Classroom of the future(circa 1820) November 12, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , trackback
Visited the famous New Lanark Heritage Site at the weekend. Inspiring stuff by the philanthropist and visionary social justice pioneer, the mill owner Robert Owen(1771-1858). The following quotes highlight his emphasis on education and outdoor learning!
“To train and educate the rising generation will at all times be the first object of society, to which every other will be subordinate”. (The Social System, 1826)
Where are these rational practices to be taught and acquired? Not within the four walls of a bare building, in which formality predominates ………. But in the nursery, play-ground, fields, gardens, workshops, manufactures, museums and class-rooms. …The facts collected from all these sources will be concentrated, explained, discussed, made obvious to all, and shown in their direct application to practice in all the business of life”. (Book of the New Moral World 3rd Part 1842).
Definitley worth a visit, if only to see the magnificent Falls of Clyde.
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New Lanark is excellent to visit - an amazing social experiment.
I also read today that some folk kayaked the Falls of Clyde last year! Amazing or stupid?