How many books were written about high school in the 1980's? what are
they? and how many students graduated from high school in the US in
1984? |
Request for Question Clarification by
juggler-ga
on
15 Jan 2004 18:41 PST
Hi Jules,
The second part of your question (number of graduates in 1984) is no problem.
However, hundreds of books written in the 1980s were "about high
school" in one way or another. Listing all those books here would be a
massive project and certainly not appropriate considering this
question's $2 price level.
Would it be sufficient to direct you to another web site where you
could browse bibliographic data (title, author, subject) for the
hundreds of books "about high school" that were written in the '80s?
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Clarification of Question by
jules66-ga
on
17 Jan 2004 17:31 PST
Yes, please direct me to a bibliography about books written about high
school in the 1980's, particularly fictional stories such as Fast
times at Ridgemont High, (not sure that was a book as well as a
movie). And as far as graduating students in 1984, I am particularly
interested in New Jersey and other East coast states, NY, Mass, PA,
CT., but I would like a number for the entire US and then a breakdown
of the States I mentioned. I just wrote a book about this subject
myself and am hoping to include some of this info in a querry letter.
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Request for Question Clarification by
juggler-ga
on
18 Jan 2004 00:06 PST
Hi Jules,
Congratulations on writing a book!
A few issues...
I can get you the total number of 1984 high school graduates, but for
a state-by-state breakdown, I've only located the figures for PUBLIC
high school graduates (i.e., kids who graduated from private high
schools in '84 wouldn't be included). Again, though, the total for
the whole country would include private school graduates as well.
Also, the source for bibliographic data that I mentioned is kind of
hit-and-miss in terms of classification. You mention "Fast Times at
Ridgemont High," which was indeed a book. However, for some unknown
reason, "Fast Times" isn't classified as a book on "high school." A
lot of similar books are classified as "high school fiction," though.
If you're still interested, let me know.
|
Clarification of Question by
jules66-ga
on
19 Jan 2004 16:22 PST
Wow, I really would like to know how many studetns graduated from high
school in NJ, both public and private in 1984, just because that is my
target market specifically, but give me whatever you have and maybe a
great guesstimate of the private school kids. Along with the grand
total for the rest of the US.
As far as the books go, perhaps I should try the library, or maybe you
could give me the top ten list of books written about HS in the 1980's
that are fictional, funny stories similar to Fast times at Ridgemanot
High. I just need to research them and see if my book is better (know
your competition as it were) and if there are not that many, all the
better for me, but you said there is too many to mention. ugh. what
are they? I can't think of any other than the one we mentioned. thanks
and keep me posted.
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Request for Question Clarification by
juggler-ga
on
20 Jan 2004 01:56 PST
Hi Jules,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm still working on this.
85,600 kids graduated from public high schools in New Jersey in 1984.
I'm working on an estimate for private schools.
As for books about high school set in the '80s... When I originally
said that there were too many to list, I was thinking about the
hundreds of teen "Sweet 16"-type novels.
Now, that I see more of what you have in mind, I agree with you. There
really aren't a lot of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"-type novels
(i.e., humorous novels about high school aimed at a more adult
audience). One novel that comes to mind is "Election" which was about
a high school and was made into a movie with Reese Witherspoon a few
years ago. I believe that was set around 1992, but is that the style
of novel in which you might be interested (if it were set in the
'80s)?
|
Clarification of Question by
jules66-ga
on
20 Jan 2004 16:11 PST
Thank you so much for getting the NJ statistic for me! You are right
I only want books that are geared to an adult audience. I just found
that out today at the library as well, when I started scrolling down a
list of 345 books about H.S. The majority were for Juvenile audience.
So let us narrow the search to just the books that are for any
audinece--more for adults though. I found two on that list, but I only
got half way through it.(that is better for me). I did not see that
Reese W. movie, but basically I am looking for stories like Fast
times... or Breakfast club, pretty in Pink etc.(were they all books
first?) I wrote my querry letter today and I only need to insert the
HS graduates for the US in the 1980's (ten years worth of graduates)
I'm guessing 4 million but it could be more. Does your no. for NJ
include Catholic school or not? I want to mention that in the letter
if not. ok thanks again.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
juggler-ga
on
21 Jan 2004 00:10 PST
No, that New Jersey figure doesn't include Catholic schools.
------------
The total number of high school graduates (public & private) for the
U.S. in 1984 was 2,767,000.
source:
Bureau of Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs/pj/p97t26.html
The total for 1980s would have been approximately 27 million.
I'm still trying to find you some humorous, adult-oriented books about
high school in '80s. I've found one:
"The Basic Eight" (2000) by Daniel Handler
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312253737/
Several reviews mention that this book, a "dark comedy," is about high
school during the 1980s. I'll try to find you a few more.
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Clarification of Question by
jules66-ga
on
23 Jan 2004 12:55 PST
Thank you Juggler, really excellent job on getting this info. I'm so
psyched that I found this web-site and you've been so helpful. I will
check out that book you suggested (it sounds good--just like mine
though). I'll write you again if I need anymore info. thank you ,
thank you, thank you.
juliet
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pinkfreud-ga
on
23 Jan 2004 13:27 PST
Jules,
If you are as impressed as I am by the assistance that juggler has
offered, you might want to consider asking juggler to post an official
answer to your question so that he can be paid for his labors. So far,
everything has been in the form of unpaid comments. By posting an
answer, juggler will be able to collect the fee that you've offered.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud (Google Answers Researcher and friend of juggler)
|
Clarification of Question by
jules66-ga
on
24 Jan 2004 17:13 PST
Yes, of course, get paid! I didn't know it worked that way that you
have to "post an official answer" and that I was the one to tell you
to do that. so go on and post away!! many thanks. Juliet
|
Hi Juliet,
Thanks for considering the question answered!
Earlier, I promised you an estimate for the total high school
graduates for 1984 for New Jersey, including private schools.
I'd put the total at around 100,000.
As indicated above, 85,600 people graduated from public high schools
in New Jersey in 1984.
source:
Public High School Graduates, by State
http://libcds01.lib.iup.edu/Volumes/statab98/SPRDSHTS/EDUC/98S0295.WK1
I'd estimate the New Jersey private high school graduates in 1984 at around 15,000.
This estimate is based on:
In 1996, 12,030 kids graduated from New Jersey private high schools
compared with 68,200 from public high schools.
sources:
NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS, 1995-96
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98229.pdf
Public High School Graduates, by State
http://libcds01.lib.iup.edu/Volumes/statab98/SPRDSHTS/EDUC/98S0295.WK1
Thus, there were about 18 private schools school graduates for every
100 public school graduates in New Jersey. Assuming a similar
private/public ratio for 1984 would mean about 15,000 private school
grads compared with 85,600 public school grads. Adding the two
figures, we'd guess that just over 100,000 New Jersey residents
graduated from high school in 1984.
------------
I've also located another adult-oriented book about high school kids
in the '80s. It's called "Into The Great Wide Open" (1996) by Kevin
Canty. It's set in the suburbs outside of Washington DC. Apparently,
it's more of a love story than a comedy, but you might check it out.
See this review:
http://www.theonionavclub.com/review.php?review_id=2753
Available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385473885
----------
search strategy:
"school graduates by state", "new jersey"
Thanks again! |
Clarification of Answer by
juggler-ga
on
25 Jan 2004 02:20 PST
Sorry for the typo above:
"Thus, there were about 18 private school graduates for every 100 ..."
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