IDEALISM AS A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION IDEALISM AS A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION idealists have shown a great concern for education, and many have idealists have shown a great concern for education, and many have written extensively about it. Plato made education the core of his written extensively about it. Plato made education the core of his utopian state in The Republic, and Augustine also gave extensive utopian state in The Republic, and Augustine also gave extensive attention to the need for Christians to become aware of the importance attention to the need for Christians to become aware of the importance of education. Kant and Hegel wrote about education or referred to it a of education. Kant and Hegel wrote about education or referred to it a great deal in their writings, and both made their living as teachers. great deal in their writings, and both made their living as teachers. More recent idealists such as A. Bronson Alcott, William Torrey More recent idealists such as A. Bronson Alcott, William Torrey Harris, Herman Horne, William Hocking, Giovanni Gentile, and J. Donald Harris, Herman Horne, William Hocking, Giovanni Gentile, and J. Donald Butler have tried systematically to apply idealist principles to the Butler have tried systematically to apply idealist principles to the theory and practice of education. Perhaps one of the most notable theory and practice of education. Perhaps one of the most notable idealist educators in the nineteenth century was Bronson Alcott. An idealist educators in the nineteenth century was Bronson Alcott. An American transcendentalist whose ideas were a mixture of the American transcendentalist whose ideas were a mixture of the philosophies of Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Hegel, Carlyle, and Emerson, he philosophies of Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Hegel, Carlyle, and Emerson, he frequently contributed writings to the transcendentalist periodical frequently contributed writings to the transcendentalist periodical The Dial. Alcott expounded a kind of absolute idealism with the belief The Dial. Alcott expounded a kind of absolute idealism with the belief that only the spiritual is real and material things are illusions of that only the spiritual is real and material things are illusions of the senses. He was interested in the education of the young and opened the senses. He was interested in the education of the young and opened a school at the Masonic Temple in Boston in 1834 that became known as a school at the Masonic Temple in Boston in 1834 that became known as the Temple School. Alcott was actively involved in the school, where the Temple School. Alcott was actively involved in the school, where his daughter, Louisa May Alcott, who became a well-known writer, was a his daughter, Louisa May Alcott, who became a well-known writer, was a student. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he advocated feminism, student. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he advocated feminism, denounced slavery, and believed in the innate goodness of people. He denounced slavery, and believed in the innate goodness of people. He chose biblical selections espousing childhood innocence for lessons chose biblical selections espousing childhood innocence for lessons and used a conversational method of teaching that encouraged children and used a conversational method of teaching that encouraged children to discuss moral problems openly. He published his Conversations with to discuss moral problems openly. He published his Conversations with Children on the Gospels as a way to introduce children to sacred Children on the Gospels as a way to introduce children to sacred literature. Alcott put great weight on the intuitive knowledge of literature. Alcott put great weight on the intuitive knowledge of children and believed that the most important goal in education was children and believed that the most important goal in education was character building. His assistant at the Temple School was Elizabeth character building. His assistant at the Temple School was Elizabeth P. Peabody, who in 1860 opened in Boston one of the first P. Peabody, who in 1860 opened in Boston one of the first kindergartens in America based strongly on the ideas of Alcott and kindergartens in America based strongly on the ideas of Alcott and Friedrich Froebel. In 1843 Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane founded a Friedrich Froebel. In 1843 Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane founded a communal organization in Harvard, Massachusetts, called Fruitlands. It communal organization in Harvard, Massachusetts, called Fruitlands. It was an attempt to live simple and self-reliant lives, and the group was an attempt to live simple and self-reliant lives, and the group engaged in “Socratic conversations.” Alcott later formed the Concord engaged in “Socratic conversations.” Alcott later formed the Concord School of Philosophy, which drew its inspiration from Plato’s Academy. School of Philosophy, which drew its inspiration from Plato’s Academy. During the Civil War, Alcott also served as Superintendent of Schools During the Civil War, Alcott also served as Superintendent of Schools in Concord. He exerted great influence on a number of people, in Concord. He exerted great influence on a number of people, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Torrey Harris. Harris including Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Torrey Harris. Harris credited Alcott with turning his philosophical beliefs toward credited Alcott with turning his philosophical beliefs toward idealistic channels. Aims of Education Idealists generally agree that idealistic channels. Aims of Education Idealists generally agree that education should not only stress development of the mind but also education should not only stress development of the mind but also encourage students to focus on all things of lasting value. Along with encourage students to focus on all things of lasting value. Along with