The 1970s: Reorganization
An early childhood student teacher (left)
and her supervising teacher decide with
children what they will see at the
Arboretum, summer 1975.
During the early 70s, students continued to demand a voice in the U-M's and the School's policy-making processes.
In 1970, the Black Action Movement led a campus-wide strike, demanding 10 percent Black enrollment, and education students staged a "stand-in" outside the dean's office to protest the system of faculty promotions.
Eventually, education students participated in all School committees and activities (2). Two students were appointed to the School's Executive Committee — the first on any school or college executive committee on campus. Students for Educational Innovation instituted faculty evaluations and a course in student participation in academic governance and sponsored conferences and workshops on topics such as urban education and women in education.
After the closing of the laboratory schools, the School of Education began a process of reorganization. Later in the decade the School also faced the implications of statewide economic recession and teacher surplus.
Joan Stark became
dean in 1978.
In 1975, the State Legislature voted to reduce funding for undergraduate teacher education in areas where there was an oversupply of teachers (3).
(2) Wilbur J. Cohen, "Report to the President of the University", Innovator 7:6 (2/29/76), p. 28
(3) ibid Cohen, p. 2.
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