Daniel Tanner
Educator • Scholar • Author • Founder — 1926–2023
Daniel Tanner was an educator, author, historian, and scholar whose life and career were devoted to the advancement of education.
Born in New York City in 1926, Professor Tanner pursued a distinguished academic career spanning more than half a century. His scholarship focused particularly on curriculum, educational reform, progressive education, adolescence, and the role of education in a democratic society.
Daniel Tanner
Educator • Scholar • Author • Founder — 1926–2023
Daniel Tanner was an educator, author, historian, and scholar whose life and career were devoted to the advancement of education.
Born in New York City in 1926, Professor Tanner pursued a distinguished academic career spanning more than half a century. His scholarship focused particularly on curriculum, educational reform, progressive education, adolescence, and the role of education in a democratic society.
A Life Devoted to Education
Professor Tanner earned his Bachelor of Science with honors and Master of Science degrees from Michigan State University and received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where he was a University Fellow.
Before joining Rutgers University, he served on the faculties of Purdue University and Northwestern University.
Professor Tanner joined the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in 1969. During his long career at Rutgers, he established the doctoral program in Curriculum Studies and later became Professor Emeritus.
His influence extended far beyond the university. Professor Tanner lectured internationally at universities in England, Germany, the Czech Republic, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa.
Scholarship and Leadership
Professor Tanner was the author of fifteen books on education and numerous scholarly articles. His writings explored curriculum development, progressive education, democracy, educational reform, and the responsibilities of schools in preparing young people for participation in society.
His work appeared not only in leading professional journals but also in publications including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and Education Week.
He was President Emeritus of the John Dewey Society for the Study of Education and Culture, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Founding Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.
Daniel and Laurel Tanner
Laurel Tanner was an important scholarly collaborator in Daniel Tanner’s work in the field of education.
Together, Daniel and Laurel Tanner co-authored significant works in curriculum studies, including History of the School Curriculum and successive editions of Curriculum Development: Theory Into Practice.
Their collaborative scholarship contributed to the study of curriculum development, educational history, and progressive education, and their work reached educators and scholars both in the United States and internationally.
The Foundation
In 2010, Professor Tanner established The Daniel Tanner Foundation.
The Foundation gave him a way to transform a lifetime of scholarship and commitment to education into something that could continue beyond his own academic career.
Through the Foundation, his commitment to education has continued through support for educational institutions, research and scholarship, student opportunities, innovative learning environments, and long-term educational initiatives.
Today, The Daniel Tanner Foundation continues the work its founder began — honoring his belief in the power of education while supporting new opportunities for learning, research, and educational progress.
A Lasting Legacy
Professor Tanner’s legacy lives not only through his books and scholarship, but also through the students, educators, researchers, institutions, and educational initiatives influenced by his work.
His view of education was grounded in progress, inquiry, democracy, and the continuing responsibility to improve education for future generations.
“No education — or anything else for that matter — is progressive unless it is making progress.”
— Daniel Tanner
