Shaping alternative education for all: Baden-Powell's affiliation network of educational reformers, 1900-1939




Luoto Lauri

PublisherROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

2022

History of Education

HISTORY OF EDUCATION

HIST EDUC

2002432

19

0046-760X

1464-5130

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/0046760X.2021.2002432

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0046760X.2021.2002432

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/175078405



Robert Baden-Powell's role in initiating the Scout movement is well covered in historiography. This article addresses a little-researched question concerning his associations with contemporary educationalists as a means of promoting social reform through education. In combining social network analysis with the study of hitherto underutilised letters and writings, this article reveals that, from 1911 onwards, Baden-Powell intentionally built linkages with prominent educationalists. His contact with Professor Michael Sadler was particularly significant. The campaign culminated in the attempt to influence the 1918 Education Act. The findings of the present study show that the procedure used to spread the Scout scheme was the same as that used to market a 'pedagogical product', in a similar way to the Dalton Plan and the Montessori method. Moreover, this study provides an example of the use of social network analysis, which has been discussed but little applied in the history of education.

Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 14:46