| Abstrakt: |
This article presents information about the grouping program used in the junior high schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During the spring of 1959, a committee was established with instructions to recommend a plan for grouping junior high school students. The committee's recommendation that a flexible grouping program be established was adopted by the Board of Education and put into practice in September 1959. According to this program, the purpose of grouping would be to provide for individual differences among all students, not for the sole purpose of providing a program for gifted students. As plans were being made to initiate the grouping program, plans were also being made to evaluate it. The plan evaluation showed that while grouping did not greatly change students, it did seem to influence the procedures used by teachers. Nearly all teachers of less capable groups and many teachers of more capable groups reported that they had changed their teaching to a great extent. They worked diligently to find better materials and methods and to learn more about their students. Many parents reported that their children had enjoyed more success in school this year. Need for a special study of the reassignment of students to different group levels seemed to be indicated. |
