Importance of Being Urban - Designing the Progressive School District, 1890-1940

From the 1890s through World War II, the greatest hopes of American progressive reformers lay not in the government, the markets, or other seats of power but in urban school districts and classrooms. The Importance of Being Urban focuses on four western school systems - in Denver, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle - and their efforts to reconfigure public education in the face of rapid industrialization and the perceived perils [GDA1] of the modern city. In an era of accelerated immigration, shifting economic foundations, and widespread municipal shake-ups, reformers argued that the urban school district could provide the broad blend of social, cultural, and educational services needed to prepare students for twentieth-century life. These school districts were a crucial force not only in orchestrating educational change, but in delivering on the promise of democracy. David A. Gamson's book provides eye-opening views of the histories of American education, urban politics, and the Progressive Era.

About the author

David A. Gamson is associate professor of education in the Department of Education Policy Studies and the Educational Theory and Policy Program at the Pennsylvania State University.

Product details

• Authors: David A Gamson, David A. Gamson
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.06.2019
• EAN: 9780226634548
• ISBN: 978-0-226-63454-8
• No. of pages: 352
• Series: Historical Studies of Urban Am; Historical Studies of Urban America; Historical Studies of Urban Am; Historical Studies of Urban America (CHUP)
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Education > General, dictionaries; USA, 20. Jahrhundert (1900 bis 1999 n. Chr.), Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika, USA, Amerikanische Geschichte, Geschichte allgemein und Weltgeschichte, Geschichte der Pädagogik, Stadt- und Gemeindeplanung, 20th Century, EDUCATION / History, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, HISTORY / United States / 20th Century, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Urban & municipal planning, History of Education, United States of America, USA, History of the Americas, Urban and municipal planning and policy