Soviet Ed Programs-Medlin Linquist Schmitt-1960

U.S. Office of Education report on government educators’ visit to Soviet schools, 1960. Very important in light of implementation in USA in 2006 of same Russian polytech education (training) system based on Skinnerian/ Pavlovian methodology (mastery learning/direct instruction). Some quotes: “employing primarily the conditioned reflex theory as elaborated by Pavlov (1849-1936) Soviet psychologists have worked out a system of didactics which are strict and fixed…one might even use the term “narrow” to distinguish them from the broad scope of methods employed, for example, in most U.S. schools.” Lawrence Derthick, Commissioner of Education, who authorized this trip, would be shocked to find American schools adopting Soviet methods in 2006. See Washington Post article “Competency Tests Set in D.C. Schools” 1977, in which Derthick is quoted as follows: “We must be very careful about adopting any mechanical system of producing children like objects. There are so many complicating factors in each child…there is a danger in trying to turn out children like nuts and bolts or steel pins…human beings are more complex.”

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