Ed. Magazine Because We Actually Helped Teachers Fly Posted January 23, 2020 By Ed. Magazine Did we really help teachers become pilots? Sounds far-fetched (and there’s certainly no space in Harvard Square for a runway), but in 1943, at a time when patriotism was high, the Ed School did its part for the war effort when the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) requested that we offer a free pre-flight aviation course for high school teachers. At the time, the CAA was worried that America would not be ready for the next world war; aviation education, the agency believed, was critical to the nation’s future. Initially, the program focused on prepping college students, but by the spring of 1942, the CAA and the U.S. Office of Education teamed up on a program to “air condition” school-aged kids — that is, teach them basic aviation skills. As Robert Hinckley, an assistant secretary for air, noted in his 1942 book Air-Conditioning Young America, “History has faced us with the plain alternative: Fly — or die! The entire nation must become air-conditioned.” The 15-week course at the Ed School prepared high school teachers to understand meteorology, navigation, civil air regulations, and general servicing and operation of aircraft. Former Dean Henry Holmes taught the course. Explore HGSE's Centennial website, a central resource for events, stories, ways to get involved, and more. Ed. Magazine The magazine of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles News Celebrating Our Centennial and Looking to the Future Dean Bridget Terry Long's opening remarks at HGSE's Centennial Kickoff. Askwith Education Forum Future of Education: Human Development and Psychology – The Long View Panelists from the fields of neuroscience, media and technology, and adolescent development will discuss how far the field of human development has come, and where it could — and should — be going in the future. Ed. Magazine 100 Years, 100 Reasons to Love the Ed School A special centennial issue from Harvard Ed. magazine. Click headline to access a full version (PDF). A few of the individual reasons we love the Ed School are below.