Innocents Abroad : American Teachers in the American Century

Protestant missionaries in Latin America. Colonial "civilizers" in the Pacific. Peace Corps Volunteers in Africa. Since the 1890s, thousands of American teachers--mostly young, white, middle-class, and inexperienced--have fanned out across the globe. Innocents Abroad tells the story of what they intended to teach and what lessons they learned. Drawing on extensive archives of the teachers' letters and diaries, as well as more recent accounts, Jonathan Zimmerman argues that until the early twentieth century, the teachers assumed their own superiority; they sought to bring civilization, Protestantism, and soap to their host countries. But by the mid-twentieth century, as teachers borrowed the concept of "culture" from influential anthropologists, they became far more self-questioning about their ethical and social assumptions, their educational theories, and the complexity of their role in a foreign society. Filled with anecdotes and dilemmas--often funny, always vivid--Zimmerman's narrative explores the teachers' shifting attitudes about their country and themselves, in a world that was more unexpected and unsettling than they could have imagined. (20070924)

protestant Missionaries In Latin America. Colonial Civilizers In The Pacific. Peace Corps Volunteers In Africa. Since The 1890s, Thousands Of American Teachers—mostly Young, White, Middle-class, And Inexperienced—have Fanned Out Across The Globe. innocents Abroad Tells The Story Of What They Intended To Teach And What Lessons They Learned.

drawing On Extensive Archives Of The Teachers' Letters And Diaries, As Well As More Recent Accounts, Jonathan Zimmerman Argues That Until The Early Twentieth Century, The Teachers Assumed Their Own Superiority; They Sought To Bring Civilization, Protestantism, And Soap To Their Host Countries. But By The Mid-twentieth Century, As Teachers Borrowed The Concept Of Culture From Influential Anthropologists, They Became Far More Self-questioning About Their Ethical And Social Assumptions, Their Educational Theories, And The Complexity Of Their Role In A Foreign Society.

filled With Anecdotes And Dilemmas—often Funny, Always Vivid—zimmerman's Narrative Explores The Teachers' Shifting Attitudes About Their Country And Themselves, In A World That Was More Unexpected And Unsettling Than They Could Have Imagined.

fritz Fischer - Journal Of American History

in innocents Abroad, Jonathan Zimmerman Provides Both An Important Contribution To Historical Scholarship And A Fascinating Glimpse At The Lives Of A Unique Group Of Americans. This Book Examines Americans In The Twentieth Century Who Went Overseas To Teach, Whether Under The Auspices Of Missionary Groups Or As Members Of Secular Groups, Most Especially The Peace Corps. This Is A Gracefully Written, Thoroughly Researched, And Creatively Organized Study. It Provides A Thoughtful And Imaginative Perspective On How Americans Who Served As Teachers Overseas Conceived Of The American Project Overseas.

Protestant Missionaries In Latin America. Colonial Civilizers In The Pacific. Peace Corps Volunteers In Africa. Since The 1890s, Thousands Of American Teachers--mostly Young, White, Middle-class, And Inexperienced--have Fanned Out Across The Globe. Innocents Abroad Tells The Story Of What They Intended To Teach And What Lessons They Learned. Drawing On Extensive Archives Of The Teachers' Letters And Diaries, As Well As More Recent Accounts, Jonathan Zimmerman Argues That Until The Early Twentieth Century, The Teachers Assumed Their Own Superiority; They Sought To Bring Civilization, Protestantism, And Soap To Their Host Countries. But By The Mid-twentieth Century, As Teachers Borrowed The Concept Of Culture From Influential Anthropologists, They Became Far More Self-questioning About Their Ethical And Social Assumptions, Their Educational Theories, And The Complexity Of Their Role In A Foreign Society. Filled With Anecdotes And Dilemmas--often Funny, Always Vivid--zimmerman's Narrative Explores The Teachers' Shifting Attitudes About Their Country And Themselves, In A World That Was More Unexpected And Unsettling Than They Could Have Imagined.--publisher's Website. The American Method -- The American Curriculum -- Schooling For All? -- The Protective Garb Of The Job -- Going Global, Or Going It Alone? -- Ambivalent Imperialists -- Epilogue : American Teachers In A Global Age. Jonathan Zimmerman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-289) And Index. "From the Philippines and Hawaii to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, teachers proclaimed the republican virtues of the United States via textbooks, stories, verse, and song. During her first week in the Philippines, Philinda Rand taught her students the melody, 'I Love the Name of Washington'; to drill them in English, meanwhile, she used patriotic poems. 'I lub the pfleg, the dear old pfleg,' Rand recalled her students chanting, 'Wit its rrred and whit te and bloo.' Detailed to a school after 12 months of army duty, another instructor taught his pupils 'Marching Through Georgia'; two weeks later, children in a distant barrio were singing it. Other teachers led their students in 'rollicking college songs' and 'bright catchy tunes' like 'A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight,' which one instructor jokingly described as the Philippine 'National Air.' Fittingly, though, the real national anthem was written by an American school teacher. Calling it 'Philippines, My Philippines,' he adapted the anthem from 'Maryland, My Maryland'-his own state song." Contents ......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Aboard the USS Thomas......Page 14 I American Dilemmas......Page 34 1 The American Method......Page 36 2 The American Curriculum......Page 64 3 Schooling for All?......Page 94 II American Critiques......Page 126 4 The Protective Garb of the “Job”......Page 130 5 Going Global, or Going It Alone?......Page 165 6 Ambivalent Imperialists......Page 194 Epilogue: American Teachers in a Global Age......Page 224 Notes......Page 238 Index......Page 304 The story of Americans teaching abroad since the 1890s: what they intended to teach and what lessons they learned