Centennial Moments
Sputnik Compels Critique of U.S. High Schools
Two years after Sputnik raised fears about the quality of U.S. education, American High School Today: A First Report to Interested Citizens was published to garner support for public schools. Author James B. Conant, former president of Harvard, claimed the comprehensive high school, offering a greater variety of courses including languages and vocational training, would best prepare a diverse student body for the future.



