Education Addams, Jane. (1994). Child Labor Legislation

Education

Addams, Jane. (1994). Child Labor Legislation -- A Requisite for Industrial Efficiency. In On Education (pp. 124-135). New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

Famous education reformer Jane Addams expresses her different views on a liberal and decentralized American education during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. In this particular essay, Addams criticizes the U.S. government for encouraging children at young ages to work for factories and manufacturing companies instead of studying in school. In presenting her argument, Addams places emphasis on the importance of education, not overproduction, as a prerequisite to an industrially successful society. Addams' essay offers a critical view of capitalism and American governance and legislation as focusing on economic gains rather than giving attention to human development resulting to a developed American society.

____. (1994). The Public School and the Immigrant Child. In On Education (pp. 136-142). New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

In the same book source, another essay that contributed to changes in the American educational system during the 19th-20th centuries was Jane Addams' discourse on the effects of education on the immigrant child and his/her family. Addams studies the gradual disconnection of immigrant children to their family as they become more aware of their differences (the child and his/her family) as compared to the American society. Improper teaching of values and understanding and diversity in schools make the immigrant child critical of his family and their differences with Americans, resulting to severed family ties. Addams' study made education for immigrant children change to being more sensitive to the needs of the immigrant family as new members of the society.

Ellis, Arthur, John Cogan, and Kenneth Bowey. (1991). Introduction to the Foundations of Education. (3rd ed.). New York: Allyn and Bacon.

Ellis, Cogan, and Bowey's book focus on different aspects of the history of American education. However, one chapter is devoted to discussing reforms that have been implemented and affected U.S. education, entitled as, "Educational Reform." Under this chapter, the authors discussed how the U.S. government has resolved problems of mediocrity in the educational system during the 20th century. The onslaught of technological advancements in other countries has prompted the state to take action and implement reforms that aim to provide Americans with superior education and easy access to information and knowledge. This section also addresses contemporary issues that provide possible answers to the problems that have pervasively plagued the U.S. education system for years.

Pulliam, John D. (1991). History of Education in America. (5th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

In the latter section of his book, Pulliam provides an integrated approach in discussing the future of education in America. He describes the "futures curriculum" of America as more interactive, focusing on interdisciplinary studies and gives emphasis on enhancing the students' analytical skills and scientific/empirical approach to studying phenomena while attaining a certain degree of humanistic perspective in their (students) studies. Although Pulliam's futures curriculum is too idealistic, these criteria are gradually implemented and practiced by most schools in the U.S. At present, contributing to the changing 'landscape' of American education throughout its history.

Karier, Clarence J. (1967). A History of American Educational Ideas. Illinois: Scott, Foresman, and Co.

Chapter 11 of Karier's book is entitled, "The United States Supreme Court and education," a section that deals with issues that have involved the U.S. Supreme Court with controversial decisions that changed several aspects of the country's educational system. The author's main thesis in this section is that educational reform throughout the history of U.S. education is inevitably tied with the judiciary and legislative systems of the U.S. government, as evident in the cases that have dealt with controversial issues on education. These issues include the right of private schools to be independent from state intervention, discussions on the use of religion in public schools, and policies that encourage nationalism and religious convictions in some educational institutions. Actual SC cases were cited to provide an illustrative example that Karier points out in this chapter.

Button, H. Warren and Eugene Provenzo Jr. (1989). History of Education and Culture in America. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

Chapter Seven of this book provides an in-depth analysis of the different reforms implemented in the American educational system through the years. Entitled "Progressive Reform," this section shows how, prior to the Reformation movement during the 20th century, American education is dominated by the bureaucratic and centralized control of the political and economic sectors of the country. Due to vested interests, American education during pre-reformation years is characterized as "commercialized," and education curricula is patterned favorably for the government. However, reformists such as Jane Addams, John Dewey, Samuel Barnett, and Jacob Riis have fought for a freer, decentralized American education, bringing about significant reforms that ultimately disengaged the educational sector with political and business sectors in the U.S.

Best, John H. And Robert T. Sidwell. (Eds). (1967). The American Legacy of Learning: Readings in the History of Education. USA J.B. Lippinott Co.