This course has two organizing themes: first, representative educational thinkers writings on literacy and schooling (e.g., Plato, Augustine, Erasmus, Luther, Locke, Rousseau, and Malthus); and, second, secondary scholarly readings chosen to enable the students to consider these thinkers' ideas in their historical context. Each class has an introduction by the professor, viewing the film, and a discussion period. Students write weekly reports and a term paper.