Theodore Brameld offers some harsh criticism of the existing educational theories in this book. Brameld argues that experimentalism, especially, among the other educational theories, has, in ways, stunted the metaphorical growth of the American educational system (28).
Brameld mainly argues that, while experimentalism aims at promoting open-mindedness and tolerance in the name of exploration, it does so without any goal in mind (32). Brameld writes, “[experimentalism, like twentieth century liberalism] emphasizes the reciprocity of means and ends, but both characteristically focus upon means…upon hypothesis rather than solution, upon tolerance rather than conviction, upon process rather than product” (32). This lack of focus and goal, he argues,
Brameld mainly argues that, while experimentalism aims at promoting open-mindedness and tolerance in the name of exploration, it does so without any goal in mind (32). Brameld writes, “[experimentalism, like twentieth century liberalism] emphasizes the reciprocity of means and ends, but both characteristically focus upon means…upon hypothesis rather than solution, upon tolerance rather than conviction, upon process rather than product” (32). This lack of focus and goal, he argues,