Development of the Mechanics' Institute Movement in Britain and Beyond
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- ISBN 9781138923553
- Weight: 560g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 03 Aug 2016
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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The Development of the Mechanics’ Institute Movement in Britain and Beyond questions the prevailing view that mechanics’ institutes made little contribution to adult working-class education from their foundation in the 1820s to 1890. The book traces the historical development of several mechanics’ institutes across Britain and reveals that many institutes supported both male and female working-class membership before state intervention at the end of the nineteenth century resulted in the development of further education for all.
This book presents evidence to suggest that the movement remained active and continued to expand until the end of the nineteenth century. Drawing on historical accounts, Walker describes the developments which shaped the movement and emphasises the institutes’ provision for scientific and technical education. He also considers the impact that the British movement had on the overseas development of mechanics’ institutes – particularly in Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand. The book concludes with a discussion of the legacy of the movement and its contribution to twentieth-century adult education.
The Development of the Mechanics’ Institute Movement advances the argument that the movement made a substantial contribution to adult education for the working classes and provided a firm foundation for further education in Britain and beyond. It will appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the areas of education, history and sociology, as well as the philosophy of education, technical and vocational education, and post-compulsory education.
Martyn Walker is a Principal Lecturer and researcher at the University of Huddersfield. He is a member of the Policy Research Group in the School of Education and Professional Development and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Educational Administration and History. Martyn is a member of the Royal Society of Arts and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His work, based on the history of adult education, has been widely published in scholarly journals.
