Tyler, Ralph W. (Ralph Winfred), 1902-1994

Educator and university administrator. A.B., Doane College, 1921. A.M., University of Nebraska, 1923. Ph. D. University of Chicago, 1927. Professor of education, University of Chicago, 1938-1953. Chairman, Department of Education, University of Chicago, 1938-1948. University Examiner, University of Chicago, 1948-1953. Dean, Division of Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 1948-1953. Director, Center for Advanced Study of the Behavioral Sciences, 1953-1967.

From the description of Papers, 1932-1988 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52246292

Educator.

From the description of Reminiscences of Ralph Winfred Tyler: oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 269253117

From the description of Reminiscences of Ralph Tyler: oral history, 1983. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 269253099

Ralph W. Tyler was born in Chicago, IL on April 22, 1902, the son of Reverend William A. Tyler. He earned his BA at Doane University in Nebraska and his Master's degree in 1923 at the University of Nebraska. Tyler's Ph.D. was granted by the University of Chicago in 1927. After teaching at the University of Nebraska (1922-1927) and the University of North Carolina (1927-1929), Tyler moved to Ohio State University as Professor of Education and Research Associate of the Bureau of Educational Research (1929-1938).

Tyler specialized in measuring the application of education. Before arriving at the University of Chicago he led "the eight year study" which measured to what degree students absorbed information given to them by their teachers. The study showed that children learned best at their own pace and students best retained information compounded by experience. This program led to national testing for pre-college students.

When Tyler met with the President of the University of Chicago to recommend methods for testing applicants, the thirty five year old professor held a reputation as a progressive educator who smoked cigars constantly and raced cars against trains. Although University of Chicago president Robert Hutchins believed in classical education, in 1938 he risked hiring Tyler as the Chief Examiner and Director of the Board of Examinations, Professor of Education, and Chair of the Department of Education. Tyler accepted and moved to Chicago with his entire testing staff.

Tyler became acting Dean of Social Sciences when Dean Robert Redfield took a leave of absence in 1946. Tyler was officially appointed as dean in 1948. He streamlined the committees between the departments and promoted interdisciplinary studies. Additionally, Tyler participated in University life by contributing to the Great Books Program and to the Chicago Roundtable radio discussions. Additionally, Tyler continuously published the results of his work.

Through the course of his tenure at the University of Chicago his positions included: Chairman, Department of Education, University of Chicago (1938-48); University Examiner, University of Chicago (1938-53); Dean, Division of the Social Sciences, University of Chicago (1948-53); Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California (1953-67); Acting President, Social Science Research Council (1971-72); Vice President, Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions (1975-78); and President, System Development Foundation (1969-until his death?).

Additionally, Tyler served as the official Director of the Examinations Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute from 1943-1954 during which the military asked him to administer tests to measure the effectiveness of its training programs.

In the 1960's, Tyler worked with his colleagues on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, measuring educational achievements around the United States. Tyler advised six U.S. Presidents and assisted in writing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. After leaving the University of Chicago in 1953, Tyler moved to California as the founding director of the Center for the Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, funded by the Ford Foundation (1953-1967). Throughout the 1980's Tyler commuted from California to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to teach and advise the Coalition for School Improvement.

Tyler's style of testing became common and was known as the "Tyler Rationale". His methods were initially considered unorthodox because he advocated the involvement of teachers and parents at every level of school reform. Tyler believed that the purpose of education was to teach children how to function as citizens. He stated, "Carrying on citizenship is the most important reason for public education…As society keeps moving forward, we need to have more and more education to understand problems that are much more complex than those that were dealt with in 1776."

Tyler's wife, Flora V. Tyler passed away before he did. Ralph Tyler suffered from cancer and passed away on February 18, 1994. He was survived by his brother, Keith I. Tyler; his daughters, Helen Parisi and Ann Fathy; and his son, Ralph W. Tyler, Jr.

Some of his more famous projects included: Director of Evaluation, Eight-Year Study (1934-42); Director, Cooperative Study in General Education (1939-45); Director, Examinations Staff, U.S. Armed Forces Institute (1943-53); Chairman, Exploratory Committee on Assessing the Progress of Education (1964-68); and Senior Consultant, Science Research Associates, Inc. (1967-82).

He was also a member of a number of associations and throughout the course of his career held broad associations well beyond the University of Chicago including: Member, National Advisory Mental Health Council (1959-63); Chairman, National Commission on Resources for Youth (1964-79); Chairman, National Commission for Cooperative Education (1962-75); Honorary Life Chairman (1975-?); President, National Academy of Education (1965-69); Chairman, Research Advisory Council of the U.S. Office of Education (1967-70); Member, National Science Board, 1962-68; Vice Chairman (1966-68); and Member, National Advisory Council on the Education of Disadvantaged Children (1965-72)

Some of his notable publications were: Constructing Achievement Tests (1934); Appraising and Recording Student Progress, with E.R. Smith (1942); Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction (1949); Educational Evaluation; New Roles, New Means, editor (1969); Crucial Issues in Testing, with R. Wolf (1974); Perspectives on American Education (1976); "Changing Concepts of Educational Evaluation." [Monograph] International Journal of Educational Research 10 (1986).

From the guide to the Tyler, Ralph W. Papers, 1932-1988, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)