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George Counts

January 01, 1970

George Sylvester Counts (December 9, 1889 – November 10, 1974) was an American educator and influential education theorist.

George Sylvester Counts
BornDecember 9, 1889
Baldwin City, Kansas, United States
DiedNovember 10, 1974(1974-11-10) (aged 84)
Belleville, Illinois, United States

An early proponent of the progressive education movement of John Dewey, Counts became its leading critic affiliated with the school of Social reconstructionism in education. Counts is credited for influencing several subsequent theories, particularly critical pedagogy. Counts wrote dozens of important papers and 29 books about education. He was also highly active in politics as a leading advocate of teachers' unions, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, the founder of the New York State Liberal Party, and as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Influences edit

Counts graduated from Baker University in 1911 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then became a high school principal, a science and math teacher, and an athletic coach before heading off to graduate school. While attending graduate school at the University of Chicago in 1913, Counts was influenced by John Dewey and Francis W. Parker. He planned on majoring in sociology until his brother-in-law encouraged him to go into education. Counts then decided he would major in education but minor in sociology and social science. During this time he was a student of Charles Hubbard Judd, a leading proponent of the science of education. It was uncommon during this time to combine a career in education with anything other than psychology. Counts took great pride in knowing he was Judd's first student to not minor in psychology. Counts earned a doctorate in education at the University of Chicago in 1916. His experience studying sociology under Albion W. Small during this period is attributed for encouraging Counts to concentrate on the sociological dimension of educational research.[1][2]

Profession edit

Early career edit

Counts' first position was head of the Department of Education at Delaware College from 1916–1918, then as a professor at Harris Teachers College in 1918. Counts taught at the University of Washington in 1919, then Yale in 1920. Then, in 1926, he taught at the University of Chicago. In 1924 he published The Principles of Education, (1924) with J. Crosby Chapman. During this period Counts favored Dewey's progressive education model of child-centered learning, and this book provided a broad overview of education from that perspective.[3]

In 1926 Counts returned to the University of Chicago. The next year he began a remarkable tenure at Columbia University Teachers College. He remained here until he was forced to retire in 1955. In 1930 Counts wrote American Road to Culture[4] a global perspective on education. In this book he identifies ten "controlling ideas" in U.S. education. He also talks about individual success, national solidarity, and philosophic uncertainty. Regarding this book's case about American schools, H. G. Wells said, "the complete ideological sterilization of the common schools of the Republic is demonstrated beyond question. The sterilization was deliberate."[5]

Dare the School Build a New Social Order? edit

Main article: Dare the School Build a New Social Order?

After publishing two comparative studies of the Soviet education system, The New Russian Primer. (1931) and The Soviet Challenge to America. (1931), Counts was invited to address to the Progressive Education Association. His papers, delivered over three separate speeches, formed the core of the book, Dare the School Build a New Social Order?, published in 1932.[6] Counts provides a clear examination of the cultural, social and political purposes of education, and proponents the deliberate examination and navigation of teaching for political purposes.[7]

In his address Counts proposed that teachers "dare build a new social order" through a complex, but definitely possible, process.[8] He explained that only through schooling could students be educated for a life in a world transformed by massive changes in science, industry, and technology. Counts insisted that responsible educators "cannot evade the responsibility of participating actively in the task of reconstituting the democratic tradition and of thus working positively toward a new society."[9] Counts' address to the PEA and the subsequent publication put him in the forefront of the social reconstructionism movement in education.[10]

Conservative educators attacked the premise of Counts' assertion, and progressive educators recoiled at his criticism of their practices. W. E. B. Du Bois issued a rebuttal to Counts' assertions that teachers were capable of building a "new social order". In 1935 he spoke to a Georgia African American teacher's convention, curtly discounting the nature of the education system today.[11]

Later career edit

Counts continued teaching at Columbia. Several of his students, including William Marvin Alexander, went on to notability in the field of education themselves.[12] Counts retired in 1956.

