20 Facts About Carleton Washburne

Carleton Wolsey Washburne was an American educator and education reformer.

Carleton Washburne served as the superintendent of schools in Winnetka, Illinois, United States, from 1919 to 1943 and is most notably associated with the Winnetka Plan that he developed for his district.

Carleton Wolsey Washburne was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1889 to an obstetrician father.

Carleton Washburne's mother was active in political affairs, especially education, and was a friend of the innovative educator John Dewey.

Late in his childhood, his family moved to Elkhart, Indiana, where Washburne attended a traditional school.

When his immediate family moved to Elgin, Illinois, Carleton Washburne followed and finished his high school education there.

Carleton Washburne initially followed in the family footsteps and studied medicine at the University of Chicago.

Carleton Washburne originally set out on a business venture, but was unsuccessful.

Carleton Washburne's work caught the attention of Frederic Lister Burk, the president of the San Francisco State Teachers College, who hired him to teach at the institution's affiliated elementary school.

Carleton Washburne taught there for five years, serving as head of the science department.

The district only had elementary schools, so Carleton Washburne was able to focus on that age group.

Carleton Washburne served as chairman of the Winnetka Summer School for Teachers and the Winnetka Graduate Teachers College.

Carleton Washburne was one of the founding members of the John Dewey Society in 1935.

Carleton Washburne served as president of the Progressive Education Association and of the New Education Fellowship.

Carleton Washburne oversaw the design and completion of the Crow Island School in 1940, which was heralded for its teaching concepts and unique architecture, and is a National Historic Landmark.

Carleton Washburne resigned from the Winnetka School District in 1943 to help the US Army reopen educational facilities in occupied Italy during World War II.

Carleton Washburne was the head of the Allied Forces subcommission which revisited the high school scholastic curriculum defined in 1935 by the Italian fascist Minister of Education De Vecchi.

Carleton Washburne remained there until 1949, playing an important role in reorganizing the Italian public school system.

Carleton Washburne then accepted an offer to become the director of teacher education at Brooklyn College.

Carleton Washburne published many works over his career, including arithmetic lesson pamphlets and book lists.