Education and the French Revolution
Having finished my review for “Transforming the Republic of Letters” by the deadline–and having written about 500 words more than requested–I have now turned my attention to my own research. Ever since my dissertation work I’ve been interested in the history of education reform, so I’m now working on a project that examines the long term context within which the education reform debates of the French Revolution took place. It’s an attempt to go beyond what R. R. Palmer did in his excellent volume “Improvement of Humanity.” In particular, I’m preparing a conference paper, which I intend to expand into an article, for this summer’s conference in Wales for the Society for the Study of French History. (Incidentally, I’m boycotting the Society For French Historical Studies for its excessive snobbery.)
The Society for the Study of French History … The Society For French Historical Studies … the People’s Front of Judea … splitters!
Heading to Wales in Summer? That sounds like a great trip!
Indeed! Pretty ridiculous, isn’t it?
The SFHS is having its conference this year at Rutgers University in New Jersey, while the SSFH is “conferencing” at the University of Aberystwyth, which is in the ancient Kingdom of Dyfed. Where would you rather visit? Dyfed, I believe, also contains the ancient hill of Bryn Myrddin, otherwise known as Merlin’s Tomb. I hope I can go visit it.