Synopses & Reviews
As one of the few books on the history and philosophy of American elementary school education, Cavanaugh's work examines the pioneering careers of Francis Wayland Parker, John Dewey, Rudolph Steiner, Hughes Mearns, and Laura Zirbes. Finding the basic framework for current fashionable trends in education like the Whole Language and Process Writing Movement, Cavanaugh shows how educators came to these ideas over 100 years ago. After presenting the five biographies, Cavanaugh goes on to explain how children learn to read and write; what kinds of schools foster this learning; the roles of teachers, students, and parents; and the important tools of grading, evaluation, and assessment. In all these areas there are important lessons to learn from the past.
Synopsis
Examines the careers of Francis Wayland Parker, John Dewey, Rudolph Steiner, Hughes Mearns, and Laura Zirbes.
Table of Contents
Preface
The Biographies
The Child: Children as Children, and Children as Learners
Language and Literacy: How They Learn to Read and Write--Theory and Practice
Structure: History, Purpose, and Organization--A Description of Schools Where Learning Does Take Place
Structure: Teachers, Students, and Parents--Their Roles and Responsibilities
Grading, Evaluation, and Assessment--Why It Is So Important and Why It Is So Difficult to Do
Conclusion: Or Why It Is Imperative to Look to the Past as We Move to the Future
Index