John Dewey's Education And Role Of Education

We have been talking about education for several years. In Book V, Plato writes about what

Growing up in school, when “Dewey” was mentioned, one more than likely thought of the Dewey decimal system, which was used in libraries. However, that system was created by Melvil Dewey, and while he was an important person, there was another Dewey that impacted education in extraordinary ways. That man is known as John Dewey. John Dewey shaped the education system that we have today by reconstructing the progressive education. Dewey was a philosopher, and educational theorist who used experimentalism, as well as many other theories to change the way the American Education system was done. He lived during the time period where traditional and progressive education were coming together, so he used both to create his own personal philosophies. Once of his major philosophies was relating learning to society. Additionally, he used dualism as an approach to his philosophies that changed the education system. He impacted today’s education system in many ways, with his different ideas still being seen in school’s today. Incorporating multiple subjects into school’s, as well as taking a hand’s on learning approach are two theories that while many other philosophers believed in as well, Dewey used to develop the education system. John Dewey was a model citizen, that benefited society and the American education system in a variety of ways.

When thinking about all of the many people who made an impact on education, it was hard to just pinpoint one. So many people throughout history have made lasting impressions on school, education and child psychology. From making schools public, to looking at different ways teachers should teach students, to looking at how children learn. All discoveries of people who came before us and made a huge impact on education, which we still see in many schools today. Education is immensely important for a working society, and we have many people to recognize and thank for seeing that importance and making education what it is today.

John Dewey was a significant educational philosopher in the way he changed fundamental approaches to teaching and learning. Dewey was famous for his role in Progressive Education, a view of education that emphasizes the need to learn by doing. Dewey was also one of the founders of the philosophy of pragmatism: students must be engaged and interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn. He was outspoken on education and was attracted by progressive education and educator’s rights. His impact on education lasts u today.

As a student in educational psychology, I support Dewey’s approach at the policy making level regarding the educational purpose and its role in creating well-being individuals in the world. The idea that the education should be effective in preparing students to participate as active citizens in a democratic society seems big and need lots of work, time and efforts to have it achieved. He believed that the democratic movement in education was necessary for creating an equitable system of human liberties, his approach was to stimulate students to become agents of change in his/her community. I know that the criticism have been declared about his approach to education, but I see it can be set as a very good policy that can be translated to strategic plan that in turn translated into doable activities. The role of educational the system is important as it should be the tool that used by the students to achieve this change in a positive way that drive the community and the country to the greatest levels.

In John Dewey’s “Democracy and Education”, he talks about how democracy and education interact. He believes schools should prepare students for life in society. They should learn how to deal with real world situations as well as how to do math and write.High schools prepare us in some ways but not all. There is no way that in four years in high school one can be prepared for what will happen in the next 50 years. Schools teach us how to be good citizens and help people with less than them through clubs and community service opportunities but they do not teach us how to act in a job interview. Schools teach us the basic subjects we are supposed to know, but they do not teach us anything about how to act in society or succeed in a non classroom setting.

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.

John Dewey in Democracy and Education, stresses the importance of formal education and how the mass media has manipulated the uneducated in our society. However, Dewey explains how manipulation is prevented through formal education. Not only will society become intelligent, they will be better-educated, informed citizens with knowledge about serving others. Therefore, creating citizens that want to help each other and make a successful democracy. Dewey is still speaking to us today, about the mass media and technology and that the educated will use it from connecting on a global level for the betterment of society and grow culturally into globalism. Based on my understanding of Dewey’s argument on the process by which education realizes in each individual, and on the importance of democracy for the betterment of humanity; the role formal schooling has in creating better, more democratic citizens. They are communicating with different cultures of people in society, they have individual freedoms and use them, and useful communication through technology and improving democracy for all citizens.

John Dewey’s famous declaration of education, My Pedagogic Creed, contains five articles that list Dewey’s own personal beliefs regarding education, schools, subject matter, and nature of method. Dewey’s last article records his concern for school and social progress. Dewey begins with the assertion that “education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform” (Dewey 8). Dewey believes that society has the obligation to reform education, and as a society, each person is responsible for the next. Dewey states that "through education society can formulate its own purposes, can organize its own means and resources, and thus shape itself with definiteness and economy in the direction in which it wishes to move" (Dewey 8). Dewey later concludes the fifth article with the stance that “every teacher should realize the dignity of his calling” and be proud of his profession for he “is the prophet of the true God” (Dewey 9). Some of the most significant statements in the article are seen between the middle and end of the passage. Dewey believes that art and science are considered two of the most important subjects, but when the two come together as one, they become even more significant to the learner.

I believe that education extends far beyond the classroom walls, and involves many more people than students and teachers. People should be learning wherever they go, and should continue learning long after they’ve graduated from high school or college. Education isn’t something that can be quantified with tests or report cards, but is instead something that people carry with them. It’s a survival pack for life, and some people are better equipped in certain areas than in others. People with a solid education are prepared for nearly anything, as they will be able to provide for their own physical, emotional, and aesthetic needs.

However there are limitations to these unconventional subjects/topics, the teachings of these subjects/topics are not universal across all American K-12 schools and these subjects/topics must meet local and federal criterias meaning they are not represented in their fullest capacity. Plato’s account of education has no limitations and represents its subject in their fullest capacity. Therefore, Plato would propose that the American education system is reformed to resemble his account of education in kallipolis. The students would be led into truth within the limits imposed by the nature of their soul, they would be taught the different kinds of education, and the importance of true reality.

This is an example of the Socratic dialog laid out by Plato. Plato was a philosopher and educator whom believed that education was the key to society. As a student, I realize how my education was impacted by philosophers such a Plato, Montessori, and Dewey. As a future teacher, it is my responsibility to decide which philosophies of education I believe and which methods I would use to impact my students. For this reason, I am going to explore three different types of philosophy as presented by Plato, Maria

In the writing, Experience and Education (1938), John Dewey recognizes and refutes the argument that progressive education lacks student control. He clarifies (1938), that his ideas of progressive education certainly possess student control and that it, in fact, requires a more developed pedagogical knowledge than traditional school management systems (Dewey, 1938). The control is social, much like that of the outside world. He provides examples that illustrate this concept in real life: the competitive game in which rules are natural and accepted by all players and the cooperative family unit, in which each member plays a part (Dewey,1938). There is control present in these two out-of-classroom situations, but it is social control build upon relationships and a common task, instead of a top-down system.

Plato is regarded at the world’s greatest philosopher. He had views and opinions on everything they teach in school and then some. He even had views and opinions on how the school process, or education, should go. Plato’s Republic Books 1-7 target the three primary points of education; the intentional selection or deselection of media, the Theory of the Forms, and the use of fear and pain as the part of the education process.

While I believe wholeheartedly in Dewey’s philosophy towards education, a few additions would help students to become better rounded as they enter society. One of the most important additions is to immerse students at all levels in various cultures outside of their average demographic. Allowing pupils to become cross-cultural students will help bring change to society, and to the world. Likewise, being opening these avenues to students to explore it will help open a dialogue with the students to discuss among their peers, ultimately, allowing the student to create their path in the world with a worldly influence rather than just their neighborhood.