The Experimental College

The Experimental College chronicles Alexander Meiklejohn's implementation of an innovative undergraduate program at the University of Wisconsin from 1927-1932. The program represented a dramatic departure from standard American university education of the time. Meiklejohn documents the curriculum design, teaching methods, and philosophical foundations that shaped this educational experiment. The book presents the details of a two-year program focused on ancient Greece and contemporary America, using primary texts and discussion-based learning. The narrative follows the development of the program through its five-year run, including student experiences, faculty perspectives, and institutional challenges. The text incorporates extensive documentation of classroom discussions, administrative decisions, and student outcomes. This work stands as both a practical blueprint for educational reform and a meditation on the purpose of liberal arts education in a democracy. Meiklejohn's vision raises fundamental questions about how universities can foster independent thinking and civic engagement.

Readers value this book as a detailed account of an innovative higher education experiment at the University of Wisconsin in the 1920s. Many appreciate Meiklejohn's critique of traditional college education and his proposed solutions through interdisciplinary learning and student-centered teaching. Readers highlight the book's clear documentation of curriculum development and teaching methods. Several note its relevance to current education reform discussions. Common criticisms include dense academic writing and repetitive sections. Some readers found the philosophical discussions too abstract and wanted more practical examples from the actual experiment. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (6 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Meiklejohn's ideas about integrative learning and democratic education remain relevant today, though the writing style can be challenging" - Goodreads reviewer The limited number of online reviews suggests this book maintains a niche academic audience rather than broad appeal.

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🎓 Despite its ultimate closure in 1932, Meiklejohn's Experimental College at the University of Wisconsin-Madison became a model for many future educational innovations, including modern learning communities and interdisciplinary studies programs. 📚 The book describes a revolutionary two-year curriculum focused on ancient Greece and modern America as comparative civilizations, rather than traditional subject-based courses. 🗣️ Alexander Meiklejohn went on to found the School of Social Studies at San Francisco State University and became a prominent defender of First Amendment rights and academic freedom. 🏛️ The Experimental College eliminated traditional grades and encouraged students to live together in dormitories, creating an integrated living-learning environment decades ahead of its time. 📖 The teaching methods described in the book emphasized seminar discussions and individual advisory relationships between faculty and students - approaches that would later become standard practices in liberal arts education.