John Dewey

“Schooling in America has been extended in the last 100 years to vast numbers of young people and during this time the argument over aims has gained momentum” (Noll, 2011). This statement has led many Americans to ask the question, “Should schooling be based on Social Experiences”? Philosophers such as John Dewey would answer yes to this sensitive question, while holding the opinion that the school is the testing ground to prove that education can fuse knowledge with experience. Some may further hold the view that a child-focused approach to education puts credence on the needs and interests of the learners.

British philosopher Roger Scruton believes the progressive view supported by John Dewy does not foster parity in learning, “traditionalist view that Dewey’s progressive
(Noll, 2011). For example, his chemistry teacher wrote a book about chemistry and his music teacher was an amateur composure but maybe they knew very little about how to impart or edify the very student they came across.
Further Scruton points to the fact that “30 percent of British children now leave school unable to read and write, he cheerfully points to the ‘irrelevance’ of reading and writing in the information culture. Scruton went on to alluded to the fact that information is viewed as the ‘enemy of knowledge” (Noll, 2011).

In my conclusion, I think it is very important for teachers to strike the balance in education and knowledge of the various subject areas, while using the experience and background of students to impact the overall learning experience of all learners. As such, there are some positive elements to teaching that could be embraced even with the pursuit of a ‘new