The Learning of Liberty: The Educational Ideas of the American Founders (American Political Thought)

American schools are in a state of crisis. At the root of our current perplexity, beneath the difficulties with funding, social problems, and low test scores, festers a serious uncertainty as to what the focus and goals of education should be. We are increasingly haunted by the suspicion that our educational theories and institutions have lost sight of the need to perpetuate a core of moral and civic knowledge that is essential for any citizen's education, and indeed for any individual's happiness. Mining the Founders' rich reflections on education, the Pangles suggest, can help us recover a clearer sense of perspective and purpose. With a commanding knowledge of the history of political philosophy, the authors illustrate how the Founders both drew upon and transformed the ideas of earlier philosophers of education such as Plato, Xenophon, Milton, Bacon, and Locke. They trace the emergence of a new American ideal of public education that puts civic instruction at its core to sustain a high quality of leadership and public discourse while producing resourceful, self-reliant members of a uniquely fluid society. The Pangles also explore the wisdom and the weaknesses inherent in Jefferson's attempt to create a comprehensive system of schooling that would educate parents and children and offer unprecedented freedom of choice to university students. An original closing section examines the Founders' ideas for bringing all aspects of society to bear on education. It also shows how Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin presented their own lives as models for the education of others and analyzes the subtle, provocative moral philosophy implicit in the self-depiction of each. The Learning of Liberty is historical and scholarly yet relentlessly practical, seeking from the Founders useful insights into the human soul and the character of good education. Even if the Founders do not provide us with ready-made solutions to many of our problems, the Pangles suggest, a study of their writings can give us a more realistic perspective, by teaching that our bewilderment is in some measure an outgrowth of unresolved tensions embedded in the Founders' own conceptions of republicanism, religion, education, and human nature. "A marvelous work, full of learning and wisdom, certain to interest and enlighten its readers. The authors raise the current discussion of the problems facing American education to a level that towers above the usual topics. They ask what is education for and make a powerful case that in a democratic republic it must focus on civic and moral questions. Their sympathetic and critical account of the ideas and lives of such men as Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin is fascinating in itself and a superb way to illuminate the issues. "Donald Kagan, author of The Fall of the Athenian Empire and coauthor of The Western Heritage .

american Schools Are In A State Of Crisis.

At The Root Of Our Current Perplexity, Beneath The Difficulties With Funding, Social Problems, And Low Test Scores, Festers A Serious Uncertainty As To What The Focus And Goals Of Education Should Be. We Are Increasingly Haunted By The Suspicion That Our Educational Theories And Institutions Have Lost Sight Of The Need To Perpetuate A Core Of Moral And Civic Knowledge That Is Essential For Any Citizen's Education, And Indeed For Any Individual's Happiness. Mining The Founders' Rich Reflections On Education, The Pangles Suggest, Can Help Us Recover A Clearer Sense Of Perspective And Purpose.

With A Commanding Knowledge Of The History Of Political Philosophy, The Authors Illustrate How The Founders Both Drew Upon And Transformed The Ideas Of Earlier Philosophers Of Education Such As Plato, Xenophon, Milton, Bacon, And Locke. They Trace The Emergence Of A New American Ideal Of Public Education That Puts Civic Instruction At Its Core To Sustain A High Quality Of Leadership And Public Discourse While Producing Resourceful, Self-reliant Members Of A Uniquely Fluid Society.

The Pangles Also Explore The Wisdom And The Weaknesses Inherent In Jefferson's Attempt To Create A Comprehensive System Of Schooling That Would Educate Parents And Children And Offer Unprecedented Freedom Of Choice To University Students. An Original Closing Section Examines The Founders' Ideas For Bringing All Aspects Of Society To Bear On Education. It Also Shows How Washington, Jefferson, And Franklin Presented Their Own Lives As Models For The Education Of Others And Analyzes The Subtle, Provocative Moral Philosophy Implicit In The Self-depiction Of Each.

the Learning Of Liberty Is Historical And Scholarly Yet Relentlessly Practical, Seeking From The Founders Useful Insights Into The Human Soul And The Character Of Good Education. Even If The Founders Do Not Provide Us With Ready-made Solutions To Many Of Our Problems, The Pangles Suggest, A Study Of Their Writings Can Give Us A More Realistic Perspective, By Teaching That Our Bewilderment Is In Some Measure An Outgrowth Of Unresolved Tensions Embedded In The Founders' Own Conceptions Of Republicanism, Religion, Education, And Human Nature.

