| On June 16, 1978, the N.C. General Assembly passed Article 15, establishing the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. This paper examines the NCSSM chronology from an historical and theoretical perspective.;The purpose of this study is to present a detailed historical and practical outline of NCSSM's creation and development. The decisions that led to the first state-supported, residential, high school are examined via political-reality, rational decision and various leadership models. The main emphasis, however, will be on descriptive data (historical, key actors, strategies, etc.) that might be of value to those involved in creating similar programs or who simply have an interest in history.;The first sections review the Bronx High School of Science, N.C. Governor's Schools, N.C. School of the Arts and others that provided philosophical, curricular and administrative concepts for NCSSM. Prominent NCSSM advocates and opponents included Governors Terry Sanford and James B. Hunt, Jr.; novelist, John Ehle; state superintendent, Craig Phillips; businessman, George Watts Hill and science administrator, Quentin Lindsey, National Education Association and the State Board of Education.;The literature section presents the political-reality model as the major unit of analysis to study NCSSM decisions. It is supplemented by rational-economic, force-field analysis, motivation, power and other models.;The historical perspective section profiles NCSSM's academic-social programs and outlines their present and future impact on local and national science-math programs.;The final sections present NCSSM's creation as an example of positive and successful outcomes that can result from decisions that are political-reality based. |
