School psychology: An autobiographical fragment

Abstract This paper describes some of the dramatic changes that have transformed the field of school psychology over the last 40 years, a period during which the author was part of that field. The most important change was from the restricted and stultifying role of “Binet Tester” to one encompassing the culture of the school setting and its relationship to the community. These changes have been slow but steady. Many obstacles - professional preciousness, protection of turf, conceptual narrowness, an American psychology riveted on the individual - had to be overcome. The battle is far from won. These obstacles and changes are illustrated by events and programs of which the author was a part. A basic remaining problem is how to define and redefine the human resources that will meet more productively the needs of our educational system.