Composition: History & Theory: 1700 - 1799
Revolutionary Education
Description
In The American School From the Puritans to No Child Left Behind (2008), Joel Spring hypothesizes that colonialist education engendered 19th century, education-as-social-cure-all views and claims that the American Revolution shifted education from being exclusive, private, religious, and service-focused to being more inclusive, public, civic, or society focused. Pre-Revolution education confirmed social status and class. Post-Revolution education introduced intellectual freedom and social mobility through academics. Spring also cites Lawrence Cremin as pinpointing the importance of the home in colonial education: “[the] household [was considered]…the single most fundamental unit of organization in 18th century colonies,” while (the family) served as church and school (37-38). The separation of church and state in education lead to intellectual freedom; however, there was a danger of despotism in secular (state) education.
Date of Upload
3/13/09