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Tag: liberal education

The Seven Liberal Arts part 2: Three roads to knowledge
21 May 202425 May 2024

The Seven Liberal Arts part 2: Three roads to knowledge

Articles by Harley Richardson0 comments

The second in a series of articles about a remarkable medieval curriculum which took freedom as its start point and had truth as its end. In the previous post I traced the evolution of the Seven Liberal Arts from their roots in ancient Greece to their maturity in the medieval Christian era. This time I will take a closer look […]

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The Seven Liberal Arts part 1: tools for learning
10 March 202422 May 2024

The Seven Liberal Arts part 1: tools for learning

Articles by Harley Richardson0 comments

The first in a series of articles about a remarkable medieval curriculum which took human freedom as its starting point and truth as its end. Its tempting to assume that the education of the past consisted of little more than rote learning and the 3Rs, served with a dollop of handed-down religious morality. Critical thinking is widely assumed in education […]

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Finally, a new book on the History of Education
7 October 20237 October 2023

Finally, a new book on the History of Education

Books by Harley Richardson0 comments

An essential read for anyone interested in the roots and development of today’s education system If you’ve attended one of my talks, you’ll have heard me bemoan the conspicuous absence, from the shelves of actual and virtual bookshops, of any recent books about the history of education. To my knowledge the last overview for the general reader was published in […]

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Learning what we don’t need to know
7 November 20223 April 2023

Learning what we don’t need to know

Opinion by Harley Richardson1 comment

I was invited to discuss my essay The Liberating Power of Education this weekend at the second Buxton Battle of Ideas festival. The text of my introductory speech follows. The discussion that followed, with respondents Dr Adam Simcock and Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler and members of the audience, was recorded and should be available soon. For as long as people have […]

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What do we mean by ‘the best that’s been thought and known’?
12 March 202231 January 2023

What do we mean by ‘the best that’s been thought and known’?

Essays by Harley Richardson0 comments

I was recently interviewed about my essay The Liberating Power of Education for a future episode of Dr James Mannion’s excellent long-form podcast, Rethinking Education. In the often intolerant and tribal world of educational theory and policy, James is to be commended for his willingness to explore differences of opinion in a generous and civil fashion. And we disagreed, civilly, […]

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The Liberating Power of Education
5 December 20215 December 2021

The Liberating Power of Education

Books by Harley Richardson0 comments

I’m very proud to have contributed to the Academy of Ideas’ Letters on Liberty series of pamphlets, which has been doing a great job of showing what the much-devalued idea of ‘freedom’ can mean to us today. My Letter is a mini-history of education, which explores the tension between the recognition that knowledge is important and the fear of where […]

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Reimagining schools at the Battle of Ideas
13 October 20211 March 2022

Reimagining schools at the Battle of Ideas

Opinion by Harley Richardson0 comments

I spoke on the Reimagining schools panel at the Battle of Ideas festival, which took place in Westminster on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October. My introductory comments are reproduced below: Pandemic or no pandemic, I think it’s always worth asking could schools be done differently? Could be they be done better? There’s still plenty of scope to experiment – […]

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Head Hand Heart
21 December 202021 December 2020

Head Hand Heart

Books by Harley Richardson0 comments

Santa has brought us some unexpected history of education content this Christmas, hidden between the covers of David Goodhart’s latest book. Goodhart is a journalist, commentator and former director of the think tank Demos. His previous book, The Road to Somewhere: The Populist Revolt and the Future of Politics (2017), introduced the categories ‘Anywheres’ and ‘Somewheres’ to the political lexicon […]

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Frances Mary Buss, the first ‘Head Mistress’
8 June 20209 May 2023

Frances Mary Buss, the first ‘Head Mistress’

Essays by Harley Richardson5 comments

A tribute to a 19th century teacher and campaigner for women’s education, who deserves to be much better known.

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Alcuin of York
11 May 202011 May 2020

Alcuin of York

Articles by Harley Richardson1 comment

In my view, this little known media scholar is one of the most important figures in the history of education in England, and actually in Europe. To find out why, read my tribute in Teach Secondary magazine. If that piques your curiosity, you can find out more in an edition of Radio 4’s In Our Time dedicated to the man. […]

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Recent Posts

  • May 21, 2024 The Seven Liberal Arts part 2: Three roads to knowledge
  • Mar 10, 2024 The Seven Liberal Arts part 1: tools for learning
  • Oct 07, 2023 Finally, a new book on the History of Education
  • May 13, 2023 The day passes profitably: Robert Raikes and the Sunday school movement
  • Feb 19, 2023 Learning Through the Ages comes to Substack

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