Distance education in Chicago Public Schools in 1937

Last updated

In September 1937, amid a polio outbreak in Chicago, Chicago Public Schools undertook a pioneering large-scale program that provided at-home distance education to the city's elementary school students through lessons transmitted by radio broadcasts and materials published in newspapers. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In 1937, Chicago was hit by a polio outbreak. On August 31, the Chicago Board of Health, led by Herman Bundesen, ordered an indefinite postponement of the opening of schools, which had been scheduled to begin their fall semesters on September 7. [1] [3] [4] President of the Chicago Board of Education James B. McCahey announced on September 2 that schools would remain "indefinitely closed". [5] The school closures ultimately lasted three weeks. [3]

Earlier instances of distance education by radio

Chicago's program is regarded as the first large-scale experiment with "radio school". [2] Earlier, smaller-scale uses of radio for distance education had preceded this. In 1930, during a school closure in Marquette, Michigan, the station WBEO worked with the Daily Mining Journal to provide students with audible and textual instruction. This 1930 implementation had been regarded as a success. [6] Chicago had seen one instance of distance learning by radio five years earlier, in 1932, when, after the Chicago Board of Education cancelled summer school due to lack of funding, NBC privately produced a Summer School of the Air on their station WMAQ. For this program, NBC employed their own educators and printed their own textbooks. [6] [7]

Distance education program

In order to provide elementary school students with instruction during the indefinite school closure, superintendent of Chicago Public Schools William Johnson and assistant superintendent in charge of elementary schools Minnie Fallon developed a distance learning program that provided the students in grades three through eight with instruction via radio broadcasts. [3] [8] [4] The idea for such a program was first suggested by George H. Biggar of station WLS. [6] Distance learning instruction was, ultimately, broadcast for two weeks, beginning on September 13. Elementary schools reopened for in-person instruction on September 27. [2] [9]

Regarded to have been the first large scale experiment with "radio school", [2] Chicago's experiment with it attracted the interest of educators across the United States. [3] The idea of using radio to facilitate distance learning was considered innovative and untested. [3] Out-of-city newspapers even sent correspondents to Chicago to report on it, and newsreels were created that reported on Chicago's experiment in mass distance education by radio. [4]

Fallon cited a belief that children in the elementary school grades first and second required more individual attention are not adaptable to distance education as the reason that those grades were not provided with such instruction. [10] Johnson cited a lack of enough radio air time as the reason that high school students were not part of the program either. [10] Johnson recommended that high school students spend the period of the school closures reviewing their notebooks from their previous semester of school. [10] It was also believed that high school students would be mature enough to review their previous year's material on their own. [6] High schools would ultimately be closed for a shorter period than elementary schools, returning to in-person instruction on September 16, a day after the Chicago Board of Health determined that it was it safe for high schools to reopen but still unsafe for elementary schools to. [4]

Schedule for September 16, as printed in the Chicago Tribune Radio Lessons schedule for September 16, 1937 (Chicago Tribune).jpg
Schedule for September 16, as printed in the Chicago Tribune

Lessons were presented in 15-minute slots of airtime. [3] Airtime was donated by the radio stations WCFL, WENR, WGN, WIND, WJJD, and WLS. [3] The lessons were written by teachers and principals. [3] WLS built special studios in the headquarter building of the Chicago Board of Education for the broadcasts. [6] Lillian M. Tobin was put in charge of the curriculum. [11] Oversight was provided by "subject area committees" that were tasked with ensuring quality and continuity in the lessons. [3] Efforts were taken to make the broadcasts entertaining to students, in order to better engage them. For instance, explorer Carveth Wells was booked to speak during some of the broadcasts. [3] Each day’s instruction began at 7:15 am with the program for the day being read by August H. Pritzlaff, the head of Chicago Public Schools' physical education department. [10]

