Missionary Education: Historical Approaches and Global Perspectives

Missionaries have been subject to academic and societal debate, with some scholars highlighting their contribution to the spread of modernity and development and others questioning their motives and emphasizing their connection with colonialism. This volume focuses on education, one of the most prominent fields in which missionaries have been active, and introduces new angles such as gender, the agency of the local population, and the perspective of the child.

Format: Hardback
Length: 332 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Leuven University Press

Missionaries have been a subject of intense academic and societal debate, with some scholars praising their contributions to the spread of modernity and development among local societies, while others question their motives and emphasize their inseparable connection with colonialism. In this comprehensive volume, fifteen authors, hailing from both Europe and the Global South, delve into these often polarizing positions by examining education, one of the most prominent fields in which missionaries have been actively engaged. They explore Protestantism and Catholicism, drawing from cases spanning the 18th to the 21st century, and covering various colonial empires in Asia and Africa. The volume introduces fresh perspectives, including gender, the agency of the local population, and the viewpoint of children. This publication carries the GPRC label (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content), ensuring the rigorous scrutiny of its content by esteemed peers in the field.

Contributors to this volume include Aditi Athreya (KU Leuven), Joseph Bara (Indian Institute of Dalit Studies), Mary Chepkemoi (Kenyatta University), Kim Christiaens (KADOC-KU Leuven), Maaike Derksen (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen), Rinald D Souza (KU Leuven), Carine Dujardin (KADOC-KU Leuven), Idesbald Goddeeris (KU Leuven), Gwendal Rannou (Universite Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne), Parimala V. Rao (Jawaharlal Nehru University), Marleen Reichgelt (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen), Lourens van Haaften (KU Leuven), Ellen Vea Rosnes (VID University), Pieter Verstraete (KU Leuven), and Meng Wang (University of Sydney).

The authors in this volume offer diverse insights into the complex relationship between missionaries and education, shedding light on the multifaceted ways in which they have influenced and shaped the educational landscape across different regions and historical periods. Through their scholarly analysis, they challenge prevailing narratives and provide a nuanced understanding of the role of missionaries in shaping the educational systems and ideologies of the societies they encountered.

One of the key themes explored in the volume is the impact of missionaries on the spread of Western education. The authors highlight how missionaries played a crucial role in introducing modern education systems, including literacy, numeracy, and science, to societies that had previously been largely illiterate and technologically backward. They argue that missionaries' efforts to impart Western knowledge not only facilitated the development of local economies and societies but also contributed to the broader process of global cultural exchange and interconnectedness.

However, the authors also acknowledge the criticisms leveled against missionaries and their educational practices. They point out that missionaries often imposed their own cultural and religious values on local communities, leading to the marginalization and oppression of indigenous cultures and languages. They argue that missionaries' emphasis on Western education often disregarded the local knowledge and traditions that had been passed down for generations, leading to a sense of cultural loss and disempowerment.

Another theme explored in the volume is the role of gender in missionary education. The authors note that missionaries often worked in male-dominated societies, where women's education and empowerment were often overlooked. They argue that missionaries played a significant role in challenging gender norms and promoting gender equality, particularly through the establishment of schools for girls and the provision of educational opportunities for women. However, they also acknowledge the challenges that women faced in accessing education, including cultural barriers, social discrimination, and gender-based violence.

The authors also examine the agency of the local population in missionary education. They argue that missionaries did not always have a unilateral influence on educational practices and that local communities played a significant role in shaping the educational landscape. They highlight how local leaders, teachers, and parents worked alongside missionaries to adapt and incorporate Western education into their own cultural and social contexts, leading to the development of hybrid educational systems that blended indigenous knowledge with Western principles.

The volume also takes a child's perspective in exploring the impact of missionary education. The authors argue that children were often marginalized and excluded from formal education due to various factors, including poverty, cultural beliefs, and gender discrimination. They highlight how missionaries worked to provide education to children, particularly those living in remote areas or marginalized communities, and how their efforts contributed to the development of a literate and empowered generation.

In conclusion, this volume offers a comprehensive and nuanced examination of the complex relationship between missionaries and education. Through their scholarly analysis, the authors challenge prevailing narratives and provide a rich understanding of the multifaceted ways in which missionaries have influenced and shaped the educational systems and ideologies of different societies. The volume highlights the positive and negative aspects of missionary education, shedding light on the complex interplay between cultural exchange, colonialism, and the empowerment of local populations. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, educators, and anyone interested in exploring the historical and contemporary implications of missionary education.

Weight: 635g
Dimension: 243 x 156 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462702301