Summary of Dictatorship of Virtue

"Dictatorship of Virtue" is a book by renowned historian Richard H. Kohn, which examines how education in the United States has been politicized and ideologicalized over the last hundred years. In particular, Kohn assesses how well-meaning social reformers - from progressives to neoconservatives - have tried to impose their vision of Americans and the best way to educate them. He covers a broad range of topics such as the history of public education, the impact of multicultural and gender politics, and the rise of national standards and testing. Kohn explores how the struggle to define American values has created an environment of mistrust and suspicion, and how those at the center of the debate have often been more interested in promoting their own agendas than in fostering genuine dialogue. In the end, Kohn argues, America’s schools have been made pawns in an ideological power struggle that has left students, teachers, and parents alike feeling frustrated and powerless.