Research Center Planned at Ed School

The Graduate School of Education is currently planning an unusual research center on the philosophy of education, reflecting the school's increasing emphasis on practical education which started when Patricia A. Graham became dean last July.

Ed school officials announced last week that they received a $50,000 grant from the Exxon Educational Foundation specifically for the creation of the center--which will be the first of its kind in the world. Israel Scheffler, Thomas Professor of Education and Philosophy and one of the Center's co-directors said yesterday.

This news center will "add a perspective on education enterprises." Graham said yesterday She asked that it will show the Ed School how well education is doing and some notion of what it is supposed to be doing."

We wanted to bring a new emphasis of philosophical and humanistic elements to American education." Scheffler said.

Scheffler and his co-director Vernon A. Howard Associate Professor of Education have been working on the proposal for the center since last fall.

The center will offer independent research colloquia to encourage discussion of educational processes, such as why teachers use certain teaching methods. Scheffler said that although the center will not offer an academic curriculum, it will be run out of the Ed School.

The center will support graduate students, short-term faculty affiliations, and visiting professors in the "research, investigation, and discussion of education and its role in society."

Because the center just got its funding. Scheffler said he and Howard had not worked out the specifies for the center's activities. He added that the center "emphasizes the importance of understanding rather than mere education."

More specifically, the center will investigate creative mental processes including "method, symbols, discovery, craft, criticism, and evaluation."

Howard said response to the new center has been very enthusiastic adding that various alumni have been sending small contributions earmarked to the institution.

Howard added that through this "intellectual perspective on educational studies and practice." of the results will filter back into courses taught at the Ed School. "Hopefully it will be a conduit between research and teaching."

Both Scheffler and Howard said that Graham's arrival at the Ed School enabled them to develop the idea for the center. They are the only two professors who teach philosophy at the Ed School.

Graham said that the center is one more program being planned at the Ed School which will focus more on practical aspects of education.