3-5 articles from each decade to make sure they are roughly consistent. If you can find a book or an academic article discussion what students face, it may give tons of info across several topics for that time period,and so might speed your efforts to fill in the matrix. May be slow going at first, but if you keep it simple, it's do-able. Good luck!

Sam2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, I will check that out.

I'm finding it hard to believe you are anything but a lazy high schooler if you didn't start with NCES.