Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) open education, also known as open classroom, type of educational reform. The central tenet of this informal system is that children want to learn and will do so naturally if left to their own initiat...

(Encyclopedia) humanism, philosophical and literary movement in which man and his capabilities are the central concern. The term was originally restricted to a point of view prevalent among thinkers in the Renaissan...

(Encyclopedia) Zimmermann, Bernd Alois, 1918–1970, German modernist composer, b. Bliesheim. He began studying music at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne in 1938, was drafted into the military (1939–42), then ...

(Encyclopedia) Vincent, John Heyl, 1832–1920, American Methodist bishop, b. Tuscaloosa, Ala. In 1857 he was assigned to an Illinois conference, where he held various pastorates. His work in improving teaching meth...

(Encyclopedia) Ter-Petrossian, Levon, 1945–, Armenian political leader, president of Armenia (1991–98), b. Aleppo, Syria, grad. Yerevan State Univ. (1971), Leningrad Oriental Studies Institute (Ph.D., 1987). A s...

(Encyclopedia) Enfantin, Barthélemy Prosper bärtālmēˈ prôspĕrˈ äNfäNtăNˈ [key], 1796–1864, French socialist, sometimes called Père Enfantin. He became a leader of the movement started by the comte de ...

(Encyclopedia) drama, Western, plays produced in the Western world. This article discusses the development of Western drama in general; for further information see the various national literature articles. During ...

(Encyclopedia) surrealism sərēˈəlĭzəm [key], literary and art movement influenced by Freudianism and dedicated to the expression of imagination as revealed in dreams, free of the conscious control of reason an...

(Encyclopedia) Weld, Theodore Dwight, 1803–95, American abolitionist, b. Hampton, Conn. In 1825 his family moved to upstate New York, and he entered Hamilton College. While in college he became a disciple of the e...

(Encyclopedia) militia məlĭshˈə [key], military organization composed of citizens enrolled and trained for service in times of national emergency. Its ranks may be filled either by enlistment or conscription. An...