UW–Madison’s Julia Eklund Koza is the author of a newly released book titled, “ ‘Destined to Fail:’ Carl Seashore’s World of Eugenics, Psychology, Education, and Music.”
Koza is a professor emerita in the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and with the Mead Witter School of Music. Her widely published research primarily focuses on equity issues in education, music, and music education.
A preview of this work explains that “ ‘Destined to Fail’ ” examines how eugenics became a keystone of modern educational policy. A work of intersectional analysis, Koza dives into the relationship between eugenics and prominent U.S. psychologist and educator Carl Seashore’s views on ability, race, and gender. Koza concludes that Seashore promoted eugenics and its companion, euthenics, because he was a true believer.
“In this deeply researched and carefully argued book, Julia Koza documents how principles derived from eugenics shaped the work of Carl Seashore, a pioneer in American music education and standardized testing,” notes Susan McClary, the Fynette H. Kulas Professor of Music at Case Western Reserve University, in a review of the book.
To learn more about “ ‘Destined to Fail,’ ” visit this Michigan Publishing webpage.