Creating a new profession : the beginnings of social work education in the United States

Social work history expert Leslie Leighninger has gathered original materials to tell how the social work profession began in the United States through efforts to create organized training and scientific knowledge. Although many of the names and texts may be familiar to social work educators, students, and practitioners, they are often only briefly mentioned in social work texts. This book provides readers with the full flavor of social work pioneers' ideas, aspirations, and enthusiasm for a new profession. Readers will also find in the selections much that is familiar in social work education today, including an emphasis on research and knowledge development, the importance of field work, attempts to keep up with new techniques and technology, the significance of race and gender, the search for balance between client-centered and society perspectives, and the constant pull in classroom teaching between the ''theoretical'' and the ''practical.'' Council on Social Work Education We are a nonprofit national association representing individual members and graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 1952, this partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in this country. CSWE Press is a niche publisher that addresses the needs of social work educators. Some of our areas of publishing specialty are -The philosophy, theory, and practice of teaching -The process and evaluation of learning -The organization and structure of social work education -Diversity in all forms in social work practice and education -Social work in multiple contexts This text gathers original materials to tell how the social work profession began in the United States through efforts to create organized training and scientific knowledge. While many of the names and texts may be familiar to social work educators, students, and practitioners alike, they are often only briefly mentioned in social work texts. This book provides readers the full flavor of social work pioneers' ideas, aspirations, and enthusiasm for a new profession. In the seminal texts collected in this volume, readers will also find much that resonates with discussions in social work education today, including an emphasis on research, field work, and keeping up with new techniques and technology. The significance of race and gender is also highlighted, as is the ongoing search for balance between client-centered and societal perspectives