Alan Shapiro (education reformer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Shapiro was an American educator and educational reformer who became a leading contributor to Teachable Moment
, a New York City
-based teacher education project of the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility which is an important proponent of effective, universal education. A graduate of Adelphi University
and Columbia University
Teachers College who also attended the University of Illinois before serving as a combat infantryman in the American Army in World War II, Shapiro taught for many years in the public school system of New Rochelle, NY.
It was as an English teacher at Isaac E. Young Junior High School (now Isaac E. Young Middle School) in the New Rochelle public schools that Shapiro, a founder and leader of the local unit of the American Federation of Teachers
, began a collaboration with NYU education professor Neil Postman
and Charles Weingartner to develop a model "school without walls" high school. This "Program for Inquiry, Involvement, and Independent Study" ("3Is") began operation within New Rochelle High School
in 1970. The school eliminated grades, required courses, and required times of attendance and offered credit through seminars, community projects, and independent study efforts. (see Inquiry Education
)
After retiring as a high school teacher Shapiro became an adjunct instructor at the College of New Rochelle and Vassar College
. He also was a founder of Educators for Social Responsibility - Metropolitan Area ("ESR-Metro"), which became The Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility. There, much of the focus of Shapiro's work became the development of critical thinking in students and the introduction of complex subjects into schools, ideas which he developed through a decade's worth of writings at the Teachable Moment website. He and his wife Sue moved from New Rochelle, NY after his retirement and resided in Connecticut
.
Teachable moment
A teachable moment, in education, is the time at which learning a particular topic or idea becomes possible or easiest.-In education:The concept was popularized by Robert Havighurst in his 1952 book, Human Development and Education. In the context of education theory, Havighurst explained,The...
, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based teacher education project of the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility which is an important proponent of effective, universal education. A graduate of Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Teachers College who also attended the University of Illinois before serving as a combat infantryman in the American Army in World War II, Shapiro taught for many years in the public school system of New Rochelle, NY.
It was as an English teacher at Isaac E. Young Junior High School (now Isaac E. Young Middle School) in the New Rochelle public schools that Shapiro, a founder and leader of the local unit of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
, began a collaboration with NYU education professor Neil Postman
Neil Postman
Neil Postman was an American author, media theorist and cultural critic, who is best known by the general public for his 1985 book about television, Amusing Ourselves to Death. For more than forty years, he was associated with New York University...
and Charles Weingartner to develop a model "school without walls" high school. This "Program for Inquiry, Involvement, and Independent Study" ("3Is") began operation within New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle High School
New Rochelle High School is a public high school, comprising grades 9 through 12, in New Rochelle, New York, operated by the City School District of New Rochelle. NRHS serves over 3,300 students; offering more than 240 courses, including honors, research and advanced placement courses.NRHS...
in 1970. The school eliminated grades, required courses, and required times of attendance and offered credit through seminars, community projects, and independent study efforts. (see Inquiry Education
Inquiry education
Inquiry education is a student-centered method of education focused on asking questions. Students are encouraged to ask questions which are meaningful to them, and which do not necessarily have easy answers; teachers are encouraged to avoid giving answers when this is possible, and in any case to...
)
After retiring as a high school teacher Shapiro became an adjunct instructor at the College of New Rochelle and Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
. He also was a founder of Educators for Social Responsibility - Metropolitan Area ("ESR-Metro"), which became The Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility. There, much of the focus of Shapiro's work became the development of critical thinking in students and the introduction of complex subjects into schools, ideas which he developed through a decade's worth of writings at the Teachable Moment website. He and his wife Sue moved from New Rochelle, NY after his retirement and resided in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.