Directions in the contemporary american education

• Author: Lucian Radu
• Position: Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
• Pages: 57-62

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 7 (56) No. 2 - 2014

DIRECTIONS IN THE CONTEMPORARY

AMERICAN EDUCATION

Lucian RADU 1

Abstract: This paper is meant to outline the main directions in the

contemporary American Education and its main forms of manifestation

starting with the progressive education, and ending with the career

oriented education.

Key words: progressive education, social meliorism, humanism, social-

efficient education.

1 Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania.

1. Introduction

The problems of education cannot be

resolved in a universal and eternal valid

manner. They must be studied by means of

thorough research which exceeds national

limits, expands over particular forms of

manifestation belonging to other countries,

and indicates general trends of pr ogress.

The study of educational manifestations in

various countries sprang from a need to

improve educational systems, which,

although specifically national, are

confronted with common fundamental

problems [4].

Viewed from the transatlantic relations

perspective, the cultural and institutional

paradigm of American society represents a

successful model in the age of

globalization due to: the American

multiculturalism, currents of thinking, the

power status and the principle of

separating the powers of state, the human

rights and individual freedom, the

transition from a participative democracy

to a normative one. All these phenomena

have been decisively influenced by

American education.

2. Ideological Management

Educational history has a great

importance on the development of

ideological management.

The history of education, in Joel Spring’s

opinion, is an integral part of the

ideological management, the concept

illustrating a major phenomenon in the

contemporary world. The control of ideas

has always been a source of power.

As a part of current ideas dissemination

study, the history of education and its

comparative approach may be an important

contribution to the development of a

general theory regarding the formation and

distribution of ideas in modern society. In

addition, we can reach a deeper

understanding about how knowledge