Boyd Henry Bode
Encyclopedia
Boyd Henry Bode was an American
academic
and philosopher
, notable for his work on philosophy of education
.
Bode was born in Ridott, Illinois
. He grew up in rural areas of Iowa
and South Dakota
and attended Pennsylvania College in Iowa
and later the University of Michigan
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree
in 1897, and Cornell University
, where he received his Ph.D.
in 1900.
Bode became assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
(1900-1909) and was later appointed professor of philosophy at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(1909-1921). In 1910 Bode published An Outline of Logic.
In 1921 Bode became professor of education at Ohio State University
. There Bode wrote on philosophy of education and authored Fundamentals of Education (1921), Modern Educational Theories (1927), Conflicting Psychologies of Learning (1929), Democracy as a Way of Life (1937), Progressive Education at the Crossroads (1938), and How We Learn (1940). He agreed with many of the ideas of John Dewey
, especially on pragmatism
. Bode retired in 1944. He died in 1953 in Gainesville, Florida
.
From 1911 to 1912 Bode served as vice president of the American Philosophical Association
.
in 1900. Bode married Bernice Ballard and had two children in 1903.
Bode’s realistic approach to educational philosophy mimicked that of John Dewey. From 1900 to 1909 he was a professor of philosophy and philosophy of education at the University of Wisconsin. He left Wisconsin and moved to Illinois to become involved in the university’s department of education. While at the University of Illinois he published An Outline of Logic, which in the field of philosophy, launched him into becoming a young scholar.
Bode received a great compliment and was asked to come to Ohio State University to become a professor in education and head the Department of Principles and Practices of Education. This was his first time not teaching philosophy and instead education. However, he continued preaching the philosopher’s cynicism and concern for logic while teaching education. Instead of a typical lecture during class, Bode approached a different way of teaching by questioning and challenging his students. He was very well liked by his colleagues and this is shown in a quote from Ralph Tyler who worked with him at Ohio State University, “My admiration for his keen intelligence, his persistent questioning, and his ready wit led me to become a good friend of Bode’s.” This quote shows just how well liked and admired Bode was for his significance to education.
In 1927, he came out with another triumphant publication titled Modern Educational Theories. Bode felt school and education was to be the establishments which allowed social equality to become a way of life. He made this clear in two more publications titled Democracy as a Way of Life and Progressive Education at the Crossroads. Bode retired in 1944 and had several bridge jobs taking positions in Cairo, Egypt, and several universities as a teacher. In 1946 he accepted an offer of being the graduate lecturer in philosophy at the University of Florida where he spent the rest of his life until his death in 1953.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
and philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, notable for his work on philosophy of education
Philosophy of education
Philosophy of education can refer to either the academic field of applied philosophy or to one of any educational philosophies that promote a specific type or vision of education, and/or which examine the definition, goals and meaning of education....
.
Bode was born in Ridott, Illinois
Ridott, Illinois
Ridott is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census the village population was 164, up from 158 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ridott is located at ....
. He grew up in rural areas of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and attended Pennsylvania College in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and later the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in 1897, and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he received his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1900.
Bode became assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(1900-1909) and was later appointed professor of philosophy at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(1909-1921). In 1910 Bode published An Outline of Logic.
In 1921 Bode became professor of education at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. There Bode wrote on philosophy of education and authored Fundamentals of Education (1921), Modern Educational Theories (1927), Conflicting Psychologies of Learning (1929), Democracy as a Way of Life (1937), Progressive Education at the Crossroads (1938), and How We Learn (1940). He agreed with many of the ideas of John Dewey
John Dewey
John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. Dewey was an important early developer of the philosophy of pragmatism and one of the founders of functional psychology...
, especially on pragmatism
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
. Bode retired in 1944. He died in 1953 in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
.
From 1911 to 1912 Bode served as vice president of the American Philosophical Association
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work...
.
Life
Boyd Bode was the son of Henry Bode and Gertrude Weinenga. His father was a minister of the First Christian Reformed Church and he also farmed. In 1848, his family was part of a religious migration of Germans to the United State. In the 1870s his family bought farm land and moved to Iowa. Bode had seven younger brothers and sisters and he was the only one to pursue an education. He earned his degree in 1896 from William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Bode achieved another A.B. at the University of Michigan. He then earned his Ph.D. at Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1900. Bode married Bernice Ballard and had two children in 1903.
Bode’s realistic approach to educational philosophy mimicked that of John Dewey. From 1900 to 1909 he was a professor of philosophy and philosophy of education at the University of Wisconsin. He left Wisconsin and moved to Illinois to become involved in the university’s department of education. While at the University of Illinois he published An Outline of Logic, which in the field of philosophy, launched him into becoming a young scholar.
Bode received a great compliment and was asked to come to Ohio State University to become a professor in education and head the Department of Principles and Practices of Education. This was his first time not teaching philosophy and instead education. However, he continued preaching the philosopher’s cynicism and concern for logic while teaching education. Instead of a typical lecture during class, Bode approached a different way of teaching by questioning and challenging his students. He was very well liked by his colleagues and this is shown in a quote from Ralph Tyler who worked with him at Ohio State University, “My admiration for his keen intelligence, his persistent questioning, and his ready wit led me to become a good friend of Bode’s.” This quote shows just how well liked and admired Bode was for his significance to education.
In 1927, he came out with another triumphant publication titled Modern Educational Theories. Bode felt school and education was to be the establishments which allowed social equality to become a way of life. He made this clear in two more publications titled Democracy as a Way of Life and Progressive Education at the Crossroads. Bode retired in 1944 and had several bridge jobs taking positions in Cairo, Egypt, and several universities as a teacher. In 1946 he accepted an offer of being the graduate lecturer in philosophy at the University of Florida where he spent the rest of his life until his death in 1953.