Little Men

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement promoting individualism and personal freedom that emerged in the early 1800s in New England. Many of its prominent thinkers, such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, were educators who created a transcendental model of education focused on the growth of self-consciousness. Both Emerson and Thoreau believed “education should be geared to developing the whole person and cultivating curiosity, character, and self-confidence" (Andrews, Barry. “Review: Transcendental Learning: A Review.” The Thoreau Society Bulletin, no. 278, pp. 1-3). In the novel, the Bhaers run Plumfield on this principle of differentiated education, offering each boy encouragement and guidance in his unique talent or interest.

This holistic approach also had a spiritual dimension. In a transcendental education, the individual possesses divinity and a moral conscience that will emerge naturally as they grow in self-knowledge. In the novel, Mrs. Jo’s teaching philosophy is to love each boy and find “the soft spot in his heart” (28) to help him connect with his goodness. Play and imaginative dramas are also encouraged at Plumfield as a tool for learning morals and manners. Alcott’s own father Amos Bronson, another leading figure in the transcendentalist movement, promoted similar activities as a part of a child’s development of consciousness.

The progressive methodology of transcendental learning set it apart from the factory-style learning prevalent during the Industrial Age and beyond. In her novel, Alcott emphasizes the unusual nature of this style of education through Plumfield’s reputation, reflected in Mrs. Jo’s remark that “It’s an odd one […] but you see we don’t believe in making children miserable by too many rules, and too much study” (15). This consideration for the happiness of the children at Plumfield is another marker of transcendental approach, in which self-discovery is believed to lead to fulfillment and the ultimate contentedness of an individual at peace with themself. Finally, this holistic approach to education differs from others in its integration of the body and its place in the natural world. Thoreau, often credited as the earliest environmentalist in the United States, emphasized the interconnectedness of the self and nature. This theory is evident in the Plumfield curriculum, as each boy is given a piece of the garden to grow and cultivate, and emphasis is placed on boisterous outdoor activities as a natural setting for the children’s growth.