Graduate Program

Educational Administration

Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1978

Thesis Director

Gerhard C. Matzner

Abstract

As illustrated by the title, this field experience included two major areas: (1) an administrative internship and (2) the development of a high school curriculum guide and the updating of course descriptions for the author's school district.

The administrative internship was established for the purpose of giving the author as much first-hand administrative experience as possible. It involved the author (then a teacher at the high school) working during his preparation period each day in the high school office under the direction of the principal. The various duties performed by the intern and the situations he encountered are recorded in a daily log beginning October 28, 1974, and concluding May 28, 1975. The log is found in Appendix A of the project.

After summarizing several of the activities he took part in and the insights gained from his participation in this program, the author concludes that an administrative internship is the most beneficial way to learn about administrative work in a public school system since it allows the intern to learn and act under the controlled conditions of a supervisor without having to experience the pressure that a full-time administrator would normally encounter.

The second major area of the author's field experience was the updating of existing course descriptions and the development of a curriculum guide in which all courses were changed to a semester basis. The development of this guide came about as a result of the principal's suggestion to the intern.

The purpose of the new curriculum guide was two-fold. First, the existing course descriptions were badly outdated and students had a difficult time planning a long range course of study. Secondly, the principal, as well as the faculty, saw a definite need to change all courses to a semester basis so that students would be held accountable for passing both semesters if they were to receive a full year's credit. With the help of the high school faculty (each staff member updating the description of his or her particular subject area), the intern was able to develop a usable curriculum guide in which all courses are listed on a semester basis by subject area and numbered accordingly. Each course is assigned the number of credits it carries and all prerequisites required. The entire curriculum guide is found in Appendix B of the project.

The author hopes that the updated curriculum guide will enable students and their parents to plan a more effective course of study at the secondary level. At the end of Appendix B are two sample programs illustrating the type of study plan that could be developed by the student, parents, and guidance counselor through effective use of the curriculum guide.

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