The evolution of educational theory / by John Adams.

  • John Adams
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The evolution of educational theory / by John Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/432 page 6
    all hope of improvement must come either from chance happenings or from the efforts of those who have thought out educational problems, and insist upon their theoretical conclusions having the test of practice. On the other hand, theoretical considerations are based upon experience of some kind or other. What Bagley resents is the theo- rising that is carried on in vacuo. He rightly maintains that theory must be continually corrected by reference to actual practice. But this is not quite the same thing as to maintain that practice must under all circumstances precede theory. There are occasions on which theory must lead. The development of any process such as education, that involves the application of thought to action, may be not in- accurately described as consisting in an alternation between the influence of theory and the influence of practice. Prac- tice corrects theory, and theory improves upon practice. Both are present at all stages of educational develop- ment. Theory is not a mere description of practice, though it is that among other things. It is, to begin with, a critical examination of the experience gained in practice. But then it goes on to evaluate processes and suggest improve- ments. In its turn it submits its findings to the test of practice, so that there is a continuous series of tests and criticisms and suggestions. But, on the whole, practice supplies more criticism and testing, and theory more initia- tion and suggesting. Theory really plays around practice : it neither leads nor follows exclusively. It is now busy making suggestions, but by and by it will devote its attention to analysis and investigation of things as they are. True living theory is continually alternating between the forward and the backward glance. Now it turns for- wards in anticipation with a view to initiation ; again it harks backwards to review facts in order to explain them. It is this ceaseless activity that makes progress possible. From the educational standpoint it maybe said that practice stands for the conservative processes, theory for the pro- gressive.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3