A Powerful Voice That Will Live On

Public education lost one of its most powerful voices on Saturday, November 29, when John Goodlad passed away.

He had worked in educational institutions at all levels, teaching in a one-room school in Canada, as dean of the Graduate school of Education at UCLA, and as founder of the Center for Education Renewal (http://www.ieiseattle.org/CER.htm ) and the Institute for Educational Inquiry (http://www.ieiseattle.org ).

John was a thoughtful leader for public education. He published more than 30 books and 200 journal articles. His best-known books include these:

A Place Called School (1984)
The Moral Dimensions of Teaching (1990, with Roger Soder and Ken Sirotnik)
In Praise of Education (1997)
Educational Renewal: Better Teachers, Better Schools (1998)

He reminded us that the critical role of education was to build and maintain a free democratic society. As such, we as educators have a responsibility to ensure that all children are embraced in the enterprise of learning and teaching. Our democratic society depends on our educational system. He called attention to the moral dimensions of teaching, urging us to accept the notion that education is an honorable “calling.”

As founder for the National Network for Educational Renewal, John developed a workable model for institutions of higher education to engage in meaningful partnerships with PK-12 schools. In this model, together the partnering institutions improved outcomes for all learners through “simultaneous renewal.”

John was a mentor to and powerful influence on many of us. He urged many individuals to take leadership roles in higher education as deans of schools and colleges of education. Somehow throughout the years, and as busy as he was, he made the time to engage with individuals deeply and individually. He encouraged so many people in their work. We all benefited from his wisdom, kindness, and support.

He will be missed, but his influence will live on.

A full obituary written by John’s longtime collaborator Roger Soder can be found on the NNER web site. See AACTE’s tribute and offer your own remembrances here.


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Julie Underwood

Chair, AACTE Board of Directors, and Dean, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison