A student's history of education

This work traces educational development from primitive training through classical, medieval, and modern systems, giving particular attention to institutional practices rather than abstract theory. It condenses and refocuses larger histories to emphasize material useful to teacher training, allotting more than half the coverage to developments in the last two centuries and to education in the United States. Chapters open with outlines and the narrative highlights Greek, Roman, Christian, and later influences while minimizing purely philosophical or mystical discussions. Practical topics such as the rise of towns and commerce and the analysis of formal discipline receive extended treatment.