Puritans And Education

Puritans and Education: Shaping a Nation Through Literacy and Faith

The austere image of the Puritan often conjures thoughts of religious fervor and strict moral codes. But behind the rigid exterior lay a profound commitment to education, a belief that literacy and learning were vital not just for individual salvation but for the very survival and flourishing of their community. This article delves into the complex relationship between the Puritans and education, exploring their unique approach to schooling, the impact it had on the development of American education, and the lasting legacy they left on our society. We'll uncover the motivations behind their educational endeavors, examine the curriculum they implemented, and analyze the far-reaching consequences of their commitment to learning. Prepare to shed new light on a pivotal chapter in American history, revealing the surprising depth and influence of Puritan educational ideals.

The Puritan Ethos and the Seeds of Learning

The Puritans, fleeing religious persecution in 17th-century England, sought to establish a "city upon a hill," a model society guided by biblical principles. Central to their vision was the belief that every individual bore the responsibility of interpreting scripture for themselves. This imperative directly fueled their emphasis on literacy. Unlike many societies of the time, where education was largely the privilege of the elite, the Puritans recognized the necessity of widespread literacy for their religious project. They understood that an informed populace, capable of reading and understanding the Bible, was essential for maintaining religious purity and promoting communal unity. This belief formed the bedrock of their educational system, driving them to establish schools and promote literacy at a scale unprecedented in the colonies.

The Structure of Puritan Education: From Hornbook to Harvard

The Puritan educational system was far from uniform. It evolved organically, adapting to the needs and resources of different communities. Early education typically began within the home, with parents instilling basic literacy skills in their children using hornbooks, simple learning aids containing the alphabet and basic prayers. As communities grew, they established grammar schools, often supported by local taxes, to provide more formal instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic. These schools served primarily boys, preparing them for higher education and eventual roles of leadership in church and state. Girls' education, while less systematic, often focused on domestic skills and religious instruction, though some girls from wealthier families did receive a more formal education.

The pinnacle of Puritan educational achievement was Harvard College, founded in 1636, just sixteen years after the arrival of the first Puritan settlers. Intended to train ministers, Harvard quickly expanded its curriculum, becoming a vital center of intellectual and theological discourse, shaping the intellectual landscape of colonial New England and beyond. The emphasis on classical learning – Greek, Latin, and rhetoric – reflected the Puritans' belief in the importance of a strong liberal arts education as a foundation for theological study and civic engagement.

The Curriculum: Faith, Reason, and Practical Skills

The Puritan curriculum was deeply rooted in religious instruction. The Bible was central, with reading and memorizing scripture forming a core component of learning. However, the emphasis on literacy extended beyond religious texts. The curriculum also included instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, and classical languages. This emphasis on practical skills reflected the Puritan belief in the importance of hard work and self-reliance. The study of history and rhetoric also played a crucial role, equipping students with the skills necessary for effective communication and civic participation. This practical, religiously-infused curriculum stood in stark contrast to the more aristocratic and classical curricula of elite schools in England.

The Impact of Puritan Education on American Society

The Puritans' commitment to education had a profound and lasting impact on the development of American society. Their emphasis on literacy contributed to a higher level of literacy in the colonies than in most European societies at the time. This widespread literacy laid the foundation for a more informed and engaged citizenry, crucial for the development of democratic institutions. Furthermore, the Puritan emphasis on education fostered a culture of learning and intellectual inquiry that would continue to shape American society for generations to come. The establishment of colleges and universities, modeled on Harvard, played a vital role in expanding educational opportunities and producing a cadre of educated leaders who would guide the nation through its formative years.

The Legacy of Puritan Educational Ideals

The legacy of Puritan education extends far beyond the colonial period. The emphasis on literacy, the commitment to public education, and the belief in the importance of education for both religious and civic life continue to resonate in American society. The very idea of public education, with its roots in the Puritan commitment to community-based schooling, is a testament to their enduring influence. While the Puritan worldview has certainly evolved, their contribution to the development of a nation founded on principles of self-governance and informed citizenry remains undeniable. Their commitment to education established a precedent for future generations, shaping the American character and influencing the trajectory of the nation's development.

