Progressivism Philosophy of Education | Progressivism Definition

What Is Progressive Philosophy?

The term “progressivism” describes a set of ideas developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Progressive Era was followed by World War I and then the Great Depression.

Progressives believed that society should be improved through government intervention, including regulation of industry and public utilities, reform of labor laws, expansion of social welfare programs, and more involvement by women in politics.

John Dewey,  an influential American philosopher, psychologist, educational theorist, and social reformer, is considered the father of American education. Dewey is credited as the founder of the progressive education movement. Dewey believed in the power of democracy and education to affect change.

Some progressives also advocated for reforms such as child labor laws or woman suffrage.  Progressives were divided on the issue of immigration; some favored restrictions while others wanted to open up America’s borders to immigrants from around the world.

John Dewey Progressivism in Education

In the early 1900s, education in the United States was mainly based on knowledge and memorization. This type of education was often referred to as “the recitation system.” John Dewey’s revolutionary ideas led to a shift from “the recitation system” to a more progressive system.

John Dewey was a father figure of the Progressive Era in American Education. He was an American philosopher and psychologist who is known for his work in the fields of pragmatism, functional psychology, and the philosophy of education.

Dewey’s work pioneered a new public sphere in American education. Dewey called his philosophy “instrumentalism.” Instrumentalism is a belief that experience is the source of truth and that education should be utilized to facilitate fulfilling everyday life

His work had a major impact on the education system of the 20th century. John Dewey believed that education should be based on the student’s needs and that education should be participatory.

He argued that education’s purpose was to produce intelligent and thoughtful citizens, but the way it was being done was not effective. He pointed that the way education was done at that time, which was the traditional way of schooling, was very authoritarian and that it did not give people a chance to look deep within themselves.

Progressivism Teaching Philosophy

The Progressive Teaching Philosophy is a philosophy of teaching that values student-centered learning and the use of inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity in the classroom.

It emphasizes the importance of individual differences and social context in learning.  It is a learner-centered approach to education, which means that teachers should be facilitators rather than lecturers.

Progressivism Teaching Philosophy Examples

Inquiry: Students are encouraged to ask questions about their own understanding of what they’re learning from others.

Problem Solving: Students are taught how to solve problems through trial and error with guidance from an instructor or peer tutor when needed.

Critical Thinking: Students are taught to think critically by analyzing information for accuracy, making inferences based on evidence, and drawing conclusions based on logic rather than intuition or personal opinion alone.

Creativity: Students learn how to be creative thinkers who can come up with solutions outside of traditional methods

Note:

  •  In this type of teaching, students are encouraged to learn through inquiry and discovery instead of memorizing facts or following instructions.
  • Progressive educators believe that all students should be given the opportunity to learn and grow at their own pace. They want to provide a diverse learning environment for each student, including academic, social, emotional, and physical needs.
  • Progressives teach children how to think critically about current issues in society.

Progressivism in The Classroom

Progressivism is a student-centered philosophy that argues that theories can be evaluated by experimentation, and learning comes from seeking answers to questions.

This philosophy values the empirical method of education, enabling individuals to have their own opinions and encourages student engagement to be valuable to the learning process.

Progressivism Teaching Philosophy Today

What are examples of Progressivism in Education Today?

  • The push for Common Core Standards.
  • The use of technology in the classroom
  • Increased focus on critical thinking skills
  • More emphasis on creativity and problem solving

Characteristics of Progressivism in Education

  • Progressive education is a philosophy of education that emerged in the late 19th century and continued into the 20th century. It was based on the idea of progress, which asserts that society can be improved by reforming schools and colleges to meet new needs as they arise.
  •  The goal was not just to teach students specific skills but also to provide them with an understanding of their place in society.
  •  Progressivism has been characterized by its emphasis on social justice, concern for human welfare, interest in providing learning opportunities outside the school building, and support for individual differences.
  • Progressive education is a form of humanistic education.  It emphasizes the child’s interests and needs rather than focusing on what society expects from them.
  • There are many different types of progressive schools that vary in their approach to teaching and learning.
  • The goal is to create an environment where children can learn through play, hands-on activities, and discussions with classmates.
  • Progressive education is a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and its emphasis on rote memorization.
  •  A progressive educator believes in developing the whole child, not just their intellect.
  • Progressives believe that children should be given opportunities for self-expression and creativity as well as academic learning.
  • They also believe that students learn best when they are active participants in their own learning process rather than passive recipients of the information.

Essentialism and Progressivism Philosophy of Education

Difference between Essentialism Progressivism Philosophy of Education

Essentialism is a philosophy of education that emphasizes the importance of developing a set of skills and knowledge to succeed in life.

On the other hand, progressivism is a philosophy of education that focuses on teaching students how to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make decisions based on evidence.

Essentialism believes in the importance of teaching students about what they need to know, not just what they want to learn. In contrast, progressivism focuses on individualized learning and encourages students to explore their own interests.

Essentialism teaches that education aims to develop a person’s abilities and talents, which are innate and natural. At the same time, progressivism argues that the purpose of education is to help students learn how to make their own decisions and control their lives.

Essentialists argue for a curriculum focused on basic skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic, science, history, and geography. At the same time, progressivists believe in a more diverse curriculum with an emphasis on social studies or humanities courses.

Essentialists believe that teachers should focus on imparting knowledge, while progressives believe that teachers should guide student exploration.

Essentialists believe that all children should learn the same curriculum, while progressivists believe that each child should have an individualized curriculum.

Proponents of Progressivism Philosophy

The theory of progressive education was developed in America from the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s. John Dewey was the leading proponent of it.

John Dewey, a famous American philosopher,  believed that education should encourage discovery and growth. He believed that education should be as process-based as possible.

Dewey argued that the process of learning should come from student questions. He argued that students should be intrinsically motivated to learn and that training to memorize facts and understand them abstractly was not enough for them to succeed.

One of John Dewey’s tenets was that the school should enhance our people’s way of life by experiencing equality and democracy in schools. Shared decision-making, instructor preparation for students, student-selected topics are all facets. Books are instruments, not authorities.

Progressive education can be credited back to John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s worksboth of whom are regarded as forerunners of ideas produced by thinkers such as John Dewey.

Progressivism in Education Pros and Cons

What are the Progressivism in Education Pros and Cons? 

Pros /advanatages of Progressivism in Education

  • One of the pros of progressivism in education is that it promotes critical thinking, creativity, and active participation.
  • Progressives believe that education is a right and not a privilege, so they want to make it available for all students.
  • They also advocate for more hands-on learning opportunities and increased funding for low-income schools.

Cons /Disadvantages of Progressivism in Education

  • One of the cons of progressivism in education is that it can be too abstract for students to understand or lack focus on content knowledge.
  • Progressives are against standardized testing because they think the tests don’t accurately measure how well students learn.

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