Recounting Counts: A Review of George S. Counts' Challenge and the Reactions to'' Dare Progressive Education Be Progressive?''

Authors

  • Richard Niece Walsh College
  • Karen J. Viechnicki Kent State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/jet.v21i3.44201

Abstract

During the February, I 932 , Annual Conference of the Progressive Education Association , George S. Counts made a speech to his colleagues which reverberated throughout the progressive movement. Reactions to Counts' speech ranged from "inspirational" and "stirring" to "impractical" and" un-American." This essay reviews a number of articles, both pro and con, written in response to the controversial address. It also includes a reply by John Dewey, advocate of child-centeredness, who philosophically opposed Counts' social welfare stance. The authors conclude that Counts' speech split the movement beyond reconciliation, and that this polarization began the slow erosion and ultimate demise of education's most influential era.

Published

2018-05-16

Issue

Section

Articles