American educator P Monroe (1869 ~ 1947) believes that education originated from children's unconscious imitation of adult instinct in primitive commune period. Admitting imitation is not only the means of the initial educational form, but also the essence of education.

He wrote in the textbook "History of Education": "Primitive society showed its education in the simplest form ... Most complex means used to help or force individuals to obey universal requirements unconsciously influenced individuals ... The methods used were simple and unconscious imitation from beginning to end." "In primitive society, there was only the simplest form of education. However, in the early stage, the education process had all the basic characteristics of the highest development stage of education.