From 1942 to 1944 Counts served as New York State chairman of the American Labor Party. In 1945 he established the Liberal Party in New York, he ran as its candidate for the United States Senate in 1952. Counts was the chairman of that party from 1955 to 1959. He was a member of the National Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1940 to 1973, and was President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1939 to 1942.[13]

Counts traveled to the Soviet Union several times in the course of his life, writing several books about Soviet education and comparing Soviet and American education systems. In the 1930s William Randolph Hearst used select statements from interviews with Counts to portray American university faculty as Communist Party sympathizers.[14][15]

After retirement Counts served as a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Michigan State University and Southern Illinois University.

Legacy edit

Counts' theories continue to draw support[16] from modern educators.

Bibliography edit

The New Russian Primer (1931) and The Soviet Challenge to America (1931) were Counts' first works, and Dare the School Build a New Social Order? (1932) is regarded as his seminal work. His other books include The Social Foundations of Education (1934); The Prospects of American Democracy (1938); The Country of the Blind (1949), and; Education and American Civilization (1952). He taught at Columbia University Teachers College for almost thirty years. His final publications included Education and the Foundations of Human Freedom (1952) and School and Society in Chicago (1971).[17]

Bibliography of writings on Counts edit

  • Austin, J. George Counts at Teachers College, 1927-1941;: A study in unfulfilled expectations.
  • Braun, R. (2002) Teachers and Power. Touchstone Publishers.
  • Berube, M. (1988) Teacher Politics. Greenwood Press.
  • Cremin, L.A. (1964) The transformation of the American school: Progressivism in American education 1876–1957. New York: Vintage.
  • Dennis, L. (1990) George S. Counts and Charles A. Beard: Collaborators for Change. (SUNY Series in the Philosophy of Education). State Univ of New York Press.
  • Gutek, G. (1970) The Educational Theory George S. Counts. Ohio: Ohio State University Press.
  • JAY, CHARLES DUANE.  "THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM OF GEORGE S. COUNTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (1913-1916): AN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY" (PhD dissertation, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1982. 8229283).
  • Ornstein, A, & Levine, D. (1993) Foundations of Education. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
  • Sheerin, W. (1976) "Educational Scholarship and the Legacy of George S. Counts," Educational Theory 26(1), 107–112.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Gutek, G. (1970) The Educational Theory George S. Counts. Ohio: Ohio State University Press.
  2. ^ Jupp, J. (nd) "George Counts," Kappa Delta Pi.
  3. ^ Teeter, C. (nd) George Counts History of Notre Dame website.
  4. ^ Counts, G. (1930) American Road to Culture. New York: John Day Company.
  5. ^ "Chapter 2. The Sloughing of the Old Educational Tradition" in Wells, H.G. (1933) The Shape of Things to Come. Penguin.
  6. ^ Counts, G.S. (1932) Dare the School Build a New Social Order? New York: John Day Company.
  7. ^ Counts, G.S. (1932) "Dare progressive education be progressive?" Progressive Education 4(9).
  8. ^ Aubrey, R. (1984) "Reform in Schooling: Four Proposals on an Educational Quest," Journal of Counseling & Development. 63(4) p204.
  9. ^ Counts (1933)
  10. ^ Cohen, L. (1999)Section III - Philosophical Perspectives in Education: Part 3. Educational Philosophies. Oklahoma State University School of Education.
  11. ^ Wesley Null, J. and Ravitch, D. (2006) Forgotten Heroes of American Education: The Great Tradition of Teaching Teachers. IAP. p. XV
  12. ^ Altenbaugh, R. J. (1999) Historical Dictionary of American Education. Greenwood Press. p. 15.
  13. ^ Crutchfield, C. (n.d.) George Sylvester Counts.
  14. ^ Nasaw, D. (2000) The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst. Houghton Mifflin Books. p. 504. ISBN 0-618-15446-9
  15. ^ Sperber, A. (1998) Murrow, His Life and Times. Fordham University Press. p. 71. ISBN 0-8232-1882-1
  16. ^ Wood, G. (2005) Time to Learn, Second Edition: How to Create High Schools That Serve All Students. Heinemann Press.
  17. ^ Counts, G. (1971) School and Society in Chicago. (American Education: Its Men and Ideas Series.) Arno Press.

