Reflections from Dewey-- Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Experience--The Means and Goals of Education

In this final chapter, Dewey reemphasizes that importance of the life experience of the learner and again asserts that he isn't a progressive simply for the sake of change, but because he believes in "the possibilities of growing, expanding experience."

"Conservatives as well as radical in education are profoundly discontented with the present education system taken as a whole."

Although I am tempted to be frustrated by this quote-- that almost 80 years after Dewey wrote this, it still rings true. But I also think it's maybe encouraging. I think the push and pull between ideologies that Dewey presents is important and healthy. And I also think the fact that smart people continue to think deeply on education is essential for our kids. If we thought we had it all figured out, we'd probably be kidding ourselves and the students would lose out. I'm not saying that it's good that we have major issues in education (ridiculous high stakes testing, inequity in resources among schools, etc), but I think it's good that the conversation about what's best for students continues.

"The road to new education is not an easier one to follow than the old road but a more strenuous and difficult one... the greatest danger that attend its future is, I believe, the ideas that is is an easy way to follow, so easy that its course may be improvised, if not in an impromptu fashion, at least almost from day to day or from week to week."

I hear teachers complain all the time about school reform, and how it's always some new initiative, some new mandate. So often, they feel like nothing is implemented with care or thought and then nothing is carried out to completion, and so they become jaded about new ideas in education. They would see the truth in what Dewey is saying here in cautioning against implementing new ideas in "an impromptu fashion." This is why I am coming to believe that new ideas have to be initiated by teachers and not administrators, because it's the teachers that have to do to work and, as Dewey points out, the work is difficult and requires a true understanding of the experience and a willingness to try and see through something new. For me, with PBL, I think our class will be a success because Mike, Amy, and I are all intellectually investing in this journey. If it was mandated from above, I know it wouldn't be the same.

"What we want and need is education pure and simple, and we shall make surer and faster progress when we devote ourselves to finding out what education is and what conditions have to be satisfied in order that education may be a reality and not a name or a slogan."

In light of our Congress and President's recent budget debates, I have to agree that adhering to a name or slogan without examining the bigger picture is wrong. As an education, I feel like I have to continually come back to "What is best for kids?" rather than what I want in theory or what will make my life easier or what will make me look good.


I think it would do me good to revisit this powerful, little book-- short but very potent-- every once in a while!