History of Education

[Apoi_Viitor]

So, I'm writing a paper on the historical development of education, and uncertain where to start my research.... Any recommendations?

[Invader Zim]

So, I'm writing a paper on the historical development of education, and uncertain where to start my research.... Any recommendations?

In which nation/context? I would guess that, from a chronological point of view the best place to begin would be an examination of aristocratic education and its institutions which naturally were the oldest, followed by the expansion of the system to include the nouveau riche. At that point, in the 18th and 19th centuries, church educational programs for educating the working classes, etc. From a leftist point of view the utopian socialist Robert Owen pioneered elementary education for the children, and infant care, of all of his factory workers.

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-owen.htm

Ross McKibbin's excellent Classes and Cultures, which covers the early-mid 20th century, provides an excellent introductary chapters outlining the state of education, by class, during the period he covers. There have also been lengthy volumes published on the history of the universities, as well as some which cover the oldest and most exclusive of British public schools.

[bezdomni]

You should study the period where children transition from working in the factories/mills to going to school. [I can elaborate more on this later].

[Rooster]

Plato was one of the first to discuss education, wasn't he? It was in his Republic, wasn't it?

Anyway, you can also look at John Knox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Knox), a 16th century reformationist leader in Scotland. He proposed, and was one of the main reasons for, the national based (and free) education of all people in Scotland. This education was to be based on the university. His main thrust of this was so that everyone could at least read the bible, of course. Anyway, I've had a quick look through that wiki page but it doesn't seem to mention much about this.