This Book Is Part Of The american Political Thought Series.

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exploring The Writings Of Franklin, Washington, Jefferson (et Al.) The Authors Trace The Emergence Of The American Ideal Of A Public Education That Puts Civic Instruction At The Core. They Also Show That Current Confusion As To The Goals Of Education Are Echoed By The Founders' Struggle With Conceptions Of Education, Republicanism, And Human Nature. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)

American schools are in a state of crisis. At the root of ourcurrent perplexity, beneath the difficulties with funding, socialproblems, and low test scores, festers a serious uncertainty as towhat the focus and goals of education should be. We areincreasingly haunted by the suspicion that our educational theoriesand institutions have lost sight of the need to perpetuate a coreof moral and civic knowledge that is essential for any citizen'seducation, and indeed for any individual's happiness. Mining theFounders' rich reflections on education, the Pangles suggest, canhelp us recover a clearer sense of perspective and purpose. With acommanding knowledge of the history of political philosophy, theauthors illustrate how the Founders both drew upon and transformedthe ideas of earlier philosophers of education such as Plato,Xenophon, Milton, Bacon, and Locke. They trace the emergence of anew American ideal of public education that puts civic instructionat its core to sustain a high quality of leadership and publicdiscourse while producing resourceful, selfreliant members of auniquely fluid society. The Pangles also explore the wisdom and theweaknesses inherent in Jefferson's attempt to create acomprehensive system of schooling that would educate parents andchildren and offer unprecedented freedom of choice to universitystudents. An original closing section examines the Founders' ideasfor bringing all aspects of society to bear on education. It alsoshows how Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin presented their ownlives as models for the education of others and analyzes thesubtle, provocative moral philosophy implicit in the selfdepictionof each. The Learning of Liberty is historical andscholarly yet relentlessly practical, seeking from the Foundersuseful insights into the human soul and the character of goodeducation. Even if the Founders do not provide us with readymadesolutions to many of our problems, the Pangles suggest, a study oftheir writings can give us a more realistic perspective, byteaching that our bewilderment is in some measure an outgrowth ofunresolved tensions embedded in the Founders' own conceptions ofrepublicanism, religion, education, and human nature Pt. 1. The Legacy. 1. The Problematic Heritage Of European Education. 2. Classical Republican Educational Ideals. 3. The Lockean Revolution In Educational Theory -- Pt. 2. Schools For The Emerging Republic. 4. Benjamin Franklin And The Idea Of A Distinctively American Academy. 5. The American Insistence On Public Schooling As Essential To Democracy. 6. Thomas Jefferson On The Education Of Citizens And Leaders. 7. The Unfulfilled Visions For A System Of Public Schooling. 8. Higher Education -- Pt. 3. Institutions Beyond The School. 9. Religion. 10. Economic And Political Life As Sources Of Moral Education. 11. Education Through The Free Exchange Of Ideas -- Pt. 4. Education Through Emulation. 12. George Washington And The Principle Of Honor. 13. Thomas Jefferson And The Natural Basis Of Moral Education. 14. Benjamin Franklin And The Art Of Virtue. Lorraine Smith Pangle And Thomas L. Pangle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 329-337) And Index. While illustrating how the Founders drew upon and transformed the ideas of earlier philosophers of education, the authors trace the emergence of a new American ideal of public education. This puts civic instruction at the centre, in order to sustain qualities of leadership and public discourse.