Herbert Kliebard

Madison / Evanston, IL - Herbert Martin Kliebard, loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and ground-breaking scholar in curriculum planning, the history of education, and on the educational reformer John Dewey, died peacefully at his home in Evanston, Illinois on Monday, June 8, 2015. He was 84. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bernice (Bleiweiss) Kliebard, to whom he was married for 43 years.

Herb was born in the Bronx on July 24, 1930, the only child of Yetta (Yaskulka) and Morris Kliebard. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School, thereafter attending City College in New York, where he obtained his A.B. in English and, thereafter, his M.A. After teaching for a year at Bronx Vocational College - the inspiration for the novel and movie "Blackboard Jungle" - he served in the Army's Medical Corps, returning upon completion of his stint to his prior teaching position. He later worked as a reading specialist for the Nyack Public School System before beginning his doctoral studies at Teacher's College, Columbia University.

After earning his doctorate, Herb joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the departments of curriculum and instruction and educational policy studies in 1963. He never fully retired, and was professor emeritus in the School of Education until the time of his death. Herb obtained numerous awards for his scholarship over the course of his career, including a distinguished faculty award from the UW, a distinguished alumnus award from Teacher's College, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the John Dewey Society, and a lifetime achievement award from the Curriculum Studies Division of the American Educational Research Association. Herb was the author of numerous books and articles, his most celebrated of which was The Struggle for the American Curriculum, first published in 1995 and currently in its third edition. His body of work also includes his personal favorite, Schooled to Work: Vocationalism and the American Curriculum, 1876-1946; along with Changing Course: American Curriculum Reform in the 20th Century; Religion and Education in America: A Documentary History, as well as many others.

Herb is survived by his daughter, Diane Kliebard Silverberg (David Steiner), and son, Kenneth Kliebard (Judy), his four grandchildren, Marissa Silverberg, David Silverberg, Brianna Kliebard and Joey Kliebard, as well as myriad students, colleagues and friends.

Funeral services will take place Wednesday, June 10th, at 1:00 p.m., at the Cress Funeral Home located at 3610 Speedway Road in Madison, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, the family lovingly encourages contributions to charities that advance Herb's many passions, including: The University of Wisconsin Foundation: In Honor of Herbert Kliebard, U.S. Bank Lockbox, P.O. Box 78236, Milwaukee, WI, 53278-0236; the New Israel Fund, P.O. Box 96712, Washington, D.C. 20090-6712 (or http://www.wfc2.wiredforchange.com ); J Street - Development, PO Box 66073, Washington, D.C. 20035 (or http://www.act.jstreet.org ); The Workmen's Circle, 247 West 37th St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018 (or https://circle.org/make-a-gift ); and Amnesty International ( http://www.donate.amnestyusa.org ).

A memorial service to celebrate Herb's career and accomplishments is being planned.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434
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