Ebook Outline: Puritans and Education

Title: A Legacy of Learning: Puritans and the Shaping of American Education

Author: [Your Name Here]

Outline:

Introduction: The Puritan ethos and the importance of education.
Chapter 1: The Structure of Puritan Education: Home, Grammar Schools, and Harvard College.
Chapter 2: The Curriculum: Religious Instruction, Classical Learning, and Practical Skills.
Chapter 3: The Impact of Puritan Education on Colonial Society: Literacy, Civic Engagement, and Social Mobility.
Chapter 4: The Enduring Legacy: How Puritan Educational Ideals Shaped Modern American Education.
Conclusion: Reflecting on the enduring influence of Puritan educational principles.

Expanded Content for Ebook Chapters

(Note: This section provides expanded content for each chapter outlined above. Due to space constraints, these are summarized. A full ebook would flesh out each section significantly.)


Chapter 1: The Structure of Puritan Education: This chapter would delve deeper into the different levels of education, exploring the role of dame schools, the challenges faced in establishing and maintaining schools in frontier settings, and the evolving role of women in education. It would also provide more detailed biographies of key figures in Puritan education and discuss the financial mechanisms that supported these early educational institutions.


Chapter 2: The Curriculum: This chapter would expand on the specific texts used in Puritan schools, the methods of teaching employed, and the role of discipline and religious instruction in shaping the student experience. It would also compare and contrast the Puritan curriculum with educational approaches in other colonial settlements and in Europe.


Chapter 3: The Impact of Puritan Education: This chapter would analyze the social and economic consequences of widespread literacy, exploring its impact on social mobility, the development of printing and publishing industries, and the emergence of a more sophisticated intellectual culture. It would also discuss the limitations of the Puritan system, addressing issues of inequality and access to education based on gender, class, and race.


Chapter 4: The Enduring Legacy: This chapter would explore the direct lineage from Puritan educational ideals to the development of public education in the United States. It would trace the evolution of educational policies and practices, showing how Puritan values have shaped the American educational system to this day. It would also discuss contemporary debates related to the role of religion in education and the ongoing struggle for educational equity.


Conclusion: This section would offer a reflective summary, highlighting the enduring importance of the Puritans' contribution to the development of American education and its ongoing relevance in contemporary society.

FAQs

1. Were Puritan schools co-educational? No, Puritan schools primarily educated boys. Girls' education was often less formal and focused on domestic skills.

2. What was the role of the Bible in Puritan education? The Bible was central, forming the core of religious instruction and shaping the moral and ethical framework of the curriculum.

3. Did all Puritans support public education? While the majority supported education, there were disagreements about the extent of public funding and the curriculum's content.

4. How did Puritan education compare to education in Europe? Puritan education prioritized widespread literacy, unlike many European systems that restricted education to the elite.

5. What was the significance of Harvard College? Harvard played a vital role in training ministers and shaping the intellectual landscape of colonial New England.

6. Did Puritans value classical education? Yes, they valued classical learning, particularly Greek and Latin, as a foundation for theological study.

7. What were some limitations of Puritan education? Access to education was limited by gender, class, and race.

8. What is the lasting impact of Puritan education on American society? It fostered a culture of learning, contributed to high literacy rates, and laid the groundwork for public education.

9. How do Puritan educational ideals relate to modern debates about education? Debates about the role of religion in education, curriculum content, and educational equity continue to reflect the complexities inherited from the Puritan era.

Related Articles

1. The Role of Religion in Early American Education: Examines the influence of various religious groups on colonial education.

2. Harvard University's History and Influence: Explores Harvard's development from its Puritan roots to its modern status.

3. Literacy Rates in Colonial America: Analyzes the levels of literacy across different colonial populations.

4. The Development of Public Education in the United States: Traces the history of public education from its colonial beginnings.

5. Women's Education in Colonial America: Focuses on the challenges and opportunities for women's education.

6. The Puritan Ethos and its Impact on American Culture: Explores the broader cultural and societal influence of Puritanism.

7. Classical Education and its Relevance Today: Discusses the enduring value of classical learning.

8. The New England Primer: A Window into Puritan Education: Analyzes the content and significance of this early American textbook.

