1900-1917

The primary concern of this time seems to be the preparation of American workers for jobs in a society that was becoming increasingly industrialized. Rather than focus on college preparations---of which only four percent of the United States population at the time was attending college---instructors decided that an emphasis should be made to ensure that students could read and write well, without overemphasazing either discipline. John Dewey was formulating his theories of education at this time. He wanted education to produce a democratic, productive citizen, one who could serve the country for the public good. Only some attention was paid to the needs of the individual. American education became more about producing individuals with solid education, although that didn't necessarily mean college bound students. It should also be noted that during this time it was decided that the instruction of literature and the instruction of writing should become two separate disciplines.

The article as a whole portrays an educational system that shifts at the whims of society. As needs changed, so did the education system. The more industrialized the nation became, a greater demand developed for educated individuals who could at the very least read and write. While the elite still held onto institutions such as Harvard and Yale, "land grant" universities as they were called, began to spring up in the rest of the country. It could be argued that higher education was still a priority of the elite but a public school system was in the process of forming that required a solid educational base for all.

The period of 1900 -1917 was all about determining the shifting needs of education as men like Dewey and Scott came to prominence. Changes in curriculum determined that writing and literature should actually be taught as two separate courses. Writing at this time underwent changes as well. Creative writing was seen more as an activity for the lower grades while students in the ninth grade and above were often subjected to a method that taught more "practical" writing skills in preparation for the work force.