Josephine Klein, group work, youth work and exploring English cultures. Klein’s Commandos – A Personal View. Josephine Klein was one of the first British-based practitioners to explore group processes and to work systematically with groups. She also completed a landmark study of family and community life and developed a distinctive approach to training in youth and community work before becoming a psychotherapist. Don Macdonald reflects on the major contributions Josephine Klein made. (First published February 2026).

Maude Stanley, girls’ clubs and district visiting. Maude Stanley was one of the central pioneers of girls’ work and neighbourhood work in general. She produced an early and influential youth work text, and a fascinating exploration of work happening in the highly deprived Five Dials area of London. Maude Standley also helped found the London Union of Girls Clubs. (Updated January 2026).

Walking informal education – exploring developments in central London. Walking in central London, we can find many places associated with key figures and moments in the making of informal education. Explore them through a virtual (or real) walk based on Charles Booth’s famous poverty map. (Updated January 2026).

What is pedagogy? A definition and discussion. Pedagogy is often, wrongly, seen as ‘the art and science of teaching’. Mark K. Smith explores the origins and development of pedagogy and finds a different story – accompanying people on their journeys. Teaching is just one part of what they do. [Updated October 2025].

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Education in Robert Owen’s new society: the New Lanark institute and schools. Robert Owen’s educational venture at New Lanark helped to pioneer infant schools and was an early example of what we now recognise as community schooling. Yet education was only a single facet of a more powerful social gospel which already preached community building on the New Lanark model as a solution to contemporary evils in the wider world. Ian Donnachie investigates.

Ivan Illich on deschooling, conviviality, and systems. Possibilities for education and social change. Known for his critique of modernization and the corrupting impact of institutions, Ivan Illich’s concern with deschooling, learning webs and the disabling effect of professions struck a chord among many educators and pedagogues. We explore some key aspects of his theories and his continuing relevance for teaching, pedagogy and learning. [Updated and extended January 2025]

YMCA and the development of informal and youth work education. In this major new piece, Tony Jeffs reflects on the YMCA’s 135-year engagement across the world with the professional education of those working with young people. He examines both the innovations and tensions involved in the growth and experience of different programmes, and the factors that led to the decline of informal and youth work education within the YMCA. This important research is also available to download as a pdf. [updated May 2025]

The opening photograph of Josephine Klein was taken by an unnamed photographer and is commonly used elsewhere.

updated: March 5, 2026