9. Comparing Puritan Education with Other Colonial Educational Systems: Provides a comparative analysis of educational approaches across different colonies.


  puritans and education: Schooling, the Puritan Imperative, and the Molding of an American National Identity Douglas McKnight, 2003-05-14 Present-day America is perceived by many as immersed in a moral crisis, with national identity fractured and uncertainty and anxiety about the future. Public schools in this country are, historically and still today, the major institution charged with preserving and teaching the symbols of national identity and a morality that is the concrete expression of those symbols and the ideas for which they stand. A widespread belief is that only through schooling can America be saved from the current crisis, but the schools have failed in this mission and must be reformed. In this book, Douglas McKnight develops a historical interpretation of how the New England Puritans generated a powerful belief system and set of symbols that have fed American identity and contributed to preserving and perpetuating it into the present time. He explores the relationship between the purposes of education (and how this term has shifted in meaning) and the notion of an American identity and morality--rooted in the Puritan concept of an errand into the wilderness--that serves a particular sacred/secular purpose. The phrase errand into the wilderness is taken from a 1956 book by Perry Miller with this title, where it refers to the Puritan dream of creating a city in the wilderness (the North American Colonies) that would be a utopian community--a beacon for the rest of the world for how to organize and live in the ideal religious community. Highly pertinent to the current debate about the purposes and crisis in education and in America, morality in schools, the cultural function of education, the changing nature of the language of education, the complex relation of schooling and national identity, this book explicates these elements within the American psyche by exploring the effects of the Puritan symbolic narrative at three different points in American history: Puritans during the 1600s and 1700s; the Gilded Age, when the urban Protestant middle class ascended to cultural dominance; and the present age. Schooling, the Puritan Imperative, and the Molding of an American National Identity: Education's Errand Into the Wilderness makes an important contribution to the fields of curriculum studies and the history of education. It will interest students and scholars in these fields, as well as those in educational philosophy, religion and education, intellectual and social history, and American studies.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 1851
  puritans and education: The American School Joel Spring, 2018-02-15 This current, comprehensive history of American education is designed to stimulate critical analysis and critical thinking by offering alternative interpretations of each historical period. In his signature straight-forward, concise style, Joel Spring provides a variety of interpretations of American schooling, from conservative to leftist, in order to spark the reader’s own critical thinking about history and schools. This tenth edition follows the history of American education from the seventeenth century to the integration into global capitalism of the twenty-first century to the tumultuous current political landscape. In particular, the updates focus on tracing the direct religious links between the colonial Puritans and the current-day Trump administration. Chapters 1 and 2 have been rewritten to take a closer look at religious traditions in American schools, leading up to the educational ideas of the current U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. An updated Chapter 15 further links traditional religious fundamentalist ideas and the twentieth century free market arguments of the Chicago school of economists to President Trump’s administration and the influence of the Alt-Right.
  puritans and education: Godly Learning John Morgan, 1988-03-31 Godly Learning attempts to establish the relationship which Puritans worked out between faith and reason in the eighty years before the Civil War. This was a period of rapid expansion of educational facilities, of a clash between humanist values of the Renaissance and the fideism of the Reformation, and of confrontations between traditionalist (primarily Aristotelian) approaches to knowledge and the more experimental path signalled by Bacon. Taking an existential approach to the question of meaning, Puritans sought their solution in the development of a covenant theology based on a life of active faith. They argued vehemently that natural reason was incapable of finding the path to salvation and only faith could regenerate reason to its proper capabilities. At the same time, Puritans emphasised the value of learning for comprehension of Scripture and preparation of sermons. Starting with a fresh approach to the question of defining Puritans, Godly Learning proceeds to delineate the infrequently studied puritan mentalité which informed the better-known public political and ecclesiological positions. Not since the work of Perry Miller has there been such a thorough attempt to comprehend the Puritan view of reason, and the implications of that view.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 2010-05 This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
  puritans and education: Godly Learning John Morgan (Ph. D.), 1986
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared, Etc Noah PORTER (the Younger.), 1851
