Customer Reviews

A Disciplined Progressive Educator (History of Schools and Schooling, V. 43)

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This is an important book on an important forgotten educator. Don't let Wesley Null's title throw you off. Bagley was a powerful, insightful critic of "Progressive" education. Null is an educational historian, and what he means by "Progressive" is what historians mean by that term. He insightfully places Bagley's life within the context in which he lived. Bagley has a great deal to offer us today as far as a philosophy of education is concerned. He is an "Essentialist," which means, according to Null, that Bagley believed that all kids should receive a high quality academic curriculum. Bagley goes beyond grand theorizing, however. He also was a teacher educator who believed that his vision for high-quality curriculum should be realized through high-quality teacher training. He believed in teacher training that combined arts & science faculty members with education school faculty. Bagley is right on his views of teacher training. I think everybody who wants good teachers for their kids should read this book. The people who need to read it the most are the education professors. Bagley has a good vision for them.