Dr. Wood Smethurst and Dr. Martha Burdette
(The Ben Franklin Academy and Research Associates, MARIAL)
Narrative Development
Among Adolescents
Wednesday, April 10th, 2002, 3:00 p.m.
Under the direction of Academy co-founder Dr.
Burdette, Ben Franklin Academy faculty have analyzed and compared
autobiographies and writing samples of students from Atlanta
area high schools, both public and private. The BFA research
team hopes to extend their work on narrative development and
structure to older students, specifically those enrolled in
a local medical school. Emory anthropologists who specialize
in family and social structures are participating in this research.
Their goal is to identify the factors that lead to school success
and failure, and, more importantly, they hope to learn how to
turn school failure or "failure to thrive" into academic
success.
Preliminary results from their research have shown
the dramatic impact of stressful events in a child’s life
and his or her subsequent success in school. While the narratives
of these students are much more fully told and complex, it also
underscores the need for students to be able to frame their
stories, and thus their lives in a meaningful way. The implications
of the "construction of self" through the 'construction
of narrative" have yet to be fully understood. This research
may yield important insights into this relationship.
---
The Ben Franklin Academy was founded in 1987 by
Dr. Wood Smethurst and Dr. Martha Burdette. Both co-founders
were experienced teachers and researchers whose background included
significant work with students (both children and adults) in
a variety of group and individual settings.
The instructional approach of the school is a
direct outgrowth of work that Drs. Smethurst and Burdette did
with Emory University’s Reading Center. BFA's goal is to
provide individualized instruction for high school students
who have been unsuccessful in conventional classroom settings.
It is a private, coeducational, SACS-accredited college preparatory
school that specializes in one-on-one teaching. Its primary
mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment that promotes
student learning on an individualized basis, taking into account
each student’s unique learning style and abilities.
Dr. Smethurst, BFA's Headmaster, holds a Doctor
of Education Degree from Harvard University. From 1975 to 1988,
he was Director of the Emory University Reading Center. Dr.
Smethurst is the author of a number of books and articles, among
them Teaching Young Children to Read, Teaching Children to Read
at Home and Study Power.
Dr. Martha Burdette serves as Dean of Studies
and Director of Research at Ben Franklin. She holds a Ph.D.
in Liberal Arts from Emory University. She was the recipient
of a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Post-Doctoral
Fellowship to extend her research into narrative development
in adolescents. This research continues today. Both she and
Dr. Smethurst are Research Associates at the MARIAL Center.
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The MARIAL Center
Emory West, 4th Floor, Room 415E
Open to the public
Refreshments will be served
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of Events
DIRECTIONS TO THE MARIAL CENTER
The MARIAL Center is located on the 4th floor of
the main building of Emory's Briarcliff Campus, 1256 Briarcliff
Rd. There is ample parking close to the building. Alternatively,
you may take the Emory shuttle (Route A). The shuttle leaves every
20 minutes from the main campus and is a 5- to 10-minute ride.
Route A shuttle stops are located at the corner of Asbury Circle
and Pierce Drive, along Pierce Drive, and in front of the Administration
Building. For the shortest travel time, board the shuttle in front
of the B. Jones Center.
Please tell the receptionist at the front window
that you are here for the MARIAL Center lecture.
