In "Confessions of a School Reformer," eminent historian of education Larry Cuban reflects on nearly a century of education reforms and his experiences with them as a student, educator, and administrator. Cuban begins his own story in the 1930s, when he entered first grade at a Pittsburgh public school, the youngest son of Russian…

This case study of the origins and development of junior high schools illustrates the shrinking of aspirations and adaptation of school reform to the existing social architecture that occur as the reform becomes institutionalized. Institutional theories of organizations are used to explain this phenomenon. (SLD)

This paper analyzes the planned and unplanned and external and internal forces that influence curriculum. Three questions guide the analysis of curriculum change in American schools during the 20th century: what forces changed curriculum? what forces maintained stability? which forces are amenable to planned change and are appropriate candidates…