Date Approved

2022

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department or School

Leadership and Counseling

Committee Member

Professor David Anderson, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Professor James Berry, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Professor Patrice Bounds, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Professor Wendy Burke, Ph.D.

Abstract

Laboratory schools in the United States have been in existence in some form since the establishment of normal schools in 1839. Heavily criticized in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, many laboratory schools would close their doors for a variety of reasons. One laboratory school in particular, the Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School, was established under a unique charter agreement between the Falk family and the University of Pittsburgh. The school opened its doors in the fall of 1931 and is still in operation today. The primary purpose of this qualitative historical analysis was to understand the functions and purposes of the Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School and to understand why this laboratory school has been in continual existence without break. The results of this study indicated that the primary purposes and functions of the Falk School to provide opportunities for clinical teaching and student teaching opportunities. The unique charter agreement between the Falk family and the University of Pittsburgh is also cited as a primary reason for the continued existence of the Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School. Further exploration of these findings and implications for practice, theory, and for future research are discussed.

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