Education--Experimental methods

Merrill-Palmer Institute: Edna Noble White Records

drice — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:34:05 -0500

Edna Noble White, a pioneer in family life education, served as first director of the Merrill-Palmer Institute from her appointment in 1920 until her retirement in 1947. Under Edna Noble White’s leadership, the Institute expanded its services to include a student program of college level courses in child development, family life, parenting skills, and nursery education as well as the Merrill-Palmer Nursery School, Camps, Farm, Infant Services, and Recreational Clubs.
Ms. White was also very active professionally on a national level and engaged with Detroit youth services agencies.

The records of Edna Noble White contain personal and professional correspondence; minutes from various national, state, and local organizations as well as Merrill-Palmer committees; literature regarding child and parental education; research studies relating to child development, family relations, and immigrant acculturation; and correspondence and literature from a number of federal agencies concerned with child and family welfare.

Schools of the 21st Century Records

dgolodner — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:51:00 -0400

The Schools of the 21st Century Corporation governed The Detroit Annenberg Challenge. The Annenberg Challenge provided $500 million in grants to organizations across the United States for the improvement of public schools. Schools for the 21st Century received a $20 million grant and set out to address the goals of increased student achievement, community and parent involvement, and collaboration with outside organizations. The Initiative's mission was to “Institutionalize bold, comprehensive and systemic reform at the local school level, to ensure high levels of student performance and healthy growth and development for all students.” The plan focused on 42 schools divided into 10 clusters, which used various school reform models in their approaches.

Materials in the collection include reports on the phases of the plan, individual clusters, outside vendor reports, external reviews, Board of Directors meeting minutes, and newsletters and other promotional material.

Eleanor Josaitis — Hands Across the Racial Divide

wlefevre — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:32:36 -0400

As a symbol, it is exquisite in its simplicity. Two hands inside a circle, one black and one white, almost but never quite touching across the racial divide. This has been the logo of Focus: HOPE, an organization fighting for basic human rights in Detroit and Southeast Michigan for over forty years. And until her death last week, one of the leaders of the fight was Eleanor Josaitis. read more »

Subject Focus: Merrill-Palmer Institute

drice — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 10:40:52 -0400

With the 2013-2014 school year in full swing, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on the American educational system and, in particular, how it all begins – preschool. As the topic of high quality preschool becomes increasingly relevant in the 21st century, it is important to note that it is not a new concept. The Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute (MPSI), an active research center on Wayne State University's campus, was a pioneer in addressing these early formative years of a child's education. read more »