Eugenics and Education in America: Institutionalized Racism and the Implications of History, Ideology, and Memory

by Ann Gibson Winfield

Education in America was designed to organize, classify, and sort students according to a definition of ability and human worth provided by a racialized scientism known as eugenics – an ideology whose ultimate goal was the establishment of a superior White race. Eugenicists targeted entire ethnic groups, the urban poor, rural «White trash,» the sexually «deviant,» Blacks, Jews, Native Americans, Asians, Latino/as, and anyone who did not fit with the pseudo-scientifically established «superior» Nordic race. Education leaders, complaining of children of «worm-eaten stock,» established an enduring system to organize and sort students according to perceived societal worth. In exposing and addressing eugenics’ place in our educational system, this book provides a groundbreaking addition to, and exceptional correction of, the history of curriculum in America.

195 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Raymond Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely informed my view of the shifting boundaries between politicians who call themselves liberals and progressives and those that call themselves conservatives when it comes to accepting and imposing false science in order to choose the winners.