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 2018-02-17 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 2017-12-15 Excerpt from The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared: A Premium Essay It will be important to keep in mind the import of these names, as thus explained, in the comparison which we propose to institute between the Puritan and the J esuit systems of education. This only will save us from a'narrow and partisan view of the subject, and will lead us to stndy principles rather than names. Let it be understood, then, once for all, that by the J esuit sys tem of education, we intend the system most perfectly represented in the institutions of the J esuits, in what ever schools it is found, whether Protestant or Romish, whether developed in whole or in part. By the Puritan system we mean, the one generally adopted in Protestant schools and universities, but which, in some of its fea tures, has been most completely realized in the educa tional institutes of the Puritans. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 2022-10-27 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  puritans and education: The Puritan Tradition in America, 1620-1730 Alden T. Vaughan, 1972 A classic documentary collection on New England's Puritan roots is once again available, with new material.
  puritans and education: Textile Education Among the Puritans Charles Jeptha Hill Woodbury, 2018-10-31 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  puritans and education: Christian Humanism and the Puritan Social Order Margo Todd, 2002-11-07 The author contends that the traditional views of puritan social thought have done a great injustice to the intellectual history of the 16th-century. Margo Todd reveals the puritans to be the heirs to a complex intellectual legacy.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared, a Premium Essay Noah Porter, 2016-05-16 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared. a Premium Essay, Written for the Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West, Noah 1811-1892 Porter, 2016-08-25 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  puritans and education: The New England Primer John Cotton, 1885
  puritans and education: The Puritans Perry Miller, Thomas H. Johnson, 2014-09-22 Critically acclaimed compilation includes writings by William Bradford, Increase Mather, William Hubbard, Anne Bradstreet, and other influential figures. The best selection ever made of Puritan literature. — historian Samuel Eliot Morison.
  puritans and education: The Charity School Movement M. G. Jones, 2019-03-19 Originally published in 1938, this book is an attempt to present a study of eighteenth-century elementary education, not as the history of educational ideas, nor as the history of administration, in which two garbs the history of the history of education usually appears, but as the study of a neglected aspect of social history. Its main interest lies in the different reactions of philanthropic men and women in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to the movement for establishing schools on a religious basis for the children of the poor.
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared Noah Porter, 1851
  puritans and education: The Educational Systems of the Puritans and Jesuits Compared , 2020-03-09
  puritans and education: American Educational History William Jeynes, 2007-01-24 Examines historical trends that have helped shape schools and education in the United States. This book places an emphasis on history, most notably post-WWII issues such as the role of technology, the standards movement, affirmative action, bilingual education, undocumented immigrants, school choice, and more.
  puritans and education: Puritanism: A Very Short Introduction Francis J. Bremer, 2009-07-24 Written by a leading expert on the Puritans, this brief, informative volume offers a wealth of background on this key religious movement. This book traces the shaping, triumph, and decline of the Puritan world, while also examining the role of religion in the shaping of American society and the role of the Puritan legacy in American history. Francis J. Bremer discusses the rise of Puritanism in the English Reformation, the struggle of the reformers to purge what they viewed as the corruptions of Roman Catholicism from the Elizabethan church, and the struggle with the Stuart monarchs that led to a brief Puritan triumph under Oliver Cromwell. It also examines the effort of Puritans who left England to establish a godly kingdom in America. Bremer examines puritan theology, views on family and community, their beliefs about the proper relationship between religion and public life, the limits of toleration, the balance between individual rights and one's obligation to others, and the extent to which public character should be shaped by private religious belief. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.
  puritans and education: The Teacher Wars Dana Goldstein, 2015-08-04 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking history of 175 years of American education that brings the lessons of the past to bear on the dilemmas we face today—and brilliantly illuminates the path forward for public schools. “[A] lively account. —New York Times Book Review In The Teacher Wars, a rich, lively, and unprecedented history of public school teaching, Dana Goldstein reveals that teachers have been embattled for nearly two centuries. She uncovers the surprising roots of hot button issues, from teacher tenure to charter schools, and finds that recent popular ideas to improve schools—instituting merit pay, evaluating teachers by student test scores, ranking and firing veteran teachers, and recruiting “elite” graduates to teach—are all approaches that have been tried in the past without producing widespread change.
  puritans and education: The Puritan Revolution and Educational Thought Richard L. Greaves, 1969
  puritans and education: Defining Noah Webster K. Alan Snyder, 2002
  puritans and education: Encyclopedia of Transcendentalism Tiffany K. Wayne, 2014-05-14 Presents a reference guide to transcendentalism, with articles on significant works, writers, concepts and more.
  puritans and education: Foundations of Education Leslie S. Kaplan, William A. Owings, 2021-09-09 Now published by SAGE! A modern and comprehensive introduction to the field, Foundations of Education makes core topics in education accessible and personally meaningful to students pursuing a career within the education profession. In a clear and direct prose, authors Leslie S. Kaplan and William A. Owings offer readers the breadth of coverage, scholarly depth, and conceptual analysis of contemporary issues that will help them gain a realistic and insightful perspective of the field. In addition to classic coverage of foundational topics such as educational philosophy, history, reform, law, and finance, the newly-revised Third Edition features a special emphasis on social justice issues, considers key debates around today’s education trends, and underscores the theory and practice behind meeting the needs of all learners. This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package.
