Whitehead's most complete work on education is the 1929 book The Aims of Education and Other Essays, which collected numerous essays and addresses by Whitehead on the subject published between 1912 and 1927. The essay from which Aims of Education derived its name was delivered as an address in 1916 when Whitehead was president of the London Branch of the Mathematical Association. In it, he cautioned against the teaching of what he called "inert ideas" – ideas that are disconnected scraps of information, with no application to real life or culture. He opined that "education with inert ideas is not only useless: it is, above all things, harmful." COUNT 8
QSN1 What is the origin of the title of the book? ANS1 The essay from which Aims of Education derived its name was delivered as an address in 1916 QSN2 How did Whitehead define "inert ideas"? ANS2 ideas that are disconnected scraps of information, with no application to real life or culture QSN3 What was Whitehead's criticism of the use of inert ideas in education? ANS3 "education with inert ideas is not only useless: it is, above all things, harmful." QSN4 When was "The Aims of Education and Other Essays" published? ANS4 1929 QSN5 During what periods of time were the essays and address contained in "The Aims of Education and Other Essays" composed? ANS5 between 1912 and 1927 QSN6 What year was The Aims of Education and Other Essays published? ANS6 1929 QSN7 What was the Aims of Education and Other Essays comprised of? ANS7 numerous essays and addresses QSN8 What teaching did Whitehead caution against teaching? ANS8 inert ideas