School reformers today are still trying to put into effect the turn-of-the-century progressive education ideas of John Dewey and others.
From humble beginnings in Vermont, he managed to achieve a PhD in philosophy and become a professor at the University of Chicago. Dewey paid much heed and respect to Rousseau, who Henry T. Edmundson III described as the “single most important influence on progressive education,” both in Europe and America, although Dewey rightly criticized Rousseau’s neglect of his own children.
A John Dewey, (born Oct. 20, 1859, Burlington, Vt., U.S.—died June 1, 1952, New York, N.Y.), American philosopher and educator who was a founder of the philosophical movement known as pragmatism, a pioneer in functional psychology, and a leader of the progressive movement in education in the United States. John Dewey (Oct. 20, 1859–June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher and educator who started the progressive education movement with his influential writings. John Dewey on Progressive Education John Dewey (1859–1952) was one of the United States’ best known academics, philosophers and public intellectuals.
John Dewey (1859-1952) was a US philosopher and psychologist whose ideas had a huge influence on education. Dewey was the American founder of ‘progressive education’, a direct counterpoint to the ‘traditional’ or didactic education of the schools of the early 20th century.
70 - 71, quoting John Dewey, 1916, Democracy and Education.
Progressive education in essence is a vision of education that emphasises the necessity of learning by doing. At present, the opposition, so far as the practical affairs of the school are concerned, tends to take the form of contrast between traditional and progressive education. Public acceptance of progressive education has had its ups and downs. His prolific writing and career of advocacy left a profound impact on the American education system, the products of which we now see rioting in the streets and calling for the abolition of museums.
In 1899, Dewey published the pamphlet that made him famous, The School and Society, and promulgated many key precepts of later education reforms. From Rediscovering Americanism, pp. Dewey and historical progressive education.
Dewey insisted that the old model of schooling—students sitting in rows, memorizing and reciting—was antiquated. John Dewey (1859–1952), who would later be remembered as the "father of Progressive education," was the most eloquent and arguably most influential figure in educational Progressivism. The most basic idea of John Dewey's with regard to education was that greater emphasis should be placed on the broadening of intellect and development of problem solving and critical thinking skills, rather than simply on the memorization of lessons. John Dewey (1859-1952) John Dewey was the most significant educational thinker of his era and, many would argue, of the 20th century. Buy John Dewey and Education Outdoors: Making Sense of the 'Educational Situation' through more than a Century of Progressive Reforms by Quay, John, Seaman, Jayson (ISBN: 9789462092136) from Amazon's Book Store.
These ideas were largely misguided a hundred years ago, and they are largely misguided now. Dewey was a progressive education reformer, philosopher, and psychologist who identified himself as a democratic socialist. John Dewey has been called the "most influential writer on education" and the "greatest philosopher" this country has produced.
Students should be active, not passive.
Dewey was a leading name in the world of functional psychology and a key figure in the development of progressive education. John Dewey probably gained the most publicity thanks to his role in the studies into progressive education.