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The Social Frontier Journal: A Historical Sketch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2017

C. A. Bowers
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Extract

The Social Frontier, a hybrid of political radicalism and progressive educational theory, appears as an anomaly when viewed from the perspective of American educational history. This union of education and politics also has made certain features of the journal's history difficult, if not impossible, to interpret. Although it was sponsored by many of the more influential leaders of the progressive education movement, its platform failed to attract a large following among classroom teachers. The John Dewey Society for the Study of Education and Culture and the Progressive Education Association were both affiliated with the journal, but the latter constantly found it a source of embarrassment. Even the wide variety of intellectuals—e.g., Eric Goldman, Harold Laski, John Herman Randall, Jr., and Leon Trotsky—who contributed an occasional article, thus giving the journal wider intellectual interest, were not aware of its educational philosophy. The journal appealed for educators to unite with the labor movement, but the labor unions—including the teachers' union—made no effort to encourage the supporters of the journal or to endorse their philosophy of social reconstruction. The journal's strong declaration of purpose and impressive list of directors and contributors created the impression of organizational stability and purpose, even though the former was partly illusory and the latter eroded away.

Type
Research Article
Information
History of Education Quarterly , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1964 , pp. 167 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © 1964, University of Pittsburgh Press 

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References

Notes

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