Educational Philosophy of John Dewey Essay

John Dewey is considered to have been a pedagogical progressivist, meaning he focused on education reform by first reforming the way that the teaching was actually done. In the past education focused on teaching children facts, mostly by learning with repetition. This was a problem because it taught children information but not how to use that mindfulness with critical thinking in real-world situations. These problems led John Dewey to write a series of articles that described his views on teaching and how it should be improved upon, this is called “My Pedagogic Creed”. Dewey wanted to equally incorporate a psychological, the abilities and interest of the student, and sociological, the needs and commitments of the society, aspect into teaching. He believed that children were born with blank slates and throughout their lives they would receive guidance “unconsciously” and be molded into adults (Dewey, 1). So the introduction of these aspects would help the molded children into better citizens and that would help drive the social economy into prosperity and overall a better democratic society.

Thomas Jefferson remains one of the first advocates for public education, which was later termed the Common School Movement. He recognized the inequality in education, for the wealthy stood the only ones capable of affording an education, thus the poor stayed poor and the rich stayed rich. Jefferson aspired to change the apparent injustices in the education system. He felt all children possessed the right to and education regardless of prosperity, heritage, and circumstances. Even though Jefferson remained not able to create the change he so desperately sought to make, he never stopped trying and since education stayed revolutionized, for his persistence in equality. James Conant, former president of Harvard University stated, “In short, as I view the American scene of the 1960’s, I am ready to declare without hesitation that Jefferson’s proposals have become incorporated in the pattern of our educational structure” (Mercer, 1993).

Being regarded as father of progressive education, John Dewey’s most valuable contribution lied in the promotion of practical approach to education. His progressive education method underlined the importance of experience in learning, which was contradictory to the earlier days’ traditional authoritarian and rote learning educational approach. John Dewey believed in democracy in education, suggesting a learn process by participating and doing. His educational approach also put an emphasis on the development of relevant and practical life skills for students.

First and foremost, the American Educational System has received numerous advocates offering crucial inputs on education from centuries ago up to the present time. Even so, with focus, shining on past advocates, three well-known men who are still receiving constant acknowledgment for their ideas and contributions regarding the system. Notably, Dewey, Man, and Jefferson all share major impacts, alike and unlike, resulting in significant effects on the American Educational System.

John Dewey’s Progressive Learning Theory is defined as any various reformist educational philosophies and methodologies since the late 1800s, applied especially to elementary schools, that reject the rote recitation and strict discipline of traditional, single classroom teaching, favoring instead more stimulation of the individual pupil as well as group discussion, more informality in the classroom, a broader curriculum, and use of laboratories, gymnasiums, etc. in the school. It is essentially an umbrella theory for many theories that have contributed to what is known as, Progressive Education.

“Thus Dewey sought to conceptualize democracy as a mode of being a way of life, or as a personality formation. He argued that even if all of the right external structures were in place if there was little to no prior development of the democratic moral ideals within persons that make up American Democracy, more and more of its people would devolve into mere empty-shelled democratic citizens.” (John Dewey)

The Progressive Era was a period of the acknowledgements of the social and economic conditions in America during the 1890s to the 1920s. A social activist/reformer named John Dewey believed that “all education proceeds by the participation of the individual in the social consciousness of the race”. What he is trying to explain is that all the advancements towards education has to be done by the participations by the people who are aware of the different racial matters. In John Dewey’s book, “The School and Society”, he firmly states “what the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.” which means that all parents should want the best opportunities for their kids just like a whole community would want schools to supply to all the kids. If all of his beliefs were pulled together into one, you start to notice that Dewey actually kind of works away from this goal rather than towards it. This is why, we should question his intentions and what he actually wanted for the education system in America. John Dewey is a very educated man, but he doesn’t want children to be at his standard, rather they should learn about social skills in school, not actual things that are needed to be taught to get a proper education.

During the early 1900s, the Progressive Movement came to the forefront of what Herbert Kliebard has called "the struggle for the American curriculum." Progressivism consistently challenged traditional ideals concerning the foundations upon which students' education in schools was based. The movement was greatly influenced by the writings of John Dewey, who was inspired by such known political theorists as Vittoriano da Feltre, Campanella, Comenius, Pestalozzi, Rousseau, and Bronson Alcott. In addition to Dewey, such prominent curriculum

The Progressive Reform Movement ideas were to make the educational institutions effective agencies where there was respect for diversity, as well as a place to gain educational understanding on their quest of being citizens that believe in service for others (Weiler, 2004). Furthermore, there was a belief that within the classroom setting, there would be a democratic relationship that would focus on the needs of the students, rather than the institution (Progressive Education – Philosophical Foundations, Pedagogical Progressivism, Administrative Progressivism, Life-Adjustment Progressivism, n.d.).

To introduce, to Dewey, the common perception of democracy is hardly fitting of its true definition. Dewey expands our common idea of democracy into a “way of living”, but in the general political and governmental sense dictates it as, “the best means so far found, for realizing ends that lie in the wide domain of human relationships and the development of human personality. (1110)” Dewey understands democracy to be a social way to act as an individual. Democracy enforces and idolizes the capabilities of the individual to capitalize on the contributions those capabilities can provide for

The Progressive Era was from 1890-1919 when President Theodore Roosevelt became predecessor to President William McKinley whom was assassinated. For decades, it has been a controversial debate on how influential Progressive Education is on American Schooling. The Progressive Movement started because of the development of big businesses and corporations as education became a major topic for reformers due to child labor laws and public schooling became the central focus in the United States. Efforts of this movement were to “regulate big businesses, governmental reform, women’s suffrage, and temperance.” (Hayes 2006, p. 7) I am a follower in the teachings as well as the learning

Education is inevitable. It is all around us because we can learn from virtually anything. When you are cooking, dancing, talking or any other activity you have actually had to learn several things to be able to do them. In the educational perspective, I am a pragmatist and I tend to follow after Dewey's footsteps. The concept of Pragmatism is one that developed in the 20th century. My philosophy is based on the idea that learning should involve real-life situations. Learning becomes more concrete to a student when they apply it to real-life situations, as where learning things that do not connect to them has more of an abstract sense. Personally, I would have to agree with Dewey when he said, "I

In order for a society to function, individuals must be productive members of that society. This is accomplished through education. The philosophy of education is determined by society. As society changes so does the concept of education.

Now, it is necessary to understand Dewey’s notions of education in the areas of growth, direction, and social function; a brief summary of each will be given.

John Dewey, another educational philosopher believed “Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.” (Inc.) He felt that learning took place only when students had internalized what they had gained through experience and practiced it in their own lives. In a progressive classroom, the teacher designs experiences for students with the idea that through experience, students build knowledge and skills. A society of individuals conforming to studying flashcards may be good, but a society of literate individuals consciously aware of why and how the facts on the flashcards and in mass media can solve new problems is better.