Traditional education

Traditional education refers to long-established customs found in schools that society has traditionally deemed appropriate. Advocates of education reform want to promote the adoption of progressive education practices, a more holistic approach which focusses on individual students' needs and self-expression. In the eyes of reformers, traditional teacher-centered methods focussed on rote learning and memorization must be abandoned in favor of student-centered and task-based approaches to learning. However, many parents and conservative citizens are concerned with the maintenance of objective educational standards based on testing, which favors a more traditional approach.

The definition of traditional education varies greatly with geography and by historical period. In the past it has had much stronger elements of coercion than seems acceptable now in most cultures.fact|date=August 2008 | This is a rather vague and broad generalization () 15:46, 4 August 2008 (UTC) It has sometimes included: the use of corporal punishment to maintain classroom discipline or punish errors; inculcating the dominant religion and language; separating students according to gender, race, and class, as well as teaching different subjects to girls and boys. In terms of curriculum there was and still is a high level of attention paid to time-honoured academic knowledge.

In the present it varies enormously from culture to culture, but still tends to be characterised by a much higher level of coercion than alternative education. Traditional schooling in Britain and its possessions and former colonies tends to follow the English Public School style of strictly enforced uniforms and a militaristic style of discipline. This can be contrasted with USA and Australian schools, which can have a much higher tolerance for student to teacher communication.fact|date=August 2008 | Again, overly broad generalizations () 15:46, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Here is a list of some of the areas of traditional education, and how they compare with some popular reform movements.

Instruction Centre

ee also

* Classical education movement, which emphasizes Western Civilization
* List of abandoned education methods