History of Public Education
History of Public Education Aristotle said, “If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.” We can understand the tragedy of American education by looking at three distinct periods: Colonial times to 1840 1840 to WWI WWI to present Let’s look at the distinguishing marks of each. Colonial times to 1840 Calvinistic ethic ruled society; God was omnipotent and the sovereign upon Whose law the republic was based: unalienable rights came from Him alone and government existed for the purpose of protecting Life, Liberty, and Property. There was a strong sense of RIGHT and WRONG; there were absolutes. Children went to school to learn to read the Bible so they could be obedient to their K ing (capital /k/) and serve their fellow man with a cheerful heart. It was a good time to be an American child in school. 1840 to WW1 Let’s start with Georg Hegel, a German philosopher who lived from 1770 to 1831. Hegel taught something ...