In the First Person Singular: The Foundations of Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This volume presents three previously unpublished papers, which constitute the personal statements of an emeritus professor, author, and scholar in the field of educational civics, philosophy and the history of education about his understanding of the meaning of that part of the professional preparation of teachers known as "educational foundations." The first paper, "Reflections on Forty Years in the Foundations Department at Teachers College," describes three periods in the scholar's career: first as the most junior member of the department at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York); the second consisting of 12 years of administrative responsibility; and the third being the period of the development of the department from 1960 to 1975. The second paper, "Teachers College and International Education," presents a summary of and reflections on international education efforts in the years 1955-1975. The third paper, "At Last--'A Civics Lesson for All of Us'", was issued in 1991 and focuses on the scholar's personal efforts after his 1975 retirement to make civic education a core element of the foundations of education courses at Teachers College. (AMH)