Social Reforms of America: Early to Mid 19th Century
Amos Bronson Alcott
Title.
Amos Bronson Alcott (November 29, 1799 – March 4, 1888) was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. He received little formal education before becoming an educator. He disapproved of the traditional punishment and thus pioneered the method of teaching students through conversations and questioning, not lectures and drills, which were more popular during his time. He also put up visual aids around the classroom to inspire learning.
His liberal ideas sparked controversy and misunderstanding, and his books were often difficult to read. Alcott established a series of innovative schools for children, but they were ultimately unsuccessful, and even infamous, because of his original ideas. His most well-known teaching position was at the Temple School in Boston, a school he had started himself. His experience there was turned into two books: Records of a School and Conversations with Children on the Gospels.
He was the pioneer for Educational progressivism, the belief that education must be based on the principle that humans are social animals who learn best in real-life activities with other people.
Why did his schools fail?
His liberal ideas sparked controversy and misunderstanding, and his books were often difficult to read. Alcott established a series of innovative schools for children, but they were ultimately unsuccessful, and even infamous, because of his original ideas. His most well-known teaching position was at the Temple School in Boston, a school he had started himself. His experience there was turned into two books: Records of a School and Conversations with Children on the Gospels.
He was the pioneer for Educational progressivism, the belief that education must be based on the principle that humans are social animals who learn best in real-life activities with other people.
Why did his schools fail?
- He was accused of being blasphemous when he asked students to question if biblical miracles were literal and suggested that all people are part of God.
- He admitted an African American into his school and refused to expel him despite protests.
- His classes were always thought-invoking, and he seldom gave his students lectures.
From a 21st century point of view, his actions were justifiable and noble. However, his ideas were too liberal for the society in the 19th century to accept However, some of his ideas did survive in the school system.
What's wrong with that??
From a 21st century vantage, his actions were justifiable and noble. However, remember that he lived in an era where liberal ideas were only still developing and Puritans' narrow-mindedness still prevailed.
From a 21st century vantage, his actions were justifiable and noble. However, remember that he lived in an era where liberal ideas were only still developing and Puritans' narrow-mindedness still prevailed.