  puritans and education: Puritan theology; or, Law, grace, and truth, discourses George Macaulay, 1872
  puritans and education: History of American Education David Boers, 2007 History of American Education Primer depicts the evolution of American educational history from 1630 to the present. The book highlights how ideological managers have shaped society and, because schools mirror society, have thus had a profound impact on education and schooling. Five common areas of study - philosophy, politics, economics, social sciences, and religion - are used to trace the development of both society and schooling in the United States. Readers will identify not only trends and movements in society and schooling, but also how they logically unfold over time. Furthermore, they will gain a keen insight as to why trends and movements in education have occurred in the past and how they connect to the present. This book is a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in educational foundations, social foundations, educational history, critical issues, schools and politics, schools and society, philosophical foundations, and religious foundations of American schooling.
  puritans and education: The Puritan in Holland, England, and America Douglas Campbell, 1893
  puritans and education: Encyclopedia of Christian Education George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, 2015-05-07 Christianity regards teaching as one of the most foundational and critically sustaining ministries of the Church. As a result, Christian education remains one of the largest and oldest continuously functioning educational systems in the world, comprising both formal day schools and higher education institutions as well as informal church study groups and parachurch ministries in more than 140 countries. In The Encyclopedia of Christian Education, contributors explore the many facets of Christian education in terms of its impact on curriculum, literacy, teacher training, outcomes, and professional standards. This encyclopedia is the first reference work devoted exclusively to chronicling the unique history of Christian education across the globe, illustrating how Christian educators pioneered such educational institutions and reforms as universal literacy, home schooling, Sunday schools, women’s education, graded schools, compulsory education of the deaf and blind, and kindergarten. With an editorial advisory board of more than 30 distinguished scholars and five consulting editors, TheEncyclopedia of Christian Education contains more than 1,200 entries by 400 contributors from 75 countries. These volumes covers a vast range of topics from Christian education: History spanning from the church’s founding through the Middle Ages to the modern day Denominational and institutional profiles Intellectual traditions in Christian education Biblical and theological frameworks, curricula, missions, adolescent and higher education, theological training, and Christian pedagogy Biographies of distinguished Christian educators This work is ideal for scholars of both the history of Christianity and education, as well as researchers and students of contemporary Christianity and modern religious education.
  puritans and education: Christian Education: Its History and Philosophy Kenneth O. Gangel, Warren S. Benson, 2002-03-05 ÒA history of Christian education must not be confused with a record of the achievements of the Sunday School. The discipline has advanced well beyond that stage, and today's sophisticated students fully understand that no proper concept of the history and philosophy of Christian education can be gained without seeing all the ramifications, implications, and influences that have affected it from pre-Christian times to the present.Ó So Drs. Gangel and Benson have written this book, a historical flow of philisophical thought from a Christian point of view. Its focus is cultural-biographical, discussing each philosophy in its particular socio-historical setting, and giving special attention to significant individuals. The format is chronological, beginning with education in biblical times, working upward through history to arrive at the present - and beyond, raising questions and issues for the future.
  puritans and education: Making Higher Education Christian Joel A. Carpenter, Kenneth W. Shipps, 2019-04-29 This book takes stock of an important but often hidden aspect of American Protestant evangelicalism: its efforts in higher education. The many liberal arts colleges, graduate theological seminaries, and Bible colleges nationwide that serve evangelical traditions and movements have remained nearly invisible to the academic establishment until recently. The essays presented here reflect a maturing community of scholarship focused on the unfinished business of developing a thoroughly Christian approach to contemporary higher education. They offer new theoretical perspectives on the aims and bases of educating, candid assessments of shortcomings in evangelical scholarship, and concrete suggestion for effective approaches to contemporary problems.
  puritans and education: A Study of Emersonian Transcendental Educational Thought Yang Jing, 2020-06-01 Waldo Ralph Emerson (1803-1882) was a famous American writer and poet in the 19th century. He was also an educational thinker, who advocates reform and progress. As a representative of transcendentalism, he advocated the doctrine of individualism, emphasizing that the power of the spirit is far more than material, and that the potential of individual potential is infinite. Around him, gathered a group of people of insight, who were determined to transform the society, such as Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888), Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), etc. All of the above had once been teachers, and they were deeply saddened by the rigid education system and the old-fashioned education methods at the time, and firmly believed that the progress and improvement of society must be based on personal education and moral self-improvement. They actively participated in the mainstream of educational reforms that opened people’s mind, innovated their ways of thinking, and created a new culture with reformed educational system in New England. At the same time, transcendentalism has become an important part of American educational thought.
