Joseph LancasterJoseph LancasterTheorist PresentationTheorist Presentation

Kristine L. WatkinsKristine L. Watkins

Wilkes UniversityWilkes UniversityED 530 – Utilizing Technologies to Improve LearningED 530 – Utilizing Technologies to Improve Learning

Dr. Richard W. ClarkDr. Richard W. Clark

Joseph LancasterJoseph Lancaster

(1778 – 1838)(1778 – 1838)

Founder of the monitorial system of Founder of the monitorial system of education and a pioneer of teacher education and a pioneer of teacher

education.education.

BackgroundBackground

► Born 1778 in Southwark, London.Born 1778 in Southwark, London.► 1801 founded an elementary school for the poor 1801 founded an elementary school for the poor

that soon housed thousands of boys.that soon housed thousands of boys.► Devised the monitorial system.Devised the monitorial system.► 1803 wrote 1803 wrote Improvements in EducationImprovements in Education..► 1808 school floundered financially and he saw the 1808 school floundered financially and he saw the

creation of “The Society for Promoting the creation of “The Society for Promoting the Lancasterian System for the Education of the Poor.”Lancasterian System for the Education of the Poor.”

BackgroundBackground

► 1811 Royal Lancasterian Society was established as a trust for 1811 Royal Lancasterian Society was established as a trust for the school’s funds.the school’s funds.

► 1818 started the first model school in Philadelphia.1818 started the first model school in Philadelphia.► Later started schools in Baltimore, Canada, Mexico, all of which Later started schools in Baltimore, Canada, Mexico, all of which

suffered from financial problems.suffered from financial problems.► 1838 Died from injuries sustained from being run over by a 1838 Died from injuries sustained from being run over by a

horse and carriage.horse and carriage.► Only one Lancasterian schoolroom, built to the exact Only one Lancasterian schoolroom, built to the exact

specifications of Lancaster himself, remains in the world. It is at specifications of Lancaster himself, remains in the world. It is at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. the British Schools Museum in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England.

Lancaster’s SchoolLancaster’s School

►Free elementary schoolFree elementary school►Developed simultaneously with those Developed simultaneously with those

of Dr. Andrew Bell.of Dr. Andrew Bell.►Quickly enrolled thousands of boys.Quickly enrolled thousands of boys.►Method of instruction and delivery was Method of instruction and delivery was

recursive.recursive.

Lancaster’s SchoolLancaster’s School

►He was unable to pay assistants, so he He was unable to pay assistants, so he devised the monitorial system.devised the monitorial system.

►As one student learns the material he is As one student learns the material he is rewarded for successfully passing on rewarded for successfully passing on that information to the next pupil. This that information to the next pupil. This method is commonly known as peer method is commonly known as peer tutoring.tutoring.

►Mechanical methods used were drill Mechanical methods used were drill and recitation and an elaborate scheme and recitation and an elaborate scheme of rewards and punishments.of rewards and punishments.

Lancaster’s SchoolLancaster’s School

►He encouraged and trained his best He encouraged and trained his best students to become schoolmasters.students to become schoolmasters.

►Because of these efforts he is Because of these efforts he is recognized as a pioneer of teacher recognized as a pioneer of teacher education in England, where education in England, where traditionally teaching had been left to traditionally teaching had been left to clergymen.clergymen.

Lancaster’s SchoolLancaster’s School

►Thriftless, impulsive, and Thriftless, impulsive, and undisciplined, Lancaster allowed his undisciplined, Lancaster allowed his school to flounder financially. school to flounder financially.

►A group of Quakers paid his debt and A group of Quakers paid his debt and rescued the school.rescued the school.

►Lancaster continued to have financial Lancaster continued to have financial problem with schools he opened in problem with schools he opened in Canada, Mexico, and United States.Canada, Mexico, and United States.

Lancaster’s Ideal ClassroomLancaster’s Ideal Classroom

““The ideal classroom (hall) would be a parallelogram, The ideal classroom (hall) would be a parallelogram, the length about twice the width. The windows were the length about twice the width. The windows were

to be six feet from the floor. The floor should be to be six feet from the floor. The floor should be inclined, rising one foot in twenty from the master's inclined, rising one foot in twenty from the master's

desk to the upper end of the room, where the desk to the upper end of the room, where the highest class is situated. The master's desk is on highest class is situated. The master's desk is on the middle of a platform two to three feet high, the middle of a platform two to three feet high,

erected at the lower end of the room. Forms and erected at the lower end of the room. Forms and desks, fixed firmly to the ground, occupy the middle desks, fixed firmly to the ground, occupy the middle of the room, a passage being left between the ends of the room, a passage being left between the ends

of the forms and the wall, five or six feet broad, of the forms and the wall, five or six feet broad, where the children form semicircles for reading.” where the children form semicircles for reading.”

WorksWorks

► In 1803 Lancaster wrote In 1803 Lancaster wrote Improvements Improvements in Educationin Education which described in detail which described in detail his system. his system.

► In 1821 published a small book entitled In 1821 published a small book entitled The Lancasterian System of Education The Lancasterian System of Education which was a reprint of his first which was a reprint of his first pamphlet with the addition of a pamphlet with the addition of a petulant account of his chronic illness, petulant account of his chronic illness, poverty, and misfortune.poverty, and misfortune.

Criticism of Lancasterian Criticism of Lancasterian SchoolsSchools

► Standards where poor.Standards where poor.►Discipline to which the children were Discipline to which the children were

subjected was harsh – Lancaster rejected subjected was harsh – Lancaster rejected corporal punishment, but misbehaving corporal punishment, but misbehaving children might find themselves tied up in children might find themselves tied up in sacks or hoisted above the classroom in sacks or hoisted above the classroom in cages.cages.

►He had a fall out with “The Society” after He had a fall out with “The Society” after colleagues discovered that Lancaster had colleagues discovered that Lancaster had been privately beating a number of the boys been privately beating a number of the boys with which he worked.with which he worked.

Joseph LancasterJoseph Lancaster

Even though this system of teaching Even though this system of teaching was considered a failure, it did much was considered a failure, it did much

to pave the way for future educational to pave the way for future educational endeavors in the realm of public endeavors in the realm of public

education. Fine-tuning in the way of education. Fine-tuning in the way of more competency in the teaching more competency in the teaching

ranks and a smaller teacher-student ranks and a smaller teacher-student ratio was on the way. ratio was on the way.

ReferencesReferences

(2009). Monitorial system. (2009). Monitorial system. Columbia Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th EditionElectronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1. , 1. Retrieved from Academic Search Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.Premier database.

Ediger, M. (1987). The Lancastrian Ediger, M. (1987). The Lancastrian Monitorial System of Instruction. Monitorial System of Instruction. Retrieved from ERIC database.Retrieved from ERIC database.

Lancaster, Joseph. Lancaster, Joseph. The Lancasterian The Lancasterian System of Education ...System of Education ... (Baltimore, (Baltimore, 1821), pp. 7-11. 1821), pp. 7-11.