Abstract
This essay is a plea and rationale for including oral history techniques in educational history. Contrasting views of authorities are presented as are methodological problems. The relationships between experience, memory and events and the effect on observation, interpretation and reporting educational history are explored.
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References
1.William Cutler, “Oral History--Its Nature and Uses for Educational History.” History of Education Quarterly, (Summer, 1971), p. 186.
2.Sutherland has presented his work at Canadian meetings and has a very well done essay--”The Role of Memory in the History of Childhood.” Altenbaugh has presented extensively at AERA, AESA, and History of Education Society meetings. Quantz’s recent article is: The Complex Vision of Female Teachers,” History of Education Quarterly (Winter, 1985). Deering has written in The Oral History Review. Roger’s work includes “Organizational Experience and Personal Narratives,” Oral History Review (1985). Finally, my own work includes essays in Louisiana History, Integrated Education, and Phylon.
3.See O. L. Davis, Thad Sitton, and George Mehaffy, Oral History: A Guide for Teachers. (Austin, 1983).
4.William Cutler, “Asking for Answers: Oral History,” in John Best, Historical Inquiry in Education, p. 185.
5.See Carl Becker, Everyman His Own Historian: Essays in History and Politics. (New York, 1935).
6.See Blegen, Grassroots History, (Minneapolis, 1947); Lynd, Rank and File: Personal Histories by Working Class Organizers (Boston, 1973). Okhiro, Thompson, and Friedlander all have essays in Oral History by Dunaway and Baum. Finally, Frisch has written extensively and will be cited below.
7.Cutler, “Asking for Answers,” p. 105.
8.Blegen, Grassroots History, see the Introduction.
9.Sutherland, “The Role of Memory,” Unpublished manuscript.
10.Quantz, “The Complex Vision,” p. 439.
11.Cutler, “Asking for Answers,” p. 95.
12.Martin Buber, I and Thou. (New York, 1937).
13.The most extensive reviews of Buber by an educational philosopher have been presented at AESA over the years by the late Joshua Weinstein.
14.David Hawkins, The Science and Ethics of Equality. (New York, 1977).
15.Peter Friedlander, “Theory, Method, and Oral History,” in Dunaway and Baum, Oral History. (Nashville, 1985).
16.Ibid, p. 133.
17.Ibid, p. 137.
18.Ibid, p. 138.
19.Ibid.
20.Ibid.
21.Ibid, p. 136.
22.Michael Frisch, “The Memory of History,” Radical History Review (1981), p. 9.
23.Michael Frisch, “Oral History and Hard Times,” Oral History Review. (1979).
24.Ibid, p. 219.
25.Michael Frisch, “Oral History, Documentary, and the Mystification of Power,” presented at International Oral History Conference (1985).
26.Ibid.
27.Frisch, “Hard Times,” p. 220.
28.See my Journal of Thought essay, “Modern Education in the U.S.” (November, 1979).
29.Wieder, “Modern Education.”
30.Frisch, “Hard Times,” pp. 226-229.
31.Ibid.