Utopian Colleges (American University Studies Series XIV, Education) [Paperback]

Constance Cappel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0820420565 | ISBN-13: 978-0820420561 | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

Discouraged with the state of higher education in the United States, Dr. Constance Cappel visited over fifty institutions of higher education worldwide. Pooling from her experiences, Dr. Cappel described five examples of "utopian colleges," where she was ultimately either a student or an employee. The resulting study, Utopian Colleges, examines both the strengths and weaknesses of any human institution. Utopian Colleges gives both historical and contemporary insights into American higher education that are both experimental and progressive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Imagine educating people in the best possible way-respecting the whole person, building on interests and abilities, strengthening responsibility for self and others, solving problems and preparing students to lead the improvement of the world! A few colleges have taken this challenge seriously, and Dr. Cappel tells us about them in this important book." -- Judith Wood Spock, Educator and Trustee, Antioch University, Ohio

"Utopian Colleges has focused on several colleges in the United States that have pioneered a number of innovative educational, social, and administrative procedures. This research has undoubtedly pointed the way for future scholars and practitioners in higher education." -- Robert McAndrews, Core Graduate Faculty, The Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio

"Utopian Colleges is a serious and important contribution to the history of progressive education." -- Harold Taylor, Author and Educator

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820420565
• ISBN-13: 978-0820420561
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,166,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

From writing a biography on Ernest Hemingway in my twenties until now in my seventies, I have been fascinated with the American Indians in northern Michigan. Many of my books have been about them including The Smallpox Genocide of the Odawa Tribe at L'Arbre Croche, 1763: The History of a Native American People (2007), Odawa Language and Legends (2006), Sweetgrass and Smoke (2004), and Hemingway in Michigan (1966,1977,1999).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important books for educators, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Utopian Colleges (American University Studies Series XIV, Education) (Paperback)

At this time when large universities such as Harvard accept money from bin Laden, the need for smaller "Utopian Colleges" becomes evident. Not only are the missions of these colleges more ethical, but their history of progressive education and its values give hope to American higher education. This book examines these colleges that create independant thinkers rather than the corporate robots of the major U.S. universities.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way Non-Traditional Education Was and Is., February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Utopian Colleges (American University Studies Series XIV, Education) (Paperback)

Dr. Cappel's book addresses both the history of utopian education and its present incarnation in Utopian Colleges. Speaking from personal experience, I know many of the stresses that provide for both compromise and solidarity within a utopian educational community do exist and have been greatly affected by their manifestations. The underlying work ethic the author shows to be true in the diverse selection of educational institutions featured in Utopian Colleges is a very important aspect of education that is generally ignored in mainstream education. Utopian Colleges shows that the utopian ideal in American post-secondary education was not a counter-culture product of the 1960's, but a long-held tenet which has sought to nurture the creative and intuitive genius to be found within each willing student. The extensive background information provided as a prelude to the present-day and historical outlines of several utopian colleges, along with the discussion of the nature of "utopia" itself are of great enough value alone to offset the cost of this book. This is a great text with which to begin a critique of the American educational system.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy yet informative read--important for educators/students, February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Utopian Colleges (American University Studies Series XIV, Education) (Paperback)

As a young student in the late 70's, I attended what was then called an "alternative education" school for two years of my elementary education. The knowledge I learned in this progressive school is a valuable part of who I am and what I have become. My fondest learning experiences came from these two crucial years. I am a strong advocate for progressive education and feel that new methods need to be examined and implemented in order to give students a proper education; reading Constance Cappel's Utopian Colleges gave me a glimpse into some educational institutions that are doing just that. I found it to be both interesting and intriguing in showing how some colleges are trying to change how we educate young adults in our country. An easy yet informative read, Utopian Colleges will introduce students and educators to some alternative teaching methods and educational philosophies; more publications such as this should be offered so students can be aware of the different choices they have for selecting a college for their higher education experience.