Andrew McNeely’s Reviews > The Struggle for the American Curriculum, 1893-1958 > Status Update
Andrew McNeely
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Critics of Dewey, take note:
“The paradox of John Dewey’s reputation is that, although he gained worldwide recognition during his own lifetime and has unquestionably earned a place in the panoply of the world’s great educators, his actual influence on the schools of the nation has been both seriously overestimated and grossly distorted.”
— Sep 14, 2026 05:01AM
“The paradox of John Dewey’s reputation is that, although he gained worldwide recognition during his own lifetime and has unquestionably earned a place in the panoply of the world’s great educators, his actual influence on the schools of the nation has been both seriously overestimated and grossly distorted.”
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Dewey never belonged to any of the competing interests groups that shaped the twentieth century American curriculum, nor did Dewey swoop into medieval confusion by leading a singular movement called “progressive education” against all the old humanist fogies. In fact, Dewey always advocated for a liberal arts humanist education throughout his distinguished career. Kliebard essentially argues that educational reformers seldom understood Dewey’s educational philosophy and didn’t really care to understand it.