THE FABLES OF SUPERINTENDENT DON PAOLO: OBJECT LESSONS ON COMMUNITY UPHEAVAL, COMMUNITY EFFICACY, HERITAGE KNOWLEDGE, AND EDUCATION by Orlando Villella Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Educational Leaders School of Education Duquesne University December, 2000 signature page iii Copyright by Orlando Villella 2000 iv Abstract In order to understand the economically, and academically distressed community, we must understand it on its own terms. This study used the narrative form as the source of inquiry using the fabulistic form as methodology. The novelist Calvino has served as a guide to this narrative method. Narrative is employed to gain knowledge of the community and this study examines how the community expresses shared values through fabulistic narratives. The problem examined in this study is discovery of narratives and fables of past and present successes. The research examines how the community views itself, its role in the educational process, the way education and knowledge are used, and how education is viewed within the community and in the family unit in an economically distressed community. The data was gathered by conducting interviews with a former superintendent of a distressed district. These 10 fables provide us with insight into finding wisdom in place and how it is used in the world. Findings indicate that the values of the community have changed. Educational reforms should recognize those changes. The fables clearly indicate the importance of the work ethic, discipline and commitment, and respect for authority within the community. Implications for educational reforms and suggestions for future research topics are identified. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page Chapter I: Introduction and Sources of Inquiry .................................1 Growth and Evolution / Versions of the Problem Statement .................9 The Revised Problem and Purpose ...................................14 The Final Version of the Problem ....................................17 Community Upheaval / The Context of the Problem .....................19 Purposes and Historical Framework of the Research .....................32 Guiding Purposes ...........................................32 Research Questions .........................................33 Historical Background .......................................33 Theoretical Framework ............................................34 Need for the Research / Significance of the Study ........................34 Chapter II: Prior Knowledge ..............................................38 Psychology / Self Efficacy / Community Efficacy - Generally and Locally ....39 General Community Upheaval and Community Efficacy ..................58 The Lessons of History ......................................58 Sociological Review ..............................................62 Division of Labor ...........................................62 The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ..................68 The Battle for Homestead 1880 - 1892 ..........................76 The Spirit of Community ....................................105 vi A Contented Culture .......................................115 The Rich and Poor .........................................136 The Corrosion of Character ..................................142 The Cultural Contradictions ..................................155 Crisis in American Institutions ...............................171 Down From Bureaucracy ....................................181 Educational Leadership in Difficult Times ............................186 Chapter III: Narrative as Methodology .....................................198 The Fables and How They Are Used .................................207 The Discovery of Paul and the Emergence of Don Paolo .................208 Researching the Problem / Various Research Plans .....................215 Chapter IV: The Fables of Don Paolo ......................................223 Introduction ....................................................223 Fable of the Uncaring .............................................227 The Fable - the Patient and the Doctor .........................227 Fables of the Garden .............................................229 The Fable - Grandfather and the garden / community garden / Joe’s garden ..............................................229 The Fable - the Plot of Land .................................231 The Fable - the Garden and Free Rent ..........................231 Fables of Discipline and Commitment ...............................233 The Fable - Smoking in the Boy’s Room ........................233 vii The Fable - No Excuses .....................................234 The Fable - No Excuses, no fear ..............................235 The Fable - Drinking Beer ...................................236 The Fable - Late for Dinner ..................................236 The Fable - My father’s name ................................237 The Fable - White wash the cellar .............................238 The Fable - Killing the Hog ..................................239 The Fable - Washing Clothes .................................239 Fables of Heritage Knowledge ......................................241 The Fable - The Banana Split ................................241 The Fable - Making Prosciutto ................................242 The Fable - Accountability ...................................243 The Fable - The Athletes ....................................244 The Fable - The Construction of the Wall .......................245 The Fable - The Amish .....................................247 The Fable - Pepper and Eggs .................................248 The Fable - Pillars of the House ...............................249 The Fable - The Refrigerator .................................250 The Fable - The Hot Water Tank ..............................252 The Fable - Crime and Punishment ............................253 Fable of the Education Profession ...................................256 viii The Fable - Certification ....................................256 Chapter V: Interpretations ...............................................258 Fable of Uncaring ................................................258 The Interpretation - the Patient and the Doctor ...................258 Fables of the Garden .............................................263 The Interpretation - Grandfather and the garden / community garden Joe’s garden ..............................................263 The Interpretation - the Plot of Land ...........................265 The Interpretation - the Garden and Free Rent ...................267 Fables of Discipline and Commitment ...............................269 The Interpretations .........................................269 The Interpretation - Late for Dinner ............................271 The Interpretation - My father’s name / White wash the cellar / Killing the Hog ...........................................274 The Interpretation - Washing Clothes ..........................276 Fables of Heritage Knowledge ......................................277 The Interpretation - The Banana Split ..........................277 The Interpretation - Making Prosciutto .........................280 The Interpretation - Accountability ............................285 The Interpretation - The Athletes ..............................286 The Interpretation - The Construction of the Wall ................287 The Interpretation - The Amish ...............................290 ix The Interpretation - Pepper and Eggs ...........................290 The Interpretation - Pillars of the House ........................291 The Interpretation - The Refrigerator ...........................293 The Interpretation - The Hot Water Tank .......................295 The Interpretation - Crime and Punishment ......................297 Fable of the Education Profession ...................................298 The Interpretation - Certification ..............................298 Summary of the Fables / Interpretations ........................299 Chapter VI: A World View ..............................................304 Psychology, History, and Homestead / Discipline and Commitment ........305 Division of Labor, Capitalism, Economics, Culture and the Banana Split ....310 Culture of the Contented and Educational Reform ......................319 Corrosion of Character and Experience told through the Fabulistic Form of Narrative ......................................................322 Implications ....................................................324 What to do Next? ................................................326 Return to Zenobia ...............................................332 Recommendations for Educational Reforms ...........................334 Limitations of the Research ........................................347 Future Research .................................................348 References ...........................................................352 Appendix ............................................................364 x Chronological Interview Data ......................................364 xi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Comparison of Demographic Data 1980 -1990 (Aliquippa) ..........20 2. Comparison of Demographic Data 1980 -1990 (Wilkinsburg) ........22 3. Comparison of Demographic Data 1980 -1990 (New Castle) .........24 4. Changes in the distribution of wealth, 1962-97 ...................112 5. Voting and registration of family