Evans, R.W. 2007.  This Happened In America: Harold Rugg and the Censure of Social Studies. North Carolina: Information Age Publishing, Inc.        306 pages   $45.95

Ronald Evans calls for a return to Harold Rugg’s vision of Social Studies as a means for social reconstruction in the book, This Happened in America: Harold Rugg and the Censure of Social Studies.  Evan’s biography of Harold Rugg shows how the social studies curriculum evolved as society changed in America. His theories embodied the ideas of social efficiency espoused by the scientific curriculum, John Dewey’s child-centered curriculum, and finally social reconstruction or the idea that schools can be used to change and improve society.  Rugg’s open opposition against capitalism and his critiques of American society espoused in his textbooks came under the scrutiny of patriotic groups such as the American Legion in the 1930’s.  This Happened in America: Harold Rugg and the Censure of Social Studies may be of interest to social studies educators, historians, and educational reformers and anyone involved in creating the National Social Studies Standards.  It represents the conflict which occurs when society fights to preserve the American way of life which is defined differently by various groups and the idea that America needs to change. This conflict still exists today as the War on Terrorism is being fought at home and abroad to preserve democracy and to “protect our way of life” and the new Presidential administration led by Barrack Obama which rallies under a call for change in America.

The book is a biography of Harold Rugg set in a broader discussion of American society during the Depression. It contains numerous black and white photos and newspaper clippings throughout to illustrate Rugg’s life and times. Each chapter contains subchapters chronicling particular incidents, ends with a conclusion, and has a reference list.  One of the major conclusions that the author draws is that Rugg’s theories regarding the teaching of social studies were heavily influenced by various events that occurred throughout his personal and professional life.

Using a variety of sources including court documents, articles, letters, political cartoons, and dissertations, Evans documents Rugg’s life and controversial court cases. Although other patriotic groups attacked progressive education reformers, the American Legion was noticeably portrayed as Rugg’s primary nemesis throughout the book without much regard to their perspective or their motives for singling him out.  However, Evans does not present Rugg as a lone martyr battling an all powerful bully. Rugg’s equally powerful supporters such as The American Civil Liberties Union are also mentioned. Rugg’s actions which may have provoked the attacks by patriotic groups and some businesses are also evaluated.

Evan’s guides the reader through the events leading up to Rugg having to defend himself against charges of communism by the local school board. He suggests that Rugg’s portrayal of corporate America as malevolent when corporations were subsidizing school programs pushed him into an unfavorable spotlight. For example, the superintendent of Bayonne New Jersey schools removed a social studies series from the schools to avoid offending Standard Oil company executives after Rugg implied that working there shortens a man’s life by 20 years. Rugg’s action was taken as a slight against capitalism. Coupled with the fact that Standard Oil paid over $1 million dollars in local taxes, a percentage of which goes to fund schools, it was not taken lightly (146).

Another major event occurred when the American Legion in 1935, requested that two of Rugg’s books be removed from classrooms on the grounds that they were unpatriotic and promoted a communist agenda (147).  His questioning of the government’s role in society and his views on the founding fathers led to this incident. However, Rugg was vindicated of the all charges that he sought to teach or promote communism in textbooks by a committee appointed by the school district (148).  His books were allowed to remain the schools.

Efforts to purge Rugg’s influence from schools have firmly implanted him into the annals of educational history.  This Happened in America: Harold Rugg and the Censure of Social Studies is an interesting and timely book which exposes the tensions between academia and society especially when suggested reforms are at odds with the status quo. Scholars interested in the Progressive Era, the history of education, and anyone interested in reading about the rise and fall of a spirited thinker will be interested in this book.

Reviewed by Dr. Stephanie Nicole Robinson, PhD, online faculty multiple universities