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David O. Mckay: Founding Father Of Lds Pacific Education

Mormon Pacific Historical Society

Before Americans were exposed to the Common School movement of the twentieth century, it was commonly believed that proper nourishment was the only need children had. Horace Mann and later John Dewey, and other leading progressives promoted the philosophy that proper education was another basic need for a successful adult life. Progressives believed that children needed to be exposed to schooling where they could have "experience." Utah progressive educational leaders advocated their own brand of progressivism, most especially, child-centered education. One reason Utah seemed enthused with progressive ideas may have been that most of its citizens during the early 1900s …