In preschools and kindergartens, behaviorist tenets were used to justify large-group drill on letters, numbers, and general knowledge as well as repetitive worksheet practice that required young children to sit at their desks for long periods, filling in blanks, coloring within the lines, and otherwise following teacher prescriptions.
( ( In ( ( preschools and ) kindergartens ) ) ( , ( ( behaviorist tenets ) ( ( were ( used ( to ( ( justify ( large-group drill ) ) ( on ( ( ( ( ( ( ( letters , ) numbers ) , ) and ) ( general knowledge ) ) ( as ( well as ) ) ) ( ( repetitive worksheet ) ( practice ( that ( ( ( ( required ( ( young children ) ( to ( sit ( at ( their desks ) ) ) ) ) ) ( for ( long periods ) ) ) , ) ( ( ( ( ( ( filling ( in blanks ) ) , ) ( coloring ( within ( the lines ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( otherwise ( following ( teacher prescriptions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (NNS preschools) (CC and) (NNS kindergartens))) (, ,) (NP (NN behaviorist) (NNS tenets)) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBN used) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB justify) (NP (JJ large-group) (NN drill)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NP (NP (NNS letters)) (, ,) (NP (NNS numbers)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (JJ general) (NN knowledge))) (CONJP (RB as) (RB well) (IN as)) (NP (ADJP (JJ repetitive) (JJ worksheet)) (NN practice) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBN required) (S (NP (JJ young) (NNS children)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB sit) (PP (IN at) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS desks)))))) (PP (IN for) (NP (JJ long) (NNS periods))) (, ,) (S (VP (VP (VBG filling) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNS blanks)))) (, ,) (VP (VBG coloring) (PP (IN within) (NP (DT the) (NNS lines)))) (, ,) (CC and) (VP (ADVP (RB otherwise)) (VBG following) (NP (NN teacher) (NNS prescriptions)))))))))))))))) (. .)))
These types of learning are believed to be the most conducive to young minds.
( ( ( These types ) ( of learning ) ) ( ( are ( believed ( to ( be ( ( the ( most conducive ) ) ( to ( young minds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT These) (NNS types)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN learning)))) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBN believed) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (NP (DT the) (ADJP (RBS most) (JJ conducive))) (PP (TO to) (NP (JJ young) (NNS minds))))))))) (. .)))