A core belief of education reformers is that, after a child's parents, teacher quality is the most important factor for school success.
Alderman was president of the university from 1896 to 1900 and was known for his reputation as a public education reformer.
He later distinguished himself as an education reformer.
The quest was one that had eluded education reformers - overhauling not just a school, but an entire system.
He spent his career as an education reformer, advocating school systems with greater community participation and schools that were better adapted to urban students' needs.
American education reformers have sought to end such tracking, which is seen as a barrier to opportunity.
His advice, though often unorthodox and controversial, will influence generations of education reformers.
Other education reformers believed that children were overstimulated in a system which required 48 weeks of schooling.
Horace Mann (1796-1859) was an education reformer, after whom schools and an insurance company have been named.
But earlier generations of education reformers would not recognize the current school-as-workplace climate.
