The Transformation of the School facts for kids
| Author | Lawrence Cremin |
|---|---|
| Subject | History of education in the United States, progressive education |
| Published | 1961 (Alfred A. Knopf) |
| Pages | 387 |
The Transformation of the School: Progressivism in American Education, 1876–1957 is a book about how schools changed in America. It focuses on a time called the Progressive Education movement, from 1876 to 1957. A historian named Lawrence Cremin wrote this book, and it came out in 1961.
Contents
What Was Progressive Education?
Progressive education was a big idea about how to make schools better. It started in the late 1800s and lasted for many years. Before this, schools often focused on strict rules and memorizing facts. Teachers usually stood at the front and lectured.
Learning in a New Way
People who believed in progressive education wanted learning to be more active. They thought students should learn by "doing" things, not just listening. This meant more projects, group work, and hands-on activities. They wanted school to prepare kids for real life.
Progressive educators also believed that each child was special. They wanted to teach in ways that fit each student's needs. This was different from treating all students the same. They also thought schools should teach kids how to think for themselves.
Why Did Schools Change?
Many people felt that older ways of teaching were not working well. America was changing fast with new factories and cities. Schools needed to help students get ready for these new jobs and lives. Progressive education aimed to make schools more useful and fair for everyone.
It also focused on making school a more fun and interesting place. They wanted kids to be excited about learning. This movement helped shape many of the ways we learn in schools today.
About the Author: Lawrence Cremin
Lawrence Cremin (1925–1990) was a very important American historian. He studied the history of education. He taught at Columbia University for many years. Cremin wrote many books about how education changed over time in the United States.
The Transformation of the School is one of his most famous books. It helped people understand the progressive education movement much better. He explained its ideas, its leaders, and its impact on schools.
Why This Book Matters
This book is important because it tells the story of a major change in American schools. It helps us understand why schools are the way they are today. Cremin's book showed how new ideas about learning led to big changes in classrooms.
It also helps us see how different people had different ideas about what schools should do. The book is still studied by teachers, historians, and anyone interested in how education has grown. It reminds us that schools are always changing and trying to get better.
