The School and Society

"We are apt to look at the school from an individualistic standpoint, as something between teacher and pupil, or between teacher and parent. That which interests us most is naturally the progress made by the individual child of our acquaintance, his normal physical development, his advance in ability to read, write, and figure, his growth in the knowledge of geography and history, improvement in manners, habits of promptness, order, and industry-it is from such standards as these that we judge the work of the school." John Dewey (1859-1952) was a philosopher, educational reformer, and a psychologist. The School and Society was Dewey's first published book of length on education, and it paved the foundation for his later works on this same topic. Dewey's works are a valuable source of information, and anyone interested in learning more about education and child development.

"We are apt to look at the school from an individualistic standpoint, as something between teacher and pupil, or between teacher and parent. That which interests us most is naturally the progress made by the individual child of our acquaintance, his normal physical development, his advance in ability to read, write, and figure, his growth in the knowledge of geography and history, improvement in manners, habits of promptness, order, and industry-it is from such standards as these that we judge the work of the school." John Dewey (1859-1952) was a philosopher, educational reformer, and a psychologist. The School and Society was Dewey's first published book of length on education, and it paved the foundation for his later works on this same topic. Dewey's works are a valuable source of information, and anyone interested in learning more about education and child development.

Educational reformer John Dewey discusses the role of the school in the modern society, detailing how teaching deeply influences the lives of individual children, and the entire society thereby. Several lively and engaging chapters concern topics such as the components of the sound education. Throughout, the author seeks to dispel preconceptions and extinguish limitations of understanding that commonly underpin analyses about the educational system. While Dewey harks back to the distant past, in reviewing and acknowledging the contributions of German innovator Friedrich Froebel, he also notes what has worked in the education system from the vantage point of the 20 th century. For the author, a society without a correctly organized, well-run and well-funded educational system is one defined by waste - in the sense of squandering the talents of its children, and in the sense of the society being impaired. The variety of schools present is important, that education pertinent to a wide variety of pursuits - scientific, practical or cerebral - be accomplished. The ideals of culture, personal conduct and acquisition of knowledge should reflect not merely set curricula, but the wider aims and accomplishments of society.

Educational reformer John Dewey discusses the role of the school in the modern society, detailing how teaching deeply influences the lives of individual children, and the entire society thereby. Several lively and engaging chapters concern topics such as the components of the sound education. Throughout, the author seeks to dispel preconceptions and extinguish limitations of understanding that commonly underpin analyses about the educational system. While Dewey harks back to the distant past, in reviewing and acknowledging the contributions of German innovator Friedrich Froebel, he also notes what has worked in the education system from the vantage point of the 20 th century. For the author, a society without a correctly organized, well-run and well-funded educational system is one defined by waste - in the sense of squandering the talents of its children, and in the sense of the society being impaired. The variety of schools present is important, that education pertinent to a wide variety of pursuits - scientific, practical or cerebral - be accomplished. The ideals of culture, personal conduct and acquisition of knowledge should reflect not merely set curricula, but the wider aims and accomplishments of society.