The Importance the Rise of World Civ Had on Education

What effect did the introduction of the large lecture have on education?

It began as the professor teaching his students. But as the students attendance went up, they individual disappeared into the audience. It was described as lecturing to a mob by Professor Archibald Cary Coolidge (page 700). They began to experiment with how to assess their students understanding. In 1896, they began to appoint assistants to help govern the class. To even further this overlooking, in the beginning years of the 1900’s, Coolidge introduced the “section method.” This was where one of the three days a week was spent in smaller groups to make sure the students were learning the curriculum. This process is still in place in many modern universities. Where the larger lectures have ‘recitations’ where a lecture of two hundred will break into groups of ten or fifteen. This helps to ensure that students of large prestigious institutions do understand the material they are introduced to in lecture.

Why was it important to remodel the block system that placed the four history courses in high school?

Many believe that American history is completely reliant on and based off of European history, they reflected this in their block system, but placing European and English history before American. When they began to remodel the High school education, they strove to allow students to see American history through a European historical viewpoint. But, many students completely skipped European and English histories, and completed only Ancient History and American History. And although many schools still offer all of these courses, they aren't required to be completed prior to entering college. I personally took European history before American history, and for me, learning European history prior to American definitely affected my view of how American politics worked and functioned in a global world.  

Why was world civ important to have in schools?

It brought in students from every discipline. It introduced every student to the classics that were the building blocks of western civilization they sought to find something worth teaching that all educated people should know and act upon. They knew that to study the classics, was to study the historical background of the modern day and future civilization. This stays true to today, as we still seek the same knowledge they did before the 1960’s. To have changed the curriculum would be like ‘moving a graveyard.’ (Page 698) It is the basic building block of our society and to alter it in any way, to leave out the classics would be impossible. But of course, the classics aren't easy. I think that this class is important to help students receive a better understanding of the world they live in. It helps to develop critical thinking and understanding of human nature, and just how it affects the world.