Chapter 3: H. Gordon Hullfish: Practitioner, Promulgator, and Protector of Democracy

The hole that was created by the death of Henry Gordon Hullfish (18941962) was so enormous that the entire issue of Educational Theory, volume XIII, number 3 (Anderson, 1963a) was dedicated to his memory. At that time, Educational Theory was a joint publication of the John Dewey Society, The Philosophy of Education Society and the College of Education, University of Illinois. In this volume, colleagues, former students and The Ohio State University Board of Trustees memorialized the contributions of “Hank” Hullfish to the teaching profession; the cause of progressive, democratic education; and the protection of freedom from the threatening events on the American and the world stage. How did this former high school dropout rise to prominence in academe and develop into a consummate practitioner, promulgator, and protector of democracy? While Hullfish appears to have faded into obscurity, the issues he devoted his career to, and his approach to them are still relevant to today’s educator. This chapter examines Hullfish’s commitment to teaching, his belief in reflective thinking as the goal necessary for schools to shape our dynamic, democratic society, and his defense of challenges to freedom wherever he found them.