Date of Award
6-1962
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Francis M. Hurst
Second Advisor
William Hertzog Thompson
Third Advisor
William E. Jaynes
Abstract
Traditionally, our nation has been one in which individual effort and enterprise are rewarded. Our “log cabin” heroes, our “Horatio Alger” stories, are a reflection of a cultural tradition of interdependence and self-reliance which we cherish. Most of us fondly recall the story of the little train engine who said, “I think I can, I think I can,” and managed to puff over the hill.1 This little train showed self-reliance and independence in reaching his goal. By contrast, a recent children’s book tells about a little locomotive who goes to school to learn to be a big locomotive and strives to learn perfectly all his lessons, especially the importance of staying on the track at all times.2 when he gets off the track and goes daisy picking in the meadow, all the people in the village get out and wave red flags to get him back on the track. This little locomotive succeeded by being obedient and conforming to what was expected of him. The fundamental difference in the degree of self-reliance shown in these two stories is evident.
Recommended Citation
Bohrer, Roxilu Kelton, "A content analysis of self-reliance or dependence in a sixth grade reading text-book" (1962). Student Work. 321.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/321
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