External links edit

  • George S. Counts Papers, 1907-1974 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Special Collections Research Center
Party political offices
Preceded by Liberal nominee for U.S. senator from New York
(Class 1)
1952 		Succeeded by

January 01, 1970
george, counts, george, sylvester, counts, december, 1889, november, 1974, american, educator, influential, education, theorist, george, sylvester, countsborndecember, 1889baldwin, city, kansas, united, statesdiednovember, 1974, 1974, aged, belleville, illinoi. George Sylvester Counts December 9 1889 November 10 1974 was an American educator and influential education theorist George Sylvester CountsBornDecember 9 1889Baldwin City Kansas United StatesDiedNovember 10 1974 1974 11 10 aged 84 Belleville Illinois United States An early proponent of the progressive education movement of John Dewey Counts became its leading critic affiliated with the school of Social reconstructionism in education Counts is credited for influencing several subsequent theories particularly critical pedagogy Counts wrote dozens of important papers and 29 books about education He was also highly active in politics as a leading advocate of teachers unions the head of the American Federation of Teachers the founder of the New York State Liberal Party and as a candidate for the U S Senate Contents 1 Influences 2 Profession 2 1 Early career 2 2 Dare the School Build a New Social Order 2 3 Later career 3 Legacy 4 Bibliography 5 Bibliography of writings on Counts 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksInfluences editCounts graduated from Baker University in 1911 with a Bachelor of Arts degree He then became a high school principal a science and math teacher and an athletic coach before heading off to graduate school While attending graduate school at the University of Chicago in 1913 Counts was influenced by John Dewey and Francis W Parker He planned on majoring in sociology until his brother in law encouraged him to go into education Counts then decided he would major in education but minor in sociology and social science During this time he was a student of Charles Hubbard Judd a leading proponent of the science of education It was uncommon during this time to combine a career in education with anything other than psychology Counts took great pride in knowing he was Judd s first student to not minor in psychology Counts earned a doctorate in education at the University of Chicago in 1916 His experience studying sociology under Albion W Small during this period is attributed for encouraging Counts to concentrate on the sociological dimension of educational research 1 2 Profession editEarly career edit Counts first position was head of the Department of Education at Delaware College from 1916 1918 then as a professor at Harris Teachers College in 1918 Counts taught at the University of Washington in 1919 then Yale in 1920 Then in 1926 he taught at the University of Chicago In 1924 he published The Principles of Education 1924 with J Crosby Chapman During this period Counts favored Dewey s progressive education model of child centered learning and this book provided a broad overview of education from that perspective 3 In 1926 Counts returned to the University of Chicago The next year he began a remarkable tenure at Columbia University Teachers College He remained here until he was forced to retire in 1955 In 1930 Counts wrote American Road to Culture 4 a global perspective on education In this book he identifies ten controlling ideas in U S education He also talks about individual success national solidarity and philosophic uncertainty Regarding this book s case about American schools H G Wells said the complete ideological sterilization of the common schools of the Republic is demonstrated beyond question The sterilization was deliberate 5 Dare the School Build a New Social Order edit Main article Dare the School Build a New Social Order After publishing two comparative studies of the Soviet education system The New Russian Primer 1931 and The Soviet Challenge to America 1931 Counts was invited to address to the Progressive Education Association His papers delivered over three separate speeches formed the core of the book Dare the School Build a New Social Order published in 1932 6 Counts provides a clear examination of the cultural social and political purposes of education and proponents the deliberate examination and navigation of teaching for political purposes 7 In his address Counts proposed that teachers dare build a new social order through a complex but definitely possible process 8 He explained that only through schooling could students be educated for a life in a world transformed by massive changes in science industry and technology Counts insisted that responsible educators cannot evade the responsibility of participating actively in the task of reconstituting the democratic tradition and of thus working positively toward a new society 9 Counts address to the PEA and the subsequent publication put him in the forefront of the social reconstructionism movement in education 10 Conservative educators attacked the premise of Counts assertion