John Dewey

John Dewey
John Dewey, born October 20th, 1859 in Burlington, Vermont. Dewey was a 20th century western philosopher who studied pragmatism and was an expert on the philosophy of education. John Dewey also was a psychologist and one of the founders alongside William James of the philosophy of pragmatism. Before we talk about John Dewey’s philosophies and accomplishments, let’s get to know him a little better in his early life.
John Dewey attended the University of Vermont and graduated in 1879. He became a high school teacher for three years before receiving his PhD from Johns Hopkins University. John Dewey was an expert on education but also wrote about things like experience, nature, art, logic, democracy, and ethics. Dewey was a professor at the University of Michigan for ten years, from 1884 to 1894. Dewey also joined the University of Chicago in 1894, which at the time, was new. During his time in Chicago till the year 1899, Dewey became associated with a newly emerging philosophy called Pragmatism.
While at the university, Dewey initiated the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools or what they sometimes call, “The Dewey School”. The Dewey School was a tested curriculum that was centered on the student and how they could learn from a hands on experience. The teachers at the school were to give the students real life problems and then help them to solving the problem. It was designed in a way where the school was a balance of philosophy and a natural science we call Pragmatism and focused on these teachings. Pragmatism means that in school the curriculum should be based on everyday life and combined it with lessons. Here Dewey was able to study and research his beliefs which provided material for his first major work on education called, The School of Social Progress. In 1899, Dewey had some problems and disagreements with the administration at the university. He had a fight with William Rainy Harper, who was the president of the University, about how the... [continues]

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