Sylvia Scribner
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Scribner was an American
psychologist
and educational research
er who focused on the role of culture
in literacy
and learning
. Her parents were Gussie and Harry Scribner, and Sylvia also had a sister, Shirley.
. In 1943, Sylvia graduated from Smith College
as Valedictorian
and Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, she worked as the research director for United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, where she worked towards inclusion and lobbied for women and minorities. Sylvia later returned to school, receiving a masters in psychology from the City University of New York
(CUNY) and a PhD
from the New School of Social Research in 1970.. Sylvia held a series of positions prior to becoming a faculty member of the CUNY Graduate School in 1981, including: senior research associate at Rockefeller University
(1970–1978); associate director of the National Institute of Education
(1978–1979); and senior scientist at the Center for Applied Linguistics
(1979–1981). Sylvia held her position as a faculty member at CUNY until her death in 1991.
. She also contributed to a 1978 edition of Vygotsky's Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes, edited with Michael Cole, Vera John-Steiner, & Ellen Souberman .
After Sylvia died, the book Mind and social practice: Selected writings of Sylvia Scribner (a collection of her unpublished essays) was published in 1997. The editors, Ethel Tobach, Rachel Joffe Falmagne, Mary Brown Parlee, Laura M.W. Martin, & Aggie Scribner Kapelman, were all friends and colleagues of Sylvia, and prefaced the book with both personal and professional biographical details .
In a powerful recognition of Sylvia's scholarship and contributions to the field, the American Educational Research Association
annually awards the Scribner Award to outstanding scholars in the field of learning and instruction. Recipients include Marilyn Jager Adams
, Richard C. Anderson
, Gavriel Salomon
, and Keith Stanovich
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and educational research
Educational research
Educational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
er who focused on the role of culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
in literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
and learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
. Her parents were Gussie and Harry Scribner, and Sylvia also had a sister, Shirley.
Biographical Outline
Sylvia was considered a "firebrand" as a child, due to her independence and constant critique of the world around her. She began writing poetry at a young age as well, and on the strength of her poetry received a full scholarship to Smith CollegeSmith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
. In 1943, Sylvia graduated from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
as Valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, she worked as the research director for United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, where she worked towards inclusion and lobbied for women and minorities. Sylvia later returned to school, receiving a masters in psychology from the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(CUNY) and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the New School of Social Research in 1970.. Sylvia held a series of positions prior to becoming a faculty member of the CUNY Graduate School in 1981, including: senior research associate at Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
(1970–1978); associate director of the National Institute of Education
U.S. National Institute of Education
The U.S. National Institute of Education was established in the Education Division, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by an act of June 23, 1972 . On May 4, 1980, it was transferred to the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, United States Department of Education, by the...
(1978–1979); and senior scientist at the Center for Applied Linguistics
Center for Applied Linguistics
The Center for Applied Linguistics is a private, nonprofit organization that describes its mission as “working to improve communication through better understanding of language and culture”...
(1979–1981). Sylvia held her position as a faculty member at CUNY until her death in 1991.
Publications
Sylvia has published a great deal, including various articles (Google Scholar for more information) and several books. Her seminal work is perhaps The Psychology of Literacy with co-author Michael Cole, on linguistics and learning in the Vai of LiberiaVai (ethnic group)
The Vai are a Manden ethnic group that live mostly in Liberia and small minority live in south-eastern Sierra Leone. The Vai are known for their indigenous syllabic writing system, developed in the 1820s by Duala Bukele and other tribal elders. Over the course of the 19th century, literacy in the...
. She also contributed to a 1978 edition of Vygotsky's Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes, edited with Michael Cole, Vera John-Steiner, & Ellen Souberman .
After Sylvia died, the book Mind and social practice: Selected writings of Sylvia Scribner (a collection of her unpublished essays) was published in 1997. The editors, Ethel Tobach, Rachel Joffe Falmagne, Mary Brown Parlee, Laura M.W. Martin, & Aggie Scribner Kapelman, were all friends and colleagues of Sylvia, and prefaced the book with both personal and professional biographical details .
Awards
As a freshman at Smith College in 1940, Sylvia was a William Allen Neilson Scholar, and as a sophomore she received Arthur Ellis Hamm Scholarship Prize for her excellent academic scholarship. Later, in 1982, Sylvia and Michael Cole received the Melville J. Herskovits Prize in 1982 for The Psychology of Literacy .In a powerful recognition of Sylvia's scholarship and contributions to the field, the American Educational Research Association
American Educational Research Association
The American Educational Research Association, or AERA, was founded in 1916 as a professional organization representing educational researchers in the United States and around the world....
annually awards the Scribner Award to outstanding scholars in the field of learning and instruction. Recipients include Marilyn Jager Adams
Marilyn Jager Adams
Dr. Marilyn Jager Adams was born on December 14, 1948. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University in cognitive psychology and developmental psychology and is internationally regarded for her research and applied work in the areas of cognition and education....
, Richard C. Anderson
Richard C. Anderson
Richard C. Anderson is an American educational psychologist who has published influential research on children's reading, vocabulary growth, and story discussions that promote thinking. He is the director of the Center for the Study of Reading, and a professor of education and psychology at the...
, Gavriel Salomon
Gavriel Salomon
Gavriel Salomon is an Israeli educational psychologist who has conducted research on cognition and instruction, in particular the cognitive effects of media's symbol systems, transfer of learning, and the design of cognitive tools and technology-afforded learning environments...
, and Keith Stanovich
Keith Stanovich
Keith E. Stanovich is the Canada Research Chair of Applied Cognitive Science at the Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto. His research areas are the psychology of reasoning and the psychology of reading...
.