Miscellaneous Observations Relating to Education.

Bath: printed by R. Cruttwell, for J. Johnson,, 1778. First edition, developing the educational theories that Priestley had been promoting since the 1760s, both in his writings and in his tutorship at Warrington Academy. Together with his Essay on a Course of Liberal Education (1765), the work "has provided a basis of claims that Priestley was the most considerable English writer on education philosophy in the period between Locke [and] Herbert Spencer" (Schofield, The Enlightenment of Joseph Priestley, p. 121). "Priestley's greatest contribution in making Warrington the most notable of dissenting academies was, however, in his restructuring of its curriculum. In his Essay on a Course of Liberal Education (1765) he argued that the standard course of studies had been designed for pupils entering the learned professions. Most of the students at Warrington and other dissenting academies were intended, instead, for civil, active, and commercial life. A different plan should be adopted and that plan, outlined in the Essay and later developed in his Miscellaneous Observations Relating to Education (1778), showed Priestley as an innovative educational philosopher. Probably the most important of his innovations was the minimizing of language study, except for English, and an emphasis on that of natural history, natural philosophy, and modern history. He had a broad conception of history as involving the social, cultural, and economic aspects of a society as well as its government and laws" (ODNB). Octavo (208 x 126 mm). Contemporary calf, red label, gilt floral motifs in compartments, red speckled edges. Complete with half-title and two advertisement leaves, one bound at end of preliminaries. Early red morocco presentation bookplate to front pastedown "Ex dono W.W.P". A few ring stains to covers else binding fresh, joints and hinges intact, a few instances of ink underlining to text. An excellent copy. Crook EP/336; ESTC T39424.