  puritans and education: School Education , 1885
  puritans and education: The Palgrave Handbook of Educational Leadership and Management Discourse Fenwick W. English, 2022-10-13 This Handbook explores the discourse within the field of educational leadership and management. It provides a clear analysis of the current field as well as older foundational ideas and newer concepts which are beginning to permeate the discussion. The field of educational leadership and management has long acknowledged that educational contexts include a variety of leaders beyond school principals and other school officials such as informal and middle level leaders. By looking at the knowledge dynamic rather than a static knowledge base , this Handbook allows research to be presented in its multidimensional, evolving reality.
  puritans and education: Educational Foundations Brian W. Dotts, 2019 This educational foundations book offers a comprehensive overview of American education history and a variety of classical, Enlightenment, and contemporary educational philosophers. While Educational Foundations includes a history of American education, it also looks at numerous policies, constitutional law cases, events, and political, religious, and social conflicts for students to consider while learning their subject matter. The text is divided into two sections: the first is a look at a broad array of philosophical influences from the Western canon, while the second is an exploration of the history of American education, focusing on a few specific eras. With strong and helpful pedagogical features and resources, such as class activities, suggested files, chapter objectives, and sidebar questions, this textbook is an excellent resource for students. It is useful for undergraduate and graduate courses in educational foundations.
  puritans and education: The Price of Redemption Mark A. Peterson, 1997 Beginning with the first colonists and continuing down to the present, the dominant narrative of New England Puritanism has maintained that piety and prosperity were enemies, that the rise of commerce delivered a mortal blow to the fervor of the founders, and that later generations of Puritans fell away from their religious heritage as they moved out across the New England landscape. This book offers a new alternative to the prevailing narrative, which has been frequently criticized but heretofore never adequately replaced. The author’s argument follows two main strands. First, he shows that commercial development, rather than being detrimental to religion, was necessary to sustain Puritan religious culture. It was costly to establish and maintain a vital Puritan church, for the needs were many, including educated ministers who commanded substantial salaries; public education so that the laity could be immersed in the Bible and devotional literature (substantial expenses in themselves); the building of meeting houses; and the furnishing of communion tables--all and more were required for the maintenance of Puritan piety. Second, the author analyzes how the Puritans gradually developed the evangelical impulse to broadcast the seeds of grace as widely as possible. The spread of Puritan churches throughout most of New England was fostered by the steady devotion of material resources to the maintenance of an intense and demanding religion, a devotion made possible by the belief that money sown to the spirit would reap divine rewards. In 1651, about 20,000 English colonists were settled in some 30 New England towns, each with a newly formed Puritan church. A century later, the population had grown to 350,000, and there were 500 meetinghouses for Puritan churches. This book tells the story of this remarkable century of growth and adaptation through intertwined histories of two Massachusetts churches, one in Boston and one in Westfield, a village on the remote western frontier, from their foundings in the 1660’s to the religious revivals of the 1740’s. In conclusion, the author argues that the Great Awakening was a product of the continuous cultivation of traditional religion, a cultural achievement built on New England’s economic development, rather than an indictment and rejection of its Puritan heritage.
  puritans and education: Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America [2 volumes] Francis J. Bremer, Tom Webster, 2005-12-19 This exhaustive treatment of the Puritan movement covers its doctrines, its people, its effects on politics and culture, and its enduring legacy in modern Britain and America. Puritanism began in the 1530s as a reform movement within the Church of England. It endured into the 18th century. In between, it powerfully influenced the course of political events both in Britain and in the United States. Puritanism shaped the American colonies, particularly New England. It was a key ingredient in literature, from authors as diverse as John Milton and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Although Puritanism as a formal movement has been gone for more than 300 years, its influence continues on the mores and norms of America and Britain. This ambitious work contains nearly 700 entries covering people, events, ideas, and doctrines—the whole of Puritanism. Exhaustive and authoritative, it draws on the work of more than 80 leading scholars in the field. Impeccable scholarship combines with eminent readability to make this a valuable work for all readers and researchers from secondary school up.
  puritans and education: What Your Child Needs to Know When Robin Sampson, 2009-05-20 Includes a summary of objectives and a scope and sequence for the five most commonly used national achievement tests to help home schoolers prepare their children.