author
Arthur William Dunn
1868–1927
A pioneering American educator, he helped shape how civics was taught in schools at the start of the 20th century. His books focus on citizenship as something lived in everyday community life, not just studied in theory.
1 Audiobook
Community Civics and Rural Life
by Arthur William Dunn
About the author
Born in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1868, he studied at Knox College and the University of Chicago before beginning his career at the University of Cincinnati, where he taught English and lectured in sociology. He later led history and civics work at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and served in several influential public-education roles in Philadelphia, New York City, and the United States Bureau of Education.
His writing centered on civic education and social studies. Among the works associated with him are The Community and the Citizen (1907), The Teaching of Community Civics (1915, with others), Social Studies in Secondary Education (1916), Citizenship in School and Out (1920, with Hannah Margaret Norris), Community Civics and Rural Life (1920), and Community Civics for City Schools (1921).
By 1920 he was also working with national service organizations: the Library of Congress describes him as a recognized authority on teaching civics who became connected with the Junior Red Cross after serving as a specialist in civic education for the U.S. Bureau of Education. He died in 1927, leaving behind books that reflect an early and practical vision of citizenship education.