Hein pushes us beyond the pedagogy of progressive education to acknowledge its moral core–Dewey’s commitment to social justice and democracy. Along the way he upends some misconceptions about how novel current thinking actually is. An exhaustive and invaluable contribution to the continuing story of the history, meaning and contributions of museum education.

–Leslie Bedford, Ph.D, Leadership in Museum Education Program, Bank Street College of Education

Infused with Hein’s trademark warmth and fair-mindedness, this book will spark rich discussion about John Dewey and our progressive museum education heritage, and is sure to be welcomed across the field.

–Rika Burnham, Head of Education, The Frick Collection

Through the examples of far-sighted people like John Dewey, Charles Willson Peale, Anna Billings Gallup and others, Professor Hein shows us how a combination of progressive pedagogical practice and progressive political views can significantly support museums in their role of encouraging democracy and inclusiveness. In doing so it emphasises that the educational role of museums is a primary one, one that is too important to be marginalised by curatorial acquisitiveness.

–Des Griffin, Gerard Krefft Fellow and former Director, The Australian Museum, Sydney

We can never remind ourselves and each other too often that democracy is and remains a work in progress, never finished, never complete. Democracy is always defined as much by whom and what it excludes as by whom and what it includes. In his new book George Hein reexamines the historical roots and the meaning of the concept of democracy within museums and educational practices. Drawing from a wide range of references from across the world he explores how museums have attempted to be ‘in the service of democracy’ and ‘provide education that leads to better informed, critical citizens for a more egalitarian society.’ As the concept of democracy continuously expands into more radical and direct forms in the 21st century, museums correspondingly wrestle with the challenges and obligations of public participations and organisational forms that facilitate them.

–Jette Sandahl, Director, Museum of Copenhagen