Four Centuries of American Education

See if you can answer the questions below:Which Ivy league school had this as an educational practice? - "Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scripture twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein."Which other Ivy league school admonished it students to, "Above all, have an eye to the great end of all your studies, which is to obtain the clearest conceptions of Divine things and to lead you to a saving knowledge of God in his Son Jesus Christ"?The quotes above, both taken from foundational documents of Ivy League schools, provide a small glimpse into the beginnings of our nations educational system.In Four Centuries of American Education, David Barton, founder of WallBuilders ([...]) spends time tracing the roots of the American educational system. Throughout this resource, Mr. Barton provides source after source to show the foundations of this nations educational system were founded upon a higher standard.Mr. Barton's research provides interesting insights and material to which I imagine the majority of Americans are not aware. Not only does Mr. Barton quote from these documents, there are images throughout the book from those documents.A quote I found to appreciate throughout the book is, "The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." (page 6) Mr. Barton not only covers the founding principles of the American educational system, he continues the discussion into the current period to provide insights into our current system and the journey it has taken from its foundations.If you are looking for a resource to assist in learning about the foundations of the American educational system, I recommend Four Centuries of American Education. As a minister, I am intrigued by the educational system because most of the people I talk with have attended public schools in the American educational system. It is good to know what people are learning to assist them in growing.Just my thoughts,Chris

This book as my favorite thing all of bookdom...NOTES! Oh boy; are there notes to this book. On almost every page there is an opportunity to dog deeper into history by going to the notes. I purchased the New England Primer just to read it. I definitely recommend Barton's books.

In his book "Four Centuries of American Education", Barton makes a great case for religious based education.However, Barton copies four questions from an 1862 fourth grade Geography test from Chicago Public schools ON PAGE 3. On page 3 where the book begins, copied "PRINCIPLE" instead of "PRINCIPAL" in the fourth question. This question SHOULD have read, per the original document (which is posted below the copied questions, ), "Name the principal animals of the frigid zones.". In a book focused on 400 years of education in America, you would THINK the author would realize that, in dealing with a homophone (sounds similar,spelled differently,different meaning), he would at least copy exactly from the primary source rather than use a word with a completely different meaning ("principal" means primary; whereas "principle" means a rule or code of conduct). Such an obvious error immediately plants seeds of doubt in the credibility of the author when neither author nor editor caught this obvious error before going to print.On page 14-15 he lists undocumented assertions on the Protestant Reformation . He claims that it started in the 15th century (1400s) when it actually began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the door of Wittenburg Castle which was in the 16th century (Barton fails to mention Luther's actions as its beginning). Without Luther, there may have never been a Reformation at all.Barton accuses Henry VIII of taking all church property not in agreement with the Church of England, However, unless I can be shown differently, Henry VIII, with the help of Thomas Cromwell, his Chief "confiscate monasteries,friaries and convents of the Catholic church to fund his low treasury to wage war.Barton cites on page 31, that as Washington was speaking to the Delaware Native Americans in May of 1779 claiming Washington was recommending American schools to the children of the Delaware Chiefs including that they will learn "above all" ..."the religion of Jesus Christ".Washington was visited by these chiefs who were on their way to DC to present Congress with a list of requests INCLUDING the education of their children in the teachings of Jesus. Washington, as the Commanding General, could not guarantee any promise in response to these demands. Only Congress could. Washington simply responded to THEIR points from THEIR petition to Congress to appease without approving their requests. Washington NEVER volunteered to teach the Delawares about Jesus. This is the very revisionist history Barton rails against. Question everything. Never take anything at face value.If he had notes to back up his assertiions ,the reader could check the author's sources and make up their own mind.While I agree with what Barton is trying to say regarding the inclusion of religious instruction in school, his inattention to detail, improper citation and absence of proper citations, hold his credibility in question as a serious historian lending a small degre of credence to the arguments of his critics.Overall, a good read, but not well documented.

Wish this truth was still being taught in schools & college history classes today. Easy read & very good!

A little book, packed full of info. Barton gives a brief overview of American Education especially for the colonial era. A great read for the historian and/or Christian educator.