Teacher John Dewey was an influential educational reformer. Photo credit: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
One of the most influential educators of all time was John Dewey, a visionary, social reformer, psychologist, and philosopher. This chalkboard champion was one of the most influential voices for change in the classroom during the Progressive Movement of the early 19th century. The Progressive Movement emphasizes the importance of student participation, experiential learning, and meaningful activity in the classroom. This approach was in stark contrast to the practices of rote memorization and discipline that were so prevalent in his day.
John Dewey was born to parents of humble means on October 20, 1959, in Burlington, Vermont. As a young man, he attended the University of Vermont. After his college graduation, John inaugurated his career in education as a high school classroom teacher in Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he taught for two years. After earning his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, John became a university professor at the University of Michigan, where he taught for ten years. In 1894 he transferred to the University of Chicago, where he founded the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. During this time, he wrote his landmark book School and Society, where he argued the importance of collaborative experimentation in the classroom. He also emphasized practical skills and learning by doing.
Later, John relocated to New York City, where he joined the faculty of Columbia University. There he founded the New School for Social Research, a group that advocated for democracy as the foundation of a free and enlightened society.
Over the course of his long and distinguished career, this extremely influential educator published 40 books and 700 articles covering a wide variety of topics. He influenced classrooms throughout America with his meaning-oriented, democratic approach to teaching and learning. John Dewey died from complications of pneumonia on June 1, 1952. He was 92 years old.
