The demand for this standard history of education continues throughout the world and gives the opportunity for a new revised edition. For the sixth time the book has been brought up to date by Professor Edmund King, recognised in Europe, America and elsewhere overseas as a leading authority on the history of education. Again he retains the many virtues of Dr. William Boyd's original text, while making necessary modifications in light of the most recent research and of changing attitudes.The new edition takes into account some of the major events in education and the perspectives that have changed since the 11th edition was published in 1975, including the transformation of many educational systems' expectations and massive disillusionment with the achievements of those systems during the juvenile phase of education. The book examines the huge growth of post-school education and training, the rise of new variants of "Western Education", and changes effected by such events as the collapse of the U.S.S.R.
Not very entertaining! It was rather painful to read at times. Large parts of it were incomprehensible to me and just went straight over my head. I couldn't cope with all the terms and jargon being used. After some interesting stuff earlier in the volume, it became very tedious to read.
I am most interested in the history of education in relation to Christianity, and there are sections on Jewish education and on John Calvin, as well as descriptions of the state of education generally at different periods of history in different countries. I feel sure that I could find the book useful and interesting if I was limiting myself to reading those sections relevant to my interests.
I don't know anything about the author but I did get the impression that Boyd might know what he was talking about when he dealt with Christianity. Some things he said gave me the impression that he could distinguish between nominal Christianity and true Christianity. He seemed to speak of John Calvin and John Knox in a very favourable tone.
Definitely not a book I will ever read again in its entirety, but definitely one that I would be happy to keep for reference.
The demand for this standard history of education continues throughout the world and gives the opportunity for a new revised edition. For the sixth time the book has been brought up to date by Professor Edmund King, recognised in Europe, America and elsewhere overseas as a leading authority on the history of education. Again he retains the many virtues of Dr. William Boyd'.