Classical Education versus Science Education
Time Frame/ Year: Early to Mid 1800's
Sponsors: Edward Livingston Youmans, Thomas Huxley, Herbert Spencer
Aim of the Movement:
Several factors promoted the growth of the Science Education movement of the 1800's :
1. A classical education was useful to those seeking a career in the clergy or literature. Beyond that, it was mostly a symbol of status. Educators were looking for an alternative to the classical education that would be more modern and useful to the masses in that it offered information on current issues such as poverty, sanitation, and public health.
2. Not only did advocates for science education want an education that was useful, but they wanted an education that was rigorous and mentally challenging. These advocates stated that science offered more mental discipline than a classic education because it promoted critical thinking and scientific reasoning wheras a classical education promoted recitiation, rote memorization and authoritarian teaching.
3. The 1800's was also a period of much technological growth and scientific discovery. In order for citizens to be kept abreast of current development, this country needed a educational curriculum to match that.
Major Impact on Science Education:
Much debate took place between the classical and scientific education advocates, unfortunately not much changed in the school curriculum.
Long Term Contribution:
Although 1800's saw little change educationally, this time period was the inspiration for incorporating science into the classroom and it was the beginning of the end of the classical education.
Time Frame/ Year: Early to Mid 1800's
Sponsors: Edward Livingston Youmans, Thomas Huxley, Herbert Spencer
Aim of the Movement:
Several factors promoted the growth of the Science Education movement of the 1800's :
1. A classical education was useful to those seeking a career in the clergy or literature. Beyond that, it was mostly a symbol of status. Educators were looking for an alternative to the classical education that would be more modern and useful to the masses in that it offered information on current issues such as poverty, sanitation, and public health.
2. Not only did advocates for science education want an education that was useful, but they wanted an education that was rigorous and mentally challenging. These advocates stated that science offered more mental discipline than a classic education because it promoted critical thinking and scientific reasoning wheras a classical education promoted recitiation, rote memorization and authoritarian teaching.
3. The 1800's was also a period of much technological growth and scientific discovery. In order for citizens to be kept abreast of current development, this country needed a educational curriculum to match that.
Major Impact on Science Education:
Much debate took place between the classical and scientific education advocates, unfortunately not much changed in the school curriculum.
Long Term Contribution:
Although 1800's saw little change educationally, this time period was the inspiration for incorporating science into the classroom and it was the beginning of the end of the classical education.