School to Order

Abstract

This research paper focuses the research work of Nasaw who was the historian of American history (early 20th century). This paper presents the historical events of the book “School to order” and, discusses the existence of the public schools at the beginning of 20th century. This paper also presents the criticism on this book and, especially covers strong and weak points of the book. In the end, paper presents my personal education and, how I contrast my education with the education prescribed in the book.

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

Major Themes of the book3

Critical Analysis4

Strengths4

Weaknesses5

My Education5

References7

School to Order

Introduction

David Nasaw was born on July 18, 1945 in New York; he was the author, biographer and got specialization in the cultural and American history of early 20th century. He wrote many publications, related to American history and, this book “School to order” was one of his remarkable publications, in which he discussed the aspects of schooling of the early 20th century in United States.

Discussion

Major Themes of the book

History of American Schooling is very interesting; it almost tells the graphs of continuous growth and, graph is always shown to rise in the upward direction with the continuous growth of students, time students spend at their schools, dollars they spend on their tuition fees and, teachers who teach them. This trend was found unbroken from 1820s to 1970s and, after 1920s it was found that, graph had certainly declined because, of several reasons. The reasons may be political issues and, funds to run these schools which were not sponsored timely. It is good to predict the future of American Schooling, but before prediction past should not be forgotten in any way because, past will help to learn experiences. Let us look back to the historical periods of American public schools and, find why these public schools get disillusioned and, for what reasons.

All the public schools of United States (elementary, high schools, and secondary) got the history which was the social history of United States. This research paper will focus three periods of American social history by covering its schooling. Before the Civil war, there was a period, in which many elementary schools were reformed and, elementary schools were the common schools at that time; there was the period, in which the concept of secondary schools welcomed at the 20th century. The third period started after the World War II, which had led the initiation of several public colleges and universities and, traditional students welcomed this schooling. Each period was contrasted and compared through quantitative and qualitative analyses and, questions were asked from the pupils of the school of that time. Common schools in 1800s were involved in reforming the characters of the children morally and, these children were basically sons and daughters of farmers of the Atlantic. The expansion of high schools had brought vast changes to the lives of children of immigrants and poor working class.

These schools aimed to focus future lives of students by bringing them white collars and respectable ...