Few individuals in the history of education have had greater impact on
educational policy and practice than Benjamin S. Bloom. During a career
that spanned over five decades, his research and writing guided the
development of innumerable educational programs and provided powerful
insights into the untapped potential of educators to help all students
learn well. Benjamin S. Bloom spent most of his professional life at the
University of Chicago, where he held the Charles H. Swift Distinguished
Service endowed chair. At this university, he founded and chaired the
program in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (or MESA),
authored or co-authored 17 books, and wrote numerous journal articles.
He served as the president of the American Educational Research
Association (AERA), a member of the National Academy of Education, and a
founding member of the International Association for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement (IEA). Also the recipient of several awards,
perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the profound influence he had on
his students and professional colleagues. Much of his time was spent in
one-to-one interactions with them, which have become known as "Bloom
Stories" and have gained legendary status. Many of the "Bloom Stories"
are humorous and show his amazing quick wit. Others recall the kindness
and encouragement, and subtle wisdom he showed in helping students and
colleagues overcome obstacles or setbacks. No matter what the topic,
Benjamin Bloom's stories are touching remembrances that offer special
insight into his uniqueness as a preeminent scholar, colleague, mentor,
and friend. This book is a collection of these stories, with brief
reviews of some of Bloom's major professional contributions.
