A brief history of the history of education

As a field of research, the history of education is increasingly gaining more attention and scholarly legitimacy. What follows is very quick whirlwind tour of its different focal points throughout the decades, based on my notes from The Oxford Handbook of the History of Education:

• Pre-1960s—Focus on formal education in schools and universities, institutional histories and the development of educational systems

• 1960s and 1970s—Revisionist historians challenge prevailing narratives; focus on power, class and social control

• 1980s onwards—Experiences of individuals and groups who were previously excluded or marginalized in educational systems; women, racial minorities, and the working-classes; African education

• 1990s and 2000s—Working-class; gender identity; the interconnection of gender and race; class; postcolonial views of education begin to emerge

• Present day—Historians revisit previously studied topics, like childhood; increased attention on urbanization and its impact on education; history of disability in education emerging and getting more attention; standardized testing.

New areas include research on how gender identities, including transgender experiences, intersect with education. Attention to precolonial indigenous peoples' educational histories has been increasing; this is, however, an area in which much more work can be done.

While these are trends marking paradigmatic shifts over time, many of the above-mentioned areas of focus continue to be pursued simultaneously in the present.