The ambiguity and rhetoric of ability grouping

Includes bibliographical references (pages [100]-107)The study undertaken here explores the origin of ability grouping, reviews its historical development, explains how the practice has persisted in our schools, and questions why, even after years of research showing that it does not benefit any group of students and may be detrimental to students in lower- ability groups, it continues to flourish in the American educational system. One fundamental purpose of American education is to provide an equal, quality education for all children. It is the purpose of this paper to show that ability grouping is undemocratic because it helps solidify a stratified social system.M.S. Ed. (Master of Education