The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States

by Paul Avrich

Based on extensive interviews with former pupils and teachers, this Pulitzer Prize-nominated work is a seminal and important investigation into the potential of educational alternatives. Between 1910 and 1960 anarchists across the United States established more than 20 schools wherein children studied in an atmosphere of freedom and self-reliance. The Modern Schools stood in sharp contrast to the formality and discipline of the traditional classroom and sought to abolish all forms of authority. Their object was to create not only a new type of school, but also a new society based on the voluntary cooperation of free individuals. Among the participants were Emma Goldman, Margaret Sanger, Alexander Berkman and Man Ray.

Genres: Education, History, Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Teaching, Anarchism

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

"He was a noted historian and professor who authored many books on anarchist history, including books on the Haymarket Riot, the Modern School Movement, the Russian Revolution and a collection of oral interviews with American anarchists titled Anarchist Voices. Avrich was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize several times and in 1984 he won the Philip Taft Labor History Award."
From Infoshop News obituary http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?...

Reviews

[Brimate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave up a little over halfway through because I got busy with school and everything. The book was inspiring for me to read because I want to be an anarchist teacher and someday open an anarchist school. Reading about not only ideas, philosophies, and theories, but actual history and personal stories was useful for me.

I feel like the book is longer than it needs to be. It seems somewhat repetitive and it includes some information I'm not as interested in. I mean it is interesting to read about the artists, writers, playwrights, and other famous people who were involved with the Modern Schools, but give that it's a long book and I'm a slow reader with not much leisure reading time, I would have enjoyed a book that's more compact and deals more directly with the educational aspects of the schools. In hindsight, I could have skipped some of these parts and probably had time to finish the more relevant parts. But maybe I'll finish it sometime.

In any case, The Modern School Movement is an inspiring, exciting read for any current or potential radical learner/student/teacher/educator!

[Sebastián · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Avrich. Enough said.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'We make no claim to saving the world,' wrote Harry Kelly in 1921. 'We are but trying to save our own 'souls.' ... If we have not reached the promised land, we have at least stumbled into one of its by-paths, and that is something'" (p.386).

"'Many of the ideas first advocated and practiced by us are now urged and practiced by educators everywhere'. ... To say this, however, is not to ignore the deficiencies of libertarian education, at least as it was practiced in the Modern Schools. According to its own theorists, from Godwin to Ferrer, children vary widely in their capacities and needs. It follows no single method of education will be ideal for all pupils. For some, self-direction, freedom of choice, a minimum of supervision and guidance constitute the best approach. Others, however, will thrive best with greater direction and structure. ... Yet the hostility exhibited toward academic learning, above all by the Ferms, did violence to this principle... Surely more attention to the basics would have benefited at least some of the Modern School children, if not all" (p.383-4).

[Peter Pretzington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because I am taking a class on education in hopes of eventually becoming a teacher. I found it to be inspiring and as someone who's been into anarchism for a long time, I would definitely be interested in applying the principles of anarchist or libertarian education. The ideas broached in this book are definitely interesting and compared to the nature of schooling even today in the 21st century, seem much more appealing. It was also nice learning a little about the history of anarchism attached to the Modern School movement.

However I would say that while this is a good book the writing is sometimes boring and from what I was originally looking for not enough on the details of how this educational philosophy worked out more thoroughly. There was a lot of platitudes about freedom and such at times, as well as a lot of tedious name dropping and biographical details. It was still a good book nonetheless and I would recommend it to anyone interested in becoming an educator, or even a parent.

[Stephen Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a history worth telling solely if it is interesting? That is the question the reader must ask themselves after completing Avrich's book. Avrich's conclusion lacks the thematic punch of emphasizing the schools importance. At some point there is a claim that the anarchists schools laid the foundation for the progressive institutions of education we have today. This is simply a claim, never backed up by evidence. The story grimly ends with the tragedy of the schools alongside the overall demise of the anarchist movement.

But as I write my review, I am struck by a new idea: maybe this lack is Avrich embracing the spirit of anarchist education (in theory)? No metanarrative, no "isms"; a student among peers providing the information and letting the class determine what it means.

[Trey]

This book is a really engrossing history of anarchist education in the U.S. It focuses mostly on the half century from 1910-1960, which is basically the time period that Francisco Ferrer's Modern School reached its apex of influence on educational institutions.

I've only just begun the book, but it starts out with a brief biography of Ferrer. I'd known of him before thanks to other anarchist histories and anthologies, but didn't really know much about his life, so reading the biographical chapter is really interesting.

If the beginning is any indication, the rest of the book will be equally eye-opening and I'll have a hard time putting it out of my mind.

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last of the books by Paul Avrich that I hadn't read and in my opinion it was probably the least interesting. That's not to be read as a statement about this book necessarily, but mainly that his other books--The Haymarket Tragedy, Sacco and Vanzetti, The Russian Anarchists--are just so good that this one doesn't quite live up to the standard set by the others. Still, this is largely untold (anywhere else) history of anarchist education efforts in the United States in the 1910s. A solid book although a little tedious at times (it tends to just cycle from one person to another without a real strong narrative).

[Mark]

A comprehensive treatment of a fascinating subject: my fellow City School and Hampshire College alumni, I expect, will recognize much in the pedagogical and social methods of followers of Francisco Ferrer and others in the Modern School Movement.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

wowzer. another hair-blown-back type of hidden history. his prose is a bit tedious at times, but the depth of this account is impressive and also quite inspiring.

[Stephie Jane Rexroth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[Harry] Kelly died on May 27, 1953… He was buried in Chicago's Waldheim Cemetery near Emma Goldman and Voltairine de Cleyre. His epitaph reads: 'He shared his life with humanity.'"

[Mehdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

More an History book than a pedagogy one, well documented though.