William Perry and Liberal Education

• Published in: Academic Discourse and Critical Consciousness Vol. 163; p. 153
• Main Author: Bizzell, Patricia
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United States University of Pittsburgh Press 18.12.1992
• Subjects: Anthropology; Applied anthropology; Basic writing; Behavioral sciences; Colleges; Communication skills; Communications; Cultural anthropology; Cultural literacy; Cultural studies; Curricula; Dualism; Economic disciplines; Economics; Education; Educational institutions; Educational personnel; Educators; Employment; Formal education; Humanities instruction; Labor economics; Language arts; Language skills; Liberal arts education; Metaphysics; Occupations; Pedagogy; Philosophy; Philosophy of mind; Schools; Social sciences; Teachers; Writing; Writing instruction; Writing skills; Writing teachers; Written communication; Written composition
• ISBN: 0822954850; 9780822954859
• DOI: 10.2307/j.ctt7zwb7k.10

The work of psychologist William G. Perry, Jr. has attracted much attention recently from college writing teachers who seek a developmental model to inform composition courses and writing-across-the-curriculum programs. To assess Perry’s usefulness to writing instruction, I would like first to summarize his work, giving his own interpretation of its significance, and then to say how I think we should, and should not, use it. After taking a BA in psychology at Harvard College, Perry began his academic career teaching English literature at Williams College. In 1947 he returned to Harvard to head the Bureau of Study Counsel, and there