and progressive educators recoiled at his criticism of their practices W E B Du Bois issued a rebuttal to Counts assertions that teachers were capable of building a new social order In 1935 he spoke to a Georgia African American teacher s convention curtly discounting the nature of the education system today 11 Later career edit Counts continued teaching at Columbia Several of his students including William Marvin Alexander went on to notability in the field of education themselves 12 Counts retired in 1956 From 1942 to 1944 Counts served as New York State chairman of the American Labor Party In 1945 he established the Liberal Party in New York he ran as its candidate for the United States Senate in 1952 Counts was the chairman of that party from 1955 to 1959 He was a member of the National Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1940 to 1973 and was President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1939 to 1942 13 Counts traveled to the Soviet Union several times in the course of his life writing several books about Soviet education and comparing Soviet and American education systems In the 1930s William Randolph Hearst used select statements from interviews with Counts to portray American university faculty as Communist Party sympathizers 14 15 After retirement Counts served as a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh Michigan State University and Southern Illinois University Legacy editCounts theories continue to draw support 16 from modern educators Bibliography editThe New Russian Primer 1931 and The Soviet Challenge to America 1931 were Counts first works and Dare the School Build a New Social Order 1932 is regarded as his seminal work His other books include The Social Foundations of Education 1934 The Prospects of American Democracy 1938 The Country of the Blind 1949 and Education and American Civilization 1952 He taught at Columbia University Teachers College for almost thirty years His final publications included Education and the Foundations of Human Freedom 1952 and School and Society in Chicago 1971 17 Bibliography of writings on Counts editAustin J George Counts at Teachers College 1927 1941 A study in unfulfilled expectations Braun R 2002 Teachers and Power Touchstone Publishers Berube M 1988 Teacher Politics Greenwood Press Cremin L A 1964 The transformation of the American school Progressivism in American education 1876 1957 New York Vintage Dennis L 1990 George S Counts and Charles A Beard Collaborators for Change SUNY Series in the Philosophy of Education State Univ of New York Press Gutek G 1970 The Educational Theory George S Counts Ohio Ohio State University Press JAY CHARLES DUANE THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM OF GEORGE S COUNTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 1913 1916 AN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY PhD dissertation Southern Illinois University at Carbondale ProQuest Dissertations Publishing 1982 8229283 Ornstein A amp Levine D 1993 Foundations of Education Boston Houghton Mifflin Company Sheerin W 1976 Educational Scholarship and the Legacy of George S Counts Educational Theory 26 1 107 112 See also edit nbsp Biography portal Harold Rugg Theodore Brameld Charles A Beard Education theoryReferences edit Gutek G 1970 The Educational Theory George S Counts Ohio Ohio State University Press Jupp J nd George Counts Kappa Delta Pi Teeter C nd George Counts History of Notre Dame website Counts G 1930 American Road to Culture New York John Day Company Chapter 2 The Sloughing of the Old Educational Tradition in Wells H G 1933 The Shape of Things to Come Penguin Counts G S 1932 Dare the School Build a New Social Order New York John Day Company Counts G S 1932 Dare progressive education be progressive Progressive Education 4 9 Aubrey R 1984 Reform in Schooling Four Proposals on an Educational Quest Journal of Counseling amp Development 63 4 p204 Counts 1933 Cohen L 1999 Section III Philosophical Perspectives in Education Part 3 Educational Philosophies Oklahoma State University School of Education Wesley Null J and Ravitch D 2006 Forgotten Heroes of American Education The Great Tradition of Teaching Teachers IAP p XV Altenbaugh R J 1999 Historical Dictionary of American Education Greenwood Press p 15 Crutchfield C n d George Sylvester Counts Nasaw D 2000 The Chief The Life of William Randolph Hearst Houghton Mifflin Books p 504 ISBN 0 618 15446 9 Sperber A 1998 Murrow His Life and Times Fordham University Press p 71 ISBN 0 8232 1882 1 Wood G 2005 Time to Learn Second Edition How to Create High Schools That Serve All Students Heinemann Press Counts G 1971 School and Society in Chicago American Education Its Men and Ideas Series Arno Press External links editGeorge S Counts Papers 1907 1974 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Special Collections Research Center Party political offices Preceded byHerbert H Lehman Liberal nominee for U S senator from New York Class 1 1952 Succeeded byFrank Hogan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Counts amp oldid 1220247282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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