Post on 27-Dec-2015
Objectives: Understand the strands of progressive education in its
historical context Understand the impact & influence of progressive education
Urbanization
America changes from being mostly rural to being strongly urban
Immigration
Increase in people from Eastern Europe and Asia (specifically China)Implementation of racist, pseudo-scientific (Social Darwinism) immigration policies
Eugenics movementImmigration quotas
Industrialization
Taylorization: Scientific Management & The Cult of Efficiency
Deskilling of industrial labor
Women and office work
Response by laborFormation of unions and use of strikes/work stoppagesPopulismSocialism
Sought to solve conflict between labor and capital through government regulationDidn’t alter power relation; wasn’t
redistributive
Centralized economic and political power in hands of appointed, not elected, federal officials
Centralization hallmark of Progressive era at all levels of government
• Natural Law•Move from absolute to contingent explanations
• Scientific Rationality•Emphasis on scientific method as measure of
reasonability and emphasize expert knowledge•Contrast with Jefferson’s idea of common person’s
rationality and ability to make public decisions• Progress•No longer seen as inevitable
Ethics◦ Emphasis changes from being a virtuous
person to being a good citizen Nationalism
◦ Greater emphasis on national identity; viewed as unifying influence
Freedom◦ Positive freedom: increase in government
involvement in society Opposed to negative freedom: lack of government
interference in one’s life
General Points of agreement ~1900-1920 Response to urbanization,
industrialization, and immigration Based in “new liberalism” Shaped by new approaches to
psychology Favored child-centered curriculum
over traditional curriculum◦ Student activities and interests v. rote
memorization
Developmental Democracy: Direct participation by all citizens in the decision-making processes of political and economic life and, once begun, this would develop individual and social capacities for problem solving through rational means. Student interests and activities defined curriculum.
Social Efficiency: Focused on achieving an orderly society in which political and economic institutions represented the interests of the governed through the application of the best principles of scientific knowledge and expertise. A differentiated curriculum based on demonstrated ability was argued for.
Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself.
Believed that for education to be most successful, it is necessary that people participate in democratic forms of lifeNature of the child
Actively social; constructive; creatively expressive; curious and inquiringClassroom was a place where children worked together to find and fulfill their own purposes
Place where they, with a teacher’s guidance, solved their own problems/obstacles in learning a subjectConnected classroom activities to life experiences
Argued against a strict vocational education
But for using various vocations as a way to educateThis way classroom visibly reflects social environment
Key ideas: Experience and InterestChildren come to school with ready-made experiences and interests
“You cannot separate the life of the teacher and the life of the student, if you know what you are about.”
Elliot’s educational objectives:Social stability: business friendly, thought vocational education would accommodate workers to realities of managed workplace
Also increase in electives and extracurricular clubs
Employable skills: skills and attitudes for the industrial workplace; emphasis on vocational education
Gendered course offeringsIntroduction of tracking
Educational objectivesEqual educational opportunity: idea that everyone receives or has the equal opportunity to receive the education appropriate to them
Meritocracy: appeal to “expert” knowledge and the education for future leaders
To be determined through merit or ability to rise to the topIntroduction of IQ and standardized tests
“We should give up the exceedingly democratic idea that all are equal and that our society is devoid of classes. The employee tends to remain an employee; the wage earner tends to remain a wage earner…One bright child may easily be worth more to the National Life than thousands of those of low mentality.”
You Should Always Help Someone in Need?
Parting Consideration
Thou Shall Not Kill?
Parting Consideration
List 2 or 3 things we can relate from Dewey’s philosophy to your life
Let go of the notion of failure
Be reflective
Focus on the experience
Being present to what we are doing
What has been the Progressive Legacy?
Child-centered, hands-on pedagogyMisunderstanding of Dewey
Social Efficiency and Scientific Management
Classroom settingIncreased centralization and bureaucratization