This article by Thomas Sowell describes the history
of modern education and contains the following:
None
of these failing educational fads was unique to China. They went back to the
teachings of John Dewey, whose “progressive” ideas shaped developments in
American schools � and especially American schools of education, where future
teachers were trained. Moreover, Dewey’s ideas were tried out on a large scale
in the Soviet Union in the 1920s, before they had achieved similar influence in
the United States. During a visit to the Soviet Union in 1928, Dewey reported
“the marvelous development of progressive educational ideas and practice under
the fostering care of the Bolshevik government.” He noted that the Soviets had
broken down the barriers between school and society, which he had urged others
to do, and said, “I can only pay my tribute to the liberating effect of active
participation in social life upon the attitude of the students.”
