Son of James and Martha Bobbitt. John Franklin Bobbitt was born near English, Indiana on February 16, 1876. He was born of true American stock, who believed that hard work, study, self-discipline, religious faith, and devotion to duty were the absolute ingredients for survival in this life and entry into the life beyond.

He passed away in 1956 near Waldron, Indiana.

Sadly, he never married.

John was a university professor and author. He also taught school from 1903 to 1907 at the Philippine Normal School in Manilla. John was a social efficiency advocate who saw the curriculym as a means for preparing students for their adult roles in the new industrial society. His work greatly influenced the development of curriculum by emphasizing specifications and responses to current social needs rather than on teaching classical subjects. In 1918, Bobbitt authored The Curriculum. This was the first book to focus on curriculum. This book has been recognized by many scholars as the beginning of structured curriculum. Bobbitt realized that it was not enough to just develop new curricula, but saw there was a need to learn more about how new curricula could best be developed. This insight came through his vast experience in the field of curriculum.