Where are gone those older spirits in education who knew and taught boldly that school is an apprenticeship, and a hard one, for a life harder yet? and that prayer is necessary not to escape burdens but for strength the better to carry them? – Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962)

Essentialists hope that when students leave school, they will possess not only basic skills and an extensive body of knowledge, but also disciplined, practical minds, capable of applying schoolhouse lessons in the real world. – William C. Bagley