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Full-Text Articles in History
"Does The Common Core Further Democracy? A Response To ‘The Common Core And Democratic Education: Examining Potential Costs And Benefits To Public And Private Autonomy’,", Johann N. Neem
History Faculty and Staff Publications
The Common Core does not advance democratic education. Far from it, the opening section of the language standards argues that the goal of public K–12 education is “college and career readiness.” Only at the end of their introductory section do the Common Core’s authors suggest that K–12 education has any goals beyond the economic: learning to read and write well has “wide applicability outside the classroom and work place,” including preparing people for “private deliberation and responsible citizenship in a republic.” The democratic purposes of K–12 education are not goals but, in the Common Core’s words, a “natural outgrowth” of …
State Of The Field: What Is The Legacy Of The Common Schools Movement? Revisiting Carl Kaestle's 1983 Pillars Of The Republic, Johann N. Neem
State Of The Field: What Is The Legacy Of The Common Schools Movement? Revisiting Carl Kaestle's 1983 Pillars Of The Republic, Johann N. Neem
History Faculty and Staff Publications
Perhaps no one put it better than Ellwood Cubberley who, during the first half of the twentieth century, was America’s best-known education historian. Cubberley had attended common schools in Indiana, taught school, and served as superintendent in San Diego, before becoming an education professor at Stanford in 1898 and receiving his doctorate from Teachers College. In his 1919 Public Education in the United States, written for normal-school students, Cubberley laid down a moral tale. He was on the side of the school reformers. His story told of the heroic efforts of Horace Mann and others to overcome ignorance and …
Does History Matter? A Cautionary Tale For The Tuning Project, Johann N. Neem
Does History Matter? A Cautionary Tale For The Tuning Project, Johann N. Neem
History Faculty and Staff Publications
There is good reason to be concerned about the future of academic history and, more generally, the liberal arts. As increasing numbers of Americans seek higher education, colleges are under pressure to serve directly the vocational needs of students and businesses. Recent efforts to defend the liberal arts therefore emphasize the development of "transferable skills." A liberal education, advocates argue, prepares students for high-level jobs because it fosters critical thinking, analytical skills, and creativity. There is evidence that these skills may be developed more effectively in the liberal arts than in vocational fields.
Is Jefferson A Founding Father Of Democratic Education?, Johann N. Neem
Is Jefferson A Founding Father Of Democratic Education?, Johann N. Neem
History Faculty and Staff Publications
This response argues that it is reasonable to consider Thomas Jefferson a proponent of democratic education. It suggests that Jefferson's education proposals sought to ensure the wide distribution of knowledge and that Jefferson's legacy remains important to us today.