Lessons were scheduled in such as manner that different days of the week were dedicated to different subjects. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were dedicated to science and social studies, while Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were dedicated to English studies and mathematics. [3] Broadcast schedules, as well as directions, questions, and assignments were published in the city's newspapers, [3] with six city newspapers cooperating. [12]

A helpline was established in order to allow parents to provide comment, as well as to help answer questions parents would have about the radio programs and the epidemic, with educational personnel manning the hotline. [3] [8]

Parents were encouraged to supplement the lessons by facilitating daily study periods with their children following the broadcasts. [3] In order to educate students who missed broadcasts, such as those who not have access to a radio or those who encountered poor reception, make-up work was created. [3]

Once they returned to in-person learning, students were tested on the material that had been covered by the radio broadcasts and newspaper publications. [8] The purpose of these tests was both to assess the effectiveness of the instruction, [13] as well as to decide what grade credit each student would receive for their work on the radio lessons. [12]

Analysis

Superintendent Johnson gave the estimate that 315,000 students listened to the radio lessons, but also stated that it was "impossible to give an accurate check". [12]

A criticism of the format utilized was that some students found that the broadcasts, with their condensed time slots, moved at too fast a pace, resulting in these students missing crucial pieces of information. [3] Another shortcoming was that there was not universal access to radios, resulting in some students being unable to listen to the broadcasts. [3] Additionally, in houses that had multiple children of different grades but only one radio, conflicts would arise if their children had coincidingly scheduled lessons. [3]

The radio format was seen to be inadequate at providing instruction to students that required greater attention or remediation. [3] Some educators and analysts proposed the possibility that "the pupils who benefited by the radio lessons" might have also been "those who need them least" and "who would suffer least by curtailment of their classroom instruction". [3]

Superintendent Johnson received praise for his efforts from university professors and other educators. [8]

Impact

Promptly following Chicago's lead, a number of other American communities that experienced polio outbreaks of their own, such as Rochester, New York and Cleveland, were quick to launch radio distance education programs. [14]

Seeing potential in the medium of radio to provide educational lessons, the Chicago Board of Education continued producing educational programming. They formed the Chicago Radio Council and would launch their own radio station, WBEZ, in 1943. [15] [16] [17]

Renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chicago's 1937 distance education program received some renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, during parts of which technology-enabled distance learning broadly supplanted in-person instruction. A number of sources mentioned Chicago's 1937 venture with distance education during a viral outbreak as a precursor of sorts to the distance education that has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] [2] [18]

Related Research Articles

Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually involved correspondence courses wherein the student corresponded with the school via mail. Distance education is a technology-mediated modality and has evolved with the evolution of technologies such as video conferencing, TV, and the Internet. Today, it usually involves online education and the learning is usually mediated by some form of technology. A distance learning program can either be completely a remote learning, or a combination of both online learning and traditional offline classroom instruction. Other modalities include distance learning with complementary virtual environment or teaching in virtual environment (e-learning).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLS (AM)</span> Radio station in Illinois, United States

WLS is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by Cumulus Media, through licensee Radio License Holdings LLC, the station airs a talk radio format. WLS studios are in the NBC Tower on North Columbus Drive in the city's Streeterville neighborhood. The station's programming is also available in the Chicago metropolitan area via a simulcast on the HD2 digital subchannel of sister station WLS-FM.

WGN is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a talk radio format. WGN's studios are in the Chicago Loop, while the transmitter is in Elk Grove Village. WGN also features broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBEZ</span> Public radio station in Chicago

WBEZ – branded WBEZ 91.5 – is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, and primarily serving the tri-state region of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is financed by listener contributions, corporate underwriting and some government funding. WBEZ is affiliated with both National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Radio Exchange (PRX). It also broadcasts content from American Public Media and the BBC World Service. It produces several nationally syndicated shows for public radio stations, including documentary program This American Life, and co-produces news and politics quiz program, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! with NPR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. W. Scripps School of Journalism</span>

