Elizabeth Harrison: Celebrating Women’s History Month by Honoring a Trailblazer in Education
Elizabeth Harrison—with her innovative, insightful and persistent spirit—led a quiet revolution at the turn of the 20th century. Though she was a radical change-agent in her time, standing among those who received world-renown accolades, she worked with such humility that her name is often overlooked in history books. Harrison was one of the instrumental pioneers of the Kindergarten movement in the United States. Furthermore, she became an educational leader who initiated annual conferences on educational reform, playing a key role in the launch of the progressive education movement, organizing what is now known as the National Parent Teachers Association (PTA), and becoming the founder of what is recognized today as National Louis University. Harrison worked tirelessly to make a lasting impact on the field of education in Chicago, as well as on a national and international level.
Yet, considering all of her lasting achievements, Harrison was not one to promote herself but rather was invested in empowering others. Her contemporaries spoke of Harrison’s impact. Jane Addams, Nobel Peace Prize winner and dear friend of Harrison, exclaimed that “Elizabeth Harrison has done more good than any woman I know. She has brought light and power to all the educational world.” Also, the United States Department of Education trusted Harrison’s leadership and commissioned her to conduct a full evaluation of Maria Montessori’s teaching methods; this review ultimately served to introduce Montessori’s approach to America. In addition, some scholars give credit to Harrison for her influence on John Dewey, who attended Harrison’s organized lectures in Chicago. Clearly, Elizabeth Harrison’s historic work as a teacher and theorist continue to shape education today.
Considering Harrison’s fundamental drive to view education innovatively, we might wonder what her response would be if she were to walk into a classroom at National Louis University in the year of 2025 (almost 140 years after founding the institution). Although Harrison certainly would be surprised by the advancement of instructional technologies—the smartboards, the online learning, and the use of AI—she would certainly endorse the ultimate purpose of these tools: to better serve the needs of students. She was a woman of vision. She read broadly in terms of literature, philosophy, and history, having a keen sense that the world is constantly evolving. No doubt Harrison would ask learners the same vital questions she asked of her own students over a century ago:
- How is your learning shaping you as a person?
- How will you use your education?
- Are you learning just to get ahead, or are you preparing to make an impact?
Harrison would continue to challenge us to see education as something bigger than ourselves, something that carries weight and responsibility. Education, for Harrison, was more than acquiring information—it was about preparing people for a life of purpose, service, and growth. In her words:
"Information is merely a tool, a most necessary tool, but never an end. The real end of education is individual growth, and the right use of that growth is in the service of humanity."
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Elizabeth Harrison’s legacy reminds us that learning should guide us towards individual and collective transformation. Her vision continues at NLU, prompting teachers to ask enduring questions, while encouraging students to reach for answers in service to society.
