Organization and administration: Then and now

Abstract

Just as the 2 1/2 decades of publication of Theory Into Practice have been years marked by change and transformation, so it is with the field of educational administration and, to some extent, school organization. When TIP began publication, educational administration was influenced by research and concepts drawn often from the behavioral and social sciences. It was an emerging profession, filled with energy and a sense of direction. A number of promising fields of inquiry were tied to theories that helped explain administrative behavior. There was in fact a movement, stimulated by such scholars as Halpin, Getzels, Culbertson, Guba, and Griffiths. These scholars were joined by other individuals who were developers, such as Campbell, Gregg, Goldhammer, Reller, Johns, and Lonsdale. These leaders were followed by dozens of other scholars and their students, who struggled with theory development and its application to practice. The history of Theory Into Practice parallels in large measure the evolution of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), located for much of its history at The Ohio State University (now located at Arizona State University). The UCEA stimulated a greater emphasis on research, theory development, and linkage to practice. The development of professors was a priority, as was the sponsorship of conferences, publications, and collaborative research activities. Preparation programs