James Bryant Conant criticized the education system in the 1960s.
James Bryant Conant ( March 26 , 1893 -- February 11 , 1978 ) was an American chemist , a transformative President of Harvard University , and the first U.S. Ambassador to West Germany . On returning to the United States , he criticized the education system in works such as The American High School Today ( 1959 ) , Slums and Suburbs ( 1961 ) and The Education of American Teachers ( 1963 ) .