democracy in education (Essay Sample)

Education Name Institution Affiliation Course Date John Dewey is one of the famous scholars who have provided significant support in the area of progressive education. Through various publications John Dewey has developed important arguments that have shaped the entire field of progressive education around the world. From the organization to curriculum development, John Dewey seems to understand every basic requirement of progressive education (2004). The various topics developed by John Dewey in education form the basis for argument and learning in many schools. Most of the arguments and topics have been used in developing curriculums for many districts. Many scholars and students also use the same arguments and topics to formulate their studies. Teachers, on the other hand, have used John Dewey principles in teaching children in their classes. After reading these articles, I have developed a different thinking of John Dewey and progressive education. I have found out some important ideas and principles about progressive education. One of the new thinking about John Dewey and progressive education is thinking about how different learners think (2007). As I found out that; thinking is an important factor to both learners and teachers. Progressive education prepares any learner for his / her future. It gives the learner a chance to command their lives. It gives confidence to the learner to try something new from their own personal capabilities. These capabilities are exposed to the learners through thinking. Children will only perform well in education if they are guided well in their thinking activities. Through thinking, progressive learning, gives insight into the children own abilities and their personal abilities. Thinking forms a significant part in the development of the progressive education. As noted, Dewey held that neither modern nor traditional education is perfect. It is only the through thinking that people can create a good curriculum for children. Through thinking, people accomplish what we want in education. It is through thinking that people develop good curriculum, good learning concepts and efficient teaching strategies in education. It is thinking that is used in developing a curriculum that will meet a certain goal in education. As Dewey suggests in his principles, it is important for everyone to analyze the environment before developing and education curriculum. Understanding the environment is significant in progressive education since it gives children a chance to learn to use known principles in their surroundings. By understating the conditions of life in a given community, progressive education becomes easy and relevant for any child to learn. Progressive education approaches education a unique way. It identifies school as a social institution. Another significant idea that is learnt about John Dewey and progressive education is how the community is relevant in advancing education. Progressive education will not be achieved without the support from the community. The community gives children a chance to learn, it gives learners a place to build a school. It also gives children and learners ideas to use in school. The community forms and integral part in learning. Through the community children learn several important things that are helpful in their academics and normal life. Curriculums are developed according to the nature of the community in learning. The deviations and any other differences between children and society are developed by the society or community. Moral support in progressive education comes from the community. Progressive education comes handy in creating suitable learning concepts for every community. Progressive learning offers some “justice” to every society. This is the reasons John Dewey advocates for the education system that is organized to offer solutions for questions and tasks around a given environment. Progressive education as advocated by Dewey focus on the engaging students to think critically by themselves and solves issues around them. Students in any given learning environment form the basis of designing learning questions. It is through the general thinking of students that we come to know how successful individual students would be in their learning process. In these articles, progressive education comes out as a social function. As elaborated by Dewey, learning in children is modified by the society. The quality of learning and how children will take up their studies will be determined by how a society values education. Education in many places, in the world, is considered as a tool for success in the future. Many people take their children to school so that they can get good jobs in the future. However, in some, in some cultures education is used for the general life of a child. Therefore, as a social function progressive education address the specific needs of each student for their lifelong achievements and growth. Progressive education ensures that students learn through contact with the materials in their daily lives. It prepares learners to face the real world situations and solve problems without stress. The concepts presented in progressive education are aimed in giving learners a chance to think on their own, develop working solutions without interfering with the moral on education or learning. Learning through progressive education is advantageous. Learning is not entirely a classroom activity. Through progressive learning children and other learners are provided with many avenues through which they can learn from. Progressive education gives children the central focus in every activity of learning. It gives children the necessary freedom to understand every concept in their learning process. The changing society and changes in the needs of children are the central focus in children education as suggested by Dewey and progressive education principles. It provides children with the most applicable methods of surviving in their environment through active participation and formulation of problems that are likely to affect them in the near future. Dewey suggests that the progressive education should be determined to simplify learning concepts that are applicable to adults. Through understanding every stage of a child’s growth, progressive education aims at creating learning environments that are practical for every stage and efficient in guiding the child in the future. These learning concepts are spread through games and play. Progressive education maintains that learners should be taught what they are good at and nurtured to advance their persons inserts and capabilities in the future. Through interaction between children and what they learn, progressive education proves to be effective especially in the mode...