The E. W. Scripps School of Journalism is the namesake school of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University seated in the Schoonover Center for Communication. Founded in 1924, the school has been recognized by The Associated Press and U.S. News & World Report for excellence in instruction and research in the fields of journalism and mass communications. The program has attracted more than $54 million in grants, awards, and investments. The School of Journalism is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Public Schools</span> Public school system of the municipal government of Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the fourth-largest school district in the United States, after New York, Los Angeles, and Miami-Dade County. For the 2020–21 school year, CPS reported overseeing 638 schools, including 476 elementary schools and 162 high schools; of which 513 were district-run, 115 were charter schools, 9 were contract schools and 1 was a SAFE school. The district serves 340,658 students. Chicago Public School students attend a particular school based on their area of residence, except for charter, magnet, and selective enrollment schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIND (AM)</span> Radio station in Illinois, United States

WIND is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, and broadcasting a conservative talk radio format. It is owned by the Salem Media Group with studios on NW Point Boulevard in Elk Grove Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYLL</span> Christian talk radio station in Chicago

WYLL is a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois. It originated as WJJD and broadcast some pioneering shows. It is owned by Salem Media Group and airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The studios and offices are located in Elk Grove Village. Its daytime transmitter and two-tower array are located off Ballard Road near Interstate 294 in Des Plaines. The nighttime transmitter and six-tower array are off Deer Drive near Interstate 355 in Lockport. WYLL is powered with 50,000 watts, the maximum for commercial AM stations in the U.S. But it must use a directional antenna at all times to protect clear-channel station KSL in Salt Lake City, the dominant Class A station and several Class B stations on 1160 AM.

Universitas Terbuka is Indonesia's state university. The university employs a Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system to widen access to higher education to all Indonesian citizens, including those who live in remote islands throughout the country, and in various parts of the world. It has a total student body of 1,045,665. According to a distance education institution in the UK, which published "The Top Ten Mega Universities", UT-3 ranks closely with universities from China and Turkey.

Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private Roman Catholic college in Hammond, Indiana. It was founded in 1951 as an extension of Saint Joseph's College and is associated with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. In fall 2022, it enrolled 658 undergraduates and 95 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harper High School (Chicago)</span> Public high school in Chicago, Illinois, United States

William Rainey Harper High School was a public 4–year high school located in the West Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1911, Harper was part of the Chicago Public Schools district. Harper served students in West Englewood and certain streets of Chicago Lawn, and was noted as the oldest high school in the West Englewood neighborhood. Harper closed at the end of the 2020–2021 school year on June 30, 2021.

Chicago Public Media (CPM) is a not-for-profit radio and print media company. CPM operates as the primary National Public Radio member organization for Chicago. It owns three non-commercial educational FM broadcast stations and one FM translator. In addition to local news and information productions, it produces the programs Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! for NPR stations, and This American Life which is distributed by PRX to other radio stations. On January 30, 2022, Chicago Public Media acquired the Chicago Sun-Times daily newspaper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative Learning System (Philippines)</span>

The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. When one does not have or cannot access formal education in schools, ALS is an alternate or substitute. The system only requires learners to attend learning sessions based on the agreed schedule between the learners and the learning facilitators.

Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) was an educational organization that provided distance and distributed education services to primary and secondary students. It was based out of Barrhead, Alberta, Canada. ADLC ceased operation following the 2020–21 school year after it was defunded by the provincial government.

Edward Jenner School, also known as Edward Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts, was a public PK-8 school located in the Cabrini-Green area of the Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Named after Edward Jenner, The school was opened and operated by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Jenner merged with Ogden International School in September 2018. The campus is now Ogden International–Jenner which serves grades Pre–K, 5th through 8th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic affected educational systems across the world. The number of cases of COVID-19 started to rise in March 2020 and many educational institutions and universities underwent closure. Most countries decided to temporarily close educational institutions in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. UNESCO estimates that at the height of the closures in April 2020, national educational shutdowns affected nearly 1.6 billion students in 200 countries: 94% of the student population and one-fifth of the global population. Closures are estimated to have lasted for an average of 41 weeks. They have had significant negative effects on student learning, which are predicted to have substantial long-term implications for both education and earnings. During the pandemic, education budgets and official aid program budgets for education have decreased.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herman Bundesen</span> American politician

