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For over a century, from the 1890s onwards, thousands of American teachers – predominantly young, white, middle-class, and inexperienced – have journeyed across the world. From Protestant missionaries in Latin America and colonial “civilizers” in the Pacific to Peace Corps Volunteers in Africa, these adventurers have left their mark globally. Innocents Abroad chronicles their ambitious objectives and the transformative lessons they acquired.
Jonathan Zimmerman, leveraging extensive archives of teachers’ letters and diaries, as well as contemporary accounts, paints a vivid picture of their evolving perspectives. Initially, these educators embarked on their missions with a sense of superiority, intent on exporting civilization, Protestantism, and even hygiene to their host nations. However, as the twentieth century progressed, influenced by the anthropological concept of “culture”, they started questioning their own ethical and social assumptions, educational theories, and the intricate nature of their role in foreign societies.
Innocents Abroad is peppered with anecdotes and dilemmas that are often humorous, always vibrant, and deeply insightful. Zimmerman’s compelling narrative explores the teachers’ changing attitudes towards their own country, themselves, and their role in an unpredictable and challenging world. This book provides a remarkable lens into the complexities of cultural interaction and self-discovery.