Women in American Education, 1820-1955: The Female Force and Educational Reform

(Hardback)

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Recounts the remarkable achievements of women who dared to defy customs, break legal barriers, and endure hardship and discrimination in order to provide education for girls, young children, female teachers, homemakers, disabled students, the immigrant poor, and African American youth--the people excluded from traditional institutions of their day. Excerpts from the women's own writings are provided as well as discussion of their unique teaching methods.

Reviews

"Edwards offers an uplifting collection of biographies that challenge educators today to appreciate the courage and sacrifice of eight women who utilized constructivist practices. The women's stories she selected demonstrate the struggles they faced as educators working outside of traditional white, male-dominated institutions. The biographies in this collection not only offer insight into the times in which the women educators lived, they present the female voice in education theory that is often overlooked in favor of male philosophers and educators. At this point in time, when educators in the United States need to be encouraged to remember the gains of constructivist reforms and the rewards of active student engagement, [this book] is a welcome addition to my Curriculum Theory and Practice class."-Jean Palmer-Moloney Associate Professor of Education Director of Teacher Education Hartwick College
"Edwards' Women in Education 1820-1955: The Female Force and Educational Reform provides insight into many aspects of educational and women's history. Women educational pioneers are presented in their true places as innovators and practitioners of educational reform rather than as footnotes to the male theorists most often featured in textbooks making the book a good choice for use in women's studies courses. It would be an excellent supplementary text for social foundations of education courses as the reader is led to view contemporary constructivist educational theory through examination of its roots in 19th and early 20th century educational practice and to consider the place of women in educational history."-Karen McKellips Professor of Education Cameron University
"This lucid journey into the lives and careers of eight extraordinary women unveils important hidden aspects of American educational history. Their courageous will to do good was situated in insight and action, in individual effort and social ethics. Edwards' richly drawn portraits provide real-life lessons for today's students in social foundations of education, history of education, and women's studies."-Joseph L. DeVitis Professor of Education and Human Development State University of New York at Binghamton

Author Bio

JUNE EDWARDS is Professor of Education, SUNY-College of Oneonta.