A Progressive Education?: How Childhood Changed in Mid-Twentieth-Century English and Welsh Schools

This book explores how ideas about childhood and adolescence were transformed in English and Welsh schools after WWII, challenging the dominant narrative of progressive education and shaping a more restrictive and pessimistic image of childhood. It will be valuable for historians, sociologists, education professionals, and policy-makers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This captivating book delves into the profound transformations that occurred in English and Welsh schools following World War II. Spanning from 1918 to 1979, it offers a comprehensive analysis of how ideas about childhood and adolescence were reshaped within these educational institutions. By centering childhood as the focal point of education history, the book challenges the prevailing narratives surrounding the evolution of schooling. It suggests that while progressive education gained prominence after 1945, it inadvertently led to a backlash against permissive attitudes towards students in Western Europe and the United States. However, British child-centered education, in collaboration with developmental psychology, crafted a more restrictive and pessimistic portrayal of childhood. Drawing upon a vast array of sources, including school logbooks, oral histories, and official documents, this book emerges as a vital resource for historians, sociologists, education professionals, and policy-makers alike. It sheds light on the intricate interplay between teaching practices, societal trends, and cultural influences, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the evolution of education in modern Britain. Through its meticulous research and insightful analysis, this book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics that shaped the educational landscape during this transformative period.

Dimension: 216 x 138 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526174567