Social History

1. Select one of the historical perspectives discussed in Unit 1, and explain why that perspective appeals to you more than the others. (500 – 750 words)

Five historical perspectives were discussed in Unit 1 of ED301, Whig History, Social History, Revisionism, both Radical and Moderate, and Ethnographic History.  

Whig history chronicles the growth and development of education uncritically, through testimonials, biographies and narratives.  This historiography, as stated in the study guide to the course, "is not analytical and rarely questions the social context of events."   The focus of Whig history is too narrow and specific to certain circumstances.  Without analysis of the broader picture, a full and true understanding of why and how the educational system developed can not be found.need full sources here

Social history is the study of the historical processes which prompted change and continuity in those social relationships that, taken altogether, describe and explain a whole way of life.  While a social historiography considers a variety of social forces and institutions, the perspective ignores the larger factors of religion, economics and politics.  Social historiography does not delve into how religion and politics influenced the shaping of our educational system.  When reading accounts from other perspectives it can be seen that religion specifically had a major influence on the development of education.again link this to a source this is not common knowledge so must be sourced

Historical Revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views of an historical event.  In contrast to, for example, the Whig perspective, historians tended to concentrate on the work of individuals rather than considering the impact of the greater social context.  A revisionist history looks at the educational system in a broader social context by comparing it to political and social events at the time.  In doing so, exploration of issues such as gender, ethnicity, social class and government of society can shed light on the formation of our educational system.

Radical Revisionism uses a conflict model where schools are viewed as instruments of ideological, political and economic dominance. Radical Revisionism is focused on power and dominance while ignoring the broader context where religion, politics and economics play a role in the development of the educational system.   As mentioned in the course study guide, radical revisionism has too global a view of the events.

Ethnographic History concentrates on the experiences of individuals and small groups of individuals.  Ethnographic history is the opposite of radical revisionism but similar to Whig History.  There