The Learning of Liberty: The Educational Ideas of the American Founders (Modern War Studies) - Hardcover

Pangle, Lorraine Smith; Pangle, Thomas L.

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9780700605811: The Learning of Liberty: The Educational Ideas of the American Founders (Modern War Studies)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0700605819 ISBN 13: 9780700605811

Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas, 1993

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Exploring the writings of Franklin, Washington, Jefferson (et al.) the authors trace the emergence of the American ideal of a public education that puts civic instruction at the core. They also show that current confusion as to the goals of education are echoed by the founders' struggle with conceptions of education, republicanism, and human nature. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

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From the Back Cover:

"Essential reading for every student and scholar of American education. I found myself wondering why no one had written this book before." --Diane Ravitch, author of The Schools We Deserve: Reflections on the Educational Crisis of Our Time and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education

"This thoughtful and thought-provoking book demonstrates that the contradictions that informed the educational theories of even the noblest and most generous Founders continue to haunt American education today, notably the challenge of reconciling the claims of a secular democracy with the claims of excellence, honor, and reverence that are necessary to individuals and to the quality of our political life."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, author of Feminism without Illusions: A Critique of Individualism

"The authors make a powerful case that in a democratic republic, education must focus on civic and moral questions. Their sympathetic and critical account of the ideas and lives of such men as Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin is fascinating in itself and a superb way to illuminate the issues. No one seriously interested in the character of education in America should miss this book."--Donald Kagan, author of The Fall of the Athenian Empire and coauthor of The Western Heritage

"This wonderful book reminds us of the importance that the Founders placed on education. Their ideas are full of sustenance and provocation for anyone interested in improving our schools."--Lynne V. Cheney, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities

"The Pangles direct our attention to what is best in America, the thought of our Founders, and make it available to the debate on education today. This is a work of careful scholarship and political philosophy in high style."--Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr., author of America's Constitutional Soul

"A truly admirable work written with genuine grace. To my knowledge, this is the fullest, richest study of the subject."--Lance Banning, author of The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology

About the Author:

Lorraine Smith Pangle is Professor of Government and Co-Director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas at the University of Texas in Austin.

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