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Charles W. Eliot

BACKGROUND INFO: Born in 1834, graduated from Harvard University at 15 years old, professor of analytical chemistry at MIT, President of Harvard in 1869, he wrote and spoke about almost all social questions that came up, American presidents spoke highly of him as the president of Harvard, died in 1926

WHAT HE WANTS: He wanted educational reform of professional schools (colleges and universities). He believed that a truly useful education included a commitment to public service, specialized training, and the ability to change with the time. Colleges were run by priests and almost no schools offered science, modern language, history, or political economy courses. That didn't help the country during industrialization.

SOLUTION: He just wanted people to pursue whatever career they wanted because of their interests. He proposed abandoning the classic curriculum, which offered basically nothing to a student's education. A more specialized curriculum based on interests was what Eliot proposed to change about American colleges so that students get the most out of their education. Harvard reformed their board which made decisions by giving power to alumni by letting them vote for board members who supported reform. He also proposed starting research faculties that offered specialized career branches of the university. This would give the student the best education that fits the career that most interested them and they planned on working in. This was favored by businessmen looking to send their kids to school because they get a specialized education in business.

WORKS CITED:

"Charles William Eliot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., 21 Aug. 2011. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. .

Vetter, Herbert F.. "Charles W. Eliot." //Harvard Square Library | Unitarian Biographies | Cambridge | History | Philosophy//. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. .