Herman Niels Bundesen was a German-American medical professional, politician, and author. He served two tenures as the chief health official of the city of Chicago, holding this role for more than 34 years in total. He also was elected Cook County coroner. In 1936, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party nomination for governor of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the United States</span>

In 2020, school systems in the United States began to close down in March because of the spread of COVID-19. This was a historic event in the history of the United States schooling system because it forced schools to shut-down. At the very peak of school closures, COVID-19 affected 55.1 million students in 124,000 public and private U.S. schools. The effects of widespread school shut-downs were felt nationwide, and aggravated several social inequalities in gender, technology, educational achievement, and mental health.

William Harding Johnson was an American educator who served as superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. His decade-long tenure as superintendent was controversial, and ended with him being pressured to resign after the National Education Association released a report which detailed corrupt and unethical actions by Johnson and the Chicago Board of Education, which resulted in the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools threatening to revoke its accreditation of Chicago Public Schools' high schools. Despite his controversy, he had a number of successes, such as being credited with decreased school truancy. He also introduced innovations to the school system, such as introducing an innovative remote education approach that utilized radio broadcasts amid school closures during a 1937 polio outbreak.

History of education in Chicago covers the schools of the city since the 1830s. It includes all levels as well as public, private and parochial schools. For the recent history since the 1970s see Chicago Public Schools

References

  1. 1 2 "Delay Opening on Orders of Health Board. Chicago Tribune. 9.1.1937". www.newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 1, 1937. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Foss, Katherine A. (October 5, 2020). "Remote learning isn't new: Radio instruction in the 1937 polio epidemic". The Conversation. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Strauss, Valerie; Hines, Michael. "Perspective | In Chicago, schools closed during a 1937 polio epidemic and kids learned from home — over the radio". Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "High Schools Open Today: Health Board Ban Lifted for 163,000 Pupils; Elementary Classes Remain Closed". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1937. pp. 1, 4 . Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Education: Youngsters". Time. September 13, 1937. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Tate, Hal (1937). "Chicago Stations Supply Radio Lessons As Infantile Paralysis Closes Schools". fadedsignals.com. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Radio Lessons Held As Schools Closed By Polio". Newspapers.com. The Dothan Eagle (Dothan, Alabama). The Associated Press. September 13, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 White, Theresa Mary (1988). "Coping with Administrative Pressures in the Chicago Schools' Superintendency: An Analysis of William Henry Johnson, 1936–1946". Loyola University Chicago. pp. 126 and 127. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Grade Schools Open Today For 380,000 As Paralysis Wanes". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 27, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Chicago Pupils Go to School By Radio Tomorrow". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 12, 1937. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Chicago Will Start School Over the Air". Newspapers.com. The Grand Island Daily Independent. The Associated Press. September 11, 1937. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 Johnson, William H. (September 19, 1937). "AIR LESSONS OFFER NEW SCHOOL TEST; Educators Show Wide Interest in Experiment, Foroed on Chicago by Poliomyelitis". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ "New Paralysis Cases Hold Up School Opening". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. September 19, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ Shaw, Lydia Gray (October 8, 1937). "Radio May Run Classrooms In The Not-So-Distant Future". Newspapers.com. The Kingston Daily Freeman. The Associated Press. p. 15. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ "How A Polio Epidemic Led To The Creation Of WBEZ". WBEZ Chicago. May 13, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Distance Learning Looked A Lot Different in the 1930s". The Vintage News. May 31, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  17. ↑ Field, Jerry J. (1991). "A History of Educational Radio in Chicago with Emphasis on WBEZ-FM, 1920–1960". ecommons.luc.edu. Loyola University Chicago. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  18. ↑ Multiple sources:
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.