EDST 200 Rud

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EDST 200 Rud Week 2-3 THE AGE OF THE REPUBLIC
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• Historical and Philosophical Background
• 1. Locke and Rousseau - already discussed
• a. Set the stage for the American Revolution.
• b. Impetus for experiment in self-government.
• c. Locke's educational thought Learn by doing.
• d. Rousseau's natural unfolding.

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2. Comenius - additional influence a. 17th
century thinker similar ideas to Locke. b.
Spokesman for the power of education to improve
the human condition. c. Was influential in
colonial America idea of universal education.
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3. The Revolution and Education a. Had an
immediate effect of limiting education. b. Many
schools and colleges turned to barracks for the
army. c. However, many seminal ideas of American
education came about during this time. d. Now
focus on some key individuals Franklin,
Jefferson, and Noah Webster.
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II. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 1. Life a.
Was poor, 15th of 17 children. Worked as an
apprentice, and then assisted his father, a soap
maker. Later, at age 12, worked as a printer
with his brother. b. He wrote under a pseudonym
for his brother's newspaper, mostly criticized
privileged class, the clergy, and the
government. His brother was put in jail for his
newspaper.
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c. At the age of 24, Franklin owned his own
printing shop, which published the Almanack. d.
Was a man of many talents and wide interests.
e. He promoted the organization of the first
hospital in America, created the first chartered
fire insurance company, introduced street
cleaning, paving, and street lights in
Philadelphia (civic improvements), helped create
subscription libraries, ambassador to France,
served on committee which drew up the Declaration
of Independence.
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2. Beliefs a. He emphasized self education.
Learn by doing, and experimenting (kite
experiment). b. Believed in man's ability to
reason and so act morally. c. The idea of human
perfectibility through habit formation He kept
a list of virtues and made a chart and noted
every fault he committed.
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3. Educational Ideas a. Franklin believed in
individual education the improvement of the
self. He read and studied geometry, poetry and
writing. b. The practical advice of the Almanack.
We see this influence today in the self help
movement. c. Life-long, continuing education.
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d. Established the American Philosophical
Society. e. Subscription libraries and newspapers
as forums for life-long learning. f. Academies
practical and useful knowledge, such as
surveying, debate, penmanship, oratory. Learn
French, rather than classical languages. Moral
knowledge and wisdom were the precursors to
character education today.
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4. Application to Today's Education a.
Citizenship education. b. The connectedness of
language arts reading, writing, and speaking. c.
Learning as a life-long activity. d. Vocational
education.
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• III. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
• 1. Life
• a. Upper class family, studied law at William
  
• and Mary.
• b. Elected U.S. president in 1800.
• c. Truly a multifaceted man, who thought
  deeply about education, but also studied many
  subjects, was fascinated by architecture and
  agriculture. Monticello, his home in
  Charlottesville, stands as testimony, as does the
  University of Virginia.

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d. Was an optimistic believer in improvement
through reason and observation. e. We can come
to know the universe, and society can be
improved. This could be done through education
for the citizenry. f. How his beliefs played out
in his life work politics, but what was on his
gravestone? For what did he want to be
remembered?
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2. Educational Beliefs a. Bill for More General
Diffusion of Knowledge (1779) promoted universal
education, plus a three-tiered system of
education of elementary schools, secondary
schools, and a state university. Only success
was that of a state university. b.
Connectedness between politics and education. c.
The importance of history to learn civic and
moral lessons. d. The importance of school
districts and local control.
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3. Application to Today's Education a. Civic
education a knowledgeable citizenry is essential
for a democracy. b. The primacy of local school
districts in our educational system.
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• IV. Noah Webster (1758-1843)
• 1. Educational Ideas
• Began as a country schoolmaster,
• created a speller.
• b. Teach by memorization.
• c. Sold many copies of his speller.
• d. Mass education, but also education for young
  girls too. Reason was that he felt girls should
  be educated as they would be mothers and the
  first teachers.
• e. He believed in free education.

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V. Exercise 1 1. Issues then and now, for
discussion in groups a. National education
versus local/state control (Think of NCLB). b.
Funding tuition tax credits, vouchers, etc. c.
Access and Opportunity.
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VI. Exercise 2 1. Non-formal education Discuss
among yourselves a teaching idea using one of the
non-formal means of education common in this
age, such as newspapers, libraries, and debates.