About John Dewey

John Dewey (1859-1952) was an American educator and philosopher. He is considered to be a leader of the progressive movement in education in the United States.¹

In 1896, Dewey developed a laboratory school while teaching at the University of Chicago. While most other schools across the United States expected students to sit quietly in rows and copy down scripture or stand to recite lessons, Dewey’s school was very different. Dewey’s teachers were expected to present real-life problems to students and then guide them in developing a solution through hands-on activities. He believed that education should be based on the principle of learning through doing. In his opinion, education was not preparation for life. Instead, education should be a lifelong process meant to create well-rounded citizens.

Additional Resources:

• Video overview of Dewey’s educational philosophy
• Dewey’s influence on early childhood education

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1. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Dewey