Chapter 3

World Roots of
American
Education

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Historical Views of the

Educated Person (Part 1)
Ancient China: Intellectuals, ready to take part
in government
Ancient India: People ready to perform the
duties of their castes
Ancient Egypt: Priests, Scribes
Ancient Greece and Rome: Good citizens, able
to contribute to government, or good soldiers
Ancient Arabic Nations: Islamic scholars
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Historical Views of the

Educated Person (Part 2)
Medieval Europe: Religious scholars, or
individuals prepared for their place in the social
hierarchy
Renaissance Europe: Courtiersliterate,
stylish classical humanists
Reformation Europe: Able to read key religious
texts and ready for appropriate role in society
Enlightenment Europe and America: Trained in
reason and ready to enact social reform
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World Roots of Todays

Instructional Methods (Part 1)
Apprenticeships, Informal Education:
Preliterate Societies
Standardized Tests: Ancient China
Drill and Memorization: Ancient China,
India, Egypt, Reformation Europe
Scaffolding: Ancient Greek Sophist
Protagoras
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World Roots of Todays

Instructional Methods (Part 2)
Questioning: Socrates
Scientific Observations/Experiments:
Aristotle, Enlightenment educators
Deductive Reasoning:
Medieval Scholastic educators
Games and Activities:
Renaissance Humanist Erasmus
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