JOHN DEWEY AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION�

Presented By

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DEBALINA GIRI

Department Of Education

John Dewey (1859-1952)

• John Dewey, the American Philosopher, psychologist and a great teacher, was born at Vermont in New England in 1859.
• He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1879 and got his Ph.D. in 1892
• In 1896 he founded his ‘Laboratory School’.
• His works on Education mainly include the following :-

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• Interest as Related to Will(1896)
• The school and Society (1899)
• The School and the Child (1907)
• Schools of Tomorrow (1915)
• Democracy and Education(1916)
• Education Today(1940)

His educational philosophy is reflected in these woks.

SOME QUOTES OF DEWEY

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� Dewey’s Philosophy: Pragmatism

• According to Dewey, educational philosophy must be practical and related to political, social, economic and educational problems of daily life.
• He is a pragmatist philosopher.
• In pragmatism every thought or belief is subordinated to action. Pragmatism teaches that which is useful- what works in a practical situation – is true; what does not work is false.

• Truth is thus not fixed, eternal, absolute and unchangeable. It is purely changeable, purposive and practical. What is true today may be false also tomorrow.
• According to Dewey knowledge and thinking are closely associated with action. Dewey believes that knowledge can never arise apart from action.

Dewey’s Educational Thought

• Aims of Education

Dewey does not believe in an ultimate aim of education. He provides no fixed and final goal of education. To him, education is experience which is subject to constant change with the changing pattern of life. The process of education is a continuous process of adjustment. The individual has always to adjust and re-adjust himself to the environment.

Dewey’s conception of the curriculum

• Dewey had no faith in the traditional curriculum as it cannot fulfill the aims of education. He does not like the division of knowledge into isolated branches or special studies.
• The traditional curriculum does not take into account the child’s nature and so he has discarded it.
• According to Dewey it is child’s own activities around which the school subjects should be organized, not around subjects like science, literature, history, geography etc.

• Dewey’s curriculum includes the ‘occupations’ and ‘associations’ which serve the needs of man. Subjects compartments according to Dewey, are not necessary for children.
• According to Dewey, the curriculum should be consists of ‘educative experiences and problems’.
• Dewey’s scheme of curriculum also included aesthetic, religious and moral education.

Dewey’s Methods of teaching

• Dewey’s methods of teaching are based on his pragmatic philosophy. He is of opinion that direct experience is basis of all method.

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• Dewey’s method of teaching are based on the principles of learning by doing, activity in connection with the life of the child.

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• Dewey also advocated ‘Project method or problem Solving method’

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Laboratory School

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Dewey’s Conception of Democracy in Education

• According to Dewey democracy means “ equality of opportunity for everyone, it means emancipation of the mind as an individual organism to do its own work.”
• In a democratic system of education the children will be trained to think , to act, to develop qualities of initiative, independence and of an intelligent citizen.
• Discipline in a democratic system of education will be free and through self government in the school.

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• DEWEY’S CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION

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Dewey was an educational thinker and organizer par excellence. He was a great philosopher, psychologist and educationist. His influence is far- reaching. He emphasized on the actualities of life in education.

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