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Milton’s View of Education Reform -A Study on Milton’s Of Education-

  • Journal of Humanities
  • 2011, (47), pp.57-80
  • Publisher : Institute for Humanities
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Received : December 31, 2010
  • Accepted : February 10, 2011

KIM SEONGHOON 1

1강원대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

Milton’s Of Education was published in 1644. In this anonymous eight page tract, Milton’s purpose was to lay down principles for ‘a complete and generous education’ designed for peace and war. Milton, however, addressed himself to a much deeper and more universal issue of ‘repair[ing] the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright.’ Serving a dual purpose in education Milton proposed to set up a secular institution, Academy where he planned liberal arts program that will place human in relation to both God and civil society. Despite its brevity and causal origin, Milton’s Of Education was distinguished by the loftiness of his aim that anchored to the earthly method. Driven by the Realistic movement of the period Milton emphasized ‘orderly conning over the visible and inferior creature.’ But Milton was still a Renaissance child who cannot keep himself outside the “old renowned authors’ of the past. Also,Milton was very much influenced by Encyclopaedist like Comenius. Milton’s curriculum was, therefore, at once Realistic, Humanistic and Encyclopaedic. Milton’s teaching methods addressed learning in a number of pleasant ways:stressing the correct sequence of studies; insisting on teaching by example,using gentle persuasion; and, recognizing the individual differences. Milton’s Of Education was a product of his time. Like other contemporary reformers Milton was quarreling with scholastic learning from which grew many mistakes that have made learning unpleasing and unsuccessful. Yet Milton’s noble ideas for reforming education may have their relevance today:Milton’s scheme of liberal education can be an alternative to the current market assault on education; Milton’s methodical thinking can be an earnest plea for making learning-experience ‘a happy nurture’; and, Milton’s claim to national education system for social progress can be a merit everlasting.

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