UNGRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM
Are there any ungraded school systems in the USA?
From 1964 to 1970 Broadview, MT had an ungraded school system. Clifford Clyde Rylander (1922-1972) was the superintendent. Traditional grades 1-12 existed only in the form of a home room. Social activities occurred relative to the home room (age group). Academic activities occurred at the skill level of the student.
(Example: in 1967-68, a 21 year old student was accepted at Broadview, after being expelled from other schools in the county. He was offered the opportunity to complete high school on condition of good conduct and completion of courses assigned, which he did. Upon arrival at the school he could read only at the third grade level. At 6'5", he was seated in the third grade reading class. Before the end of the year he had progressed to the eigth grade reading class.)
(Example: 1968 high school graduation in MT required a minimum number of credit hours of instruction with a core set of classes - subject matter. A set of senior students had completed all core classes by the end of their junior year. To achieve the total number of credit hours, two college level classes had to be created for these students: spherical trig and Tudor lit).
The superintendent had noted as early as 1960 that schools were providing "social promotions" and many graduates could not read on an eigth grade level. Rather than complain, the adversity was turned into an opportunity to excel. The superintendent had learned this lesson while serving in the personal body guard company of General Douglas McArthur during WWII. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Buffalojmp (talk • contribs) 11:43, 9 March 2009 (UTC)
UNEMPLOYMENT
There is WORK, and there are the CONDITIONS of LABOR. Work can be done by either voluntary or involuntary labor. Employment is the generally accepted definition for voluntary labor at a predetermined rate of compensation. Conscription is the generally accepted definition of volunatry labor for a government agency without predetermined rates of compensation (the alternative is imprisonment). Inmate work-detail is involuntary labor for a government agency, but the laborers are not classified as slaves. Slave labor is generally viewed as involuntary labor, but their are numerous levels of slavery. Indentured servitude is (today) viewed as voluntary labor for a set period at a predetermined level of compensation, yet a historical review of actual conditions shows that for many who came to North Carolina the period was for life and the compensations was unilaterally adjusted by many "owners" (and servitude often extended to first generation offspring!!!) On the other had, historical review of slavery during the Roman empire reveals that many famous administrators and court officials sold themselves into slavery to provide for their families (spouse and children remained free). Review of labor conflicts during the industrial revolution shows conditions of employment were often more harsh as free labor because of exploitation by employers of an easily replaced resource (not to condone slavery, but slaves were viewed as valuable assets not to be quickly abused or destroyed). Even today, inexperienced talent will often sign contracts that result in economic slavery (until some unscrupulous agent or a family friend acts to free the individual from their self-imposed bondage).