U.S. Social and Educational Research during the Cold War: An Interview with Harold J. Noah

Overview & Synopsis

This article presents an interview with Harold J. Noah, Gardner Cowles Professor Emeritus of Economics and Education and former dean at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. He edited the "Comparative Education Review" from 1965 to 1971, was president of the U.S. Comparative and International Education Society in 1973, and is an honorary fellow of the Society. He is a member emeritus of the U.S. National Academy of Education. The main point of discussion is U.S. social and educational research during the cold war. Noah states that U.S. fascination with the educational system of the Soviet Union began after the Sputnik was launched. He also explains how he personally became involved in Soviet and Russian studies and the role of the Comparative Education Society, which was later renamed Comparative and International Education Society, in advancing Soviet Studies in education, and relates that the fascination with Soviet education had no impact on the field of comparative and international education, with regard to both theory and methods of reflections. (Contains 2 notes.)