Scientists, however, are not immune from bias. The highly regarded psychologist H.H. Goddard, for example, exemplified elitist values. The debate over curriculum is emotional for progressive educators because they believe that the way students are treated will determine the future of the society. It will be helpful in reaching this goal if educators can rid themselves and their students of the mistaken notion that some individuals or groups are better than others. It is not too much to hope that schools can be the leading force in making progress toward a better world.
Power never concedes anything without a demand.
It never did and it never will. Douglass knew that learning is power. As a slave, he was forbidden to learn to read. It would be no surprise to Douglass that there is intense opposition to educational reforms that are aimed at teaching people to think for themselves. This is still a powerful argument for progressive education.