Why John Dewey’s vision for education and democracy still resonates today
Retrieved on:
Friday, February 9, 2024
John Dewey was one of the most important educational philosophers of the 20th century.
Key Points:
- John Dewey was one of the most important educational philosophers of the 20th century.
- Dewey’s writings continue to influence discussions on a variety of subjects, including democratic education, which was the focus of Dewey’s famous 1916 book on the subject.
Why revisit John Dewey’s philosophy on education and democracy now?
- I think it is time to revisit Dewey’s philosophy about the value of field trips, classroom experiments, music instruction and children playing together on playgrounds.
- Dewey’s philosophy of education was that children “learn by doing.” Dewey argued that children learn from using their entire bodies in meaningful experiences.
- This focus on tested subjects means that public school students in places such as Texas have less time for arts education.
What role did Dewey see for public schools in preserving democracy?
- For Dewey, modern societies can use schools to impart democratic habits in young people from an early age.
- Dewey believed that schools could teach immigrants what it means to be a citizen and incorporate their experiences into American culture.
- Dewey opposed “racial, color, or other class prejudice.” Segregated schools violate Dewey’s ideal of treating all students as possessing intrinsic worth and dignity.
How closely does today’s education system resemble Dewey’s vision for education?
- I would argue that the education system resembles the vision of modern testing pioneers like Edward Thorndike more than Dewey’s.
- Dewey thought that standardized tests serve a small role in education.
- According to a 2023 Education Week survey of teachers, nearly 80% feel moderate or large amounts of pressure to have their students perform well on state-mandated standardized tests.
How popular are John Dewey’s views today?
- But Dewey opposed vocational education that slotted children from a young age into a career path.
- However, he opposed a two-tiered education system that denied working-class children a well-rounded education or that equated human flourishing with making widgets.
- Educators and scholars such as Diane Ravitch, Deborah Meier and Yong Zhao cite Dewey and apply his insights to current education debates.
- For many people who read Dewey today, his call for democracy in education still resonates.
Nicholas Tampio does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.