Learn about the progressivism philosophy of education. Study the origin of progressivist teaching philosophy, and identify pros and cons of progressivism.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Progressivism Theory & Curriculum | Progressivism Philosophy of Education
Table of Contents
- Progressive Education Definition
- Progressivism Philosophy of Education
- Progressivism Teaching Philosophy and Curriculum
- Pros and Cons of Progressivist Philosophy
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of progressive education?
The meaning of progressive education emphasizes that the classroom is a reflection of society. The classroom should support democracy, preparation for life, and the development of human potential; education was about the development of the whole child in order to be a contributing member of the community.
What is the difference between traditional and progressive education?
A traditional education focuses on producing moral and educated adults that can contribute in a work environment. A progressivist education focuses producing adults who, as lifelong learners, can think critically and solve problems.
Is progressivism a learning theory?
Progressivism philosophy is not a learning theory but rather an education philosophy. An education philosophy is more focused on what and how students should learn while a learning theory is focused on the way people learn.
What are the principles of progressive education?
The principles of progressive education focus on teaching the whole child. Progressive education is student-centered which concentrates on the interests and level of development for each student. The tenents of progressive education include hands-on learning activities, interdisciplinary studies, collaborative learning that build problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Table of Contents
- Progressive Education Definition
- Progressivism Philosophy of Education
- Progressivism Teaching Philosophy and Curriculum
- Pros and Cons of Progressivist Philosophy
- Lesson Summary
The progressive education definition emphasizes student-centered, interdisciplinary learning experiences that incorporate active learning which values problem-solving and critical thinking skills and social responsibility as part of a democracy. John Dewey and his progressivism philosophy of education touted that school reflected society outside of the building. The aim of education was to create a better-balanced nation. Dewey believed in democracy, preparation for life, and the development of human potential; education was about the development of the whole child in order to be a contributing member of the community.
In contrast, another popular educational philosophy, essentialism, stated that all students were taught the same core ideas and skills. The focus of essentialism was on the curriculum and teacher's authority. Constructivism philosophy stated that students' background knowledge and lived experiences affected how they learn. Motivation was the key to learning and learning took place in the mind, so hands-on experiences were not as important. Learning was contextual and personal based on the experience the students brought to the classroom. Another educational philosophy, perennialism, focused on classical knowledge. The focus was on great works of literature, arts and law, and the principles of science with the belief that certain ideals were everlasting.
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The progressivism philosophy of education began when John Locke published Some Thoughts on Education in 1693. Locke believed that adults take into consideration a child's temperament and individual differences. Locke believed that children were naturally curious and learned best through play and a variety of experiences.
In the 1700s, Jean-Jacques Rousseau further promoted progressivist beliefs as a child-centered education. Rousseau's philosophy was that education should be based on the child's natural talents, their level of development, and by the child's own discovery by learning through doing. Education was meant for the development of the whole child, not only intellectual growth but physical and emotional as well. This style of education was in opposition to the education being delivered in schools at the time.
American schools in the 1700s focused on the virtues the society felt were important; family, religion, and community. Education was still mostly a family responsibility with affluent families hiring personal teachers for their children. Brick and mortar schools became more popular in the 18th century but only for families who had the means to pay the required tuition.
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John Dewey published The School and Society in 1899. Dewey stated that the model of education at the time, students in rows memorizing and reciting facts, was not in the best interest of the student or society as a whole. Dewey believed that students should be active learners focusing on their interests and problem solving through projects and cooperative learning.
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The progressive philosophy on education during the Enlightenment period was a stark contrast to the traditional learning philosophy and beliefs about child development that resulted in a harsh learning environment for children in this time period. Education was confined to teacher-led classes that focused on the study of virtues instead of subjects such as math and science.
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The period in history known as Progressivism occurred at a time when citizens were taking a more careful look at the political and social confines based on the amassed wealth of corporations and an elite group of families. The progressive movement saw the benefit of educated, civilly engaged citizens with a respect for diversity. While the progressivist movement never took off as the predominant philosophy in American education, parts of the movement have been implemented. The progressive ideas were tested in the Laboratory School where John Dewey, Francis W. Parker, and Ella Flagg Young all worked together to test progressivist education theories. While it was proven that children educated using progressivist ideals were shown to be just as smart and capable as students educated with other philosophies, general society did not adopt the progressivist education philosophy.
The Progressivism education movement all but disappeared by the 1950s. However, in the years since, progressivist teachers have found benefit in some of the ideas. Hands-on, interdisciplinary, and emphasis on lifelong learning have been implemented in some form in many schools across America. Hands-on learning requires students to take an active part in learning, relates to the real world, and provides opportunities for students to reflect and gain knowledge from the learning experiences. Hands-on learning breeds cooperative and collaborative learning where students build relationships while building community and responsibility to the group. Teachers weave in multiple disciplines into lessons which encourages critical thinking skills. And with the advent of common standards, the focus has become student learning instead of rote memorization.
The Progressivist Teacher
John Dewey had great reverence for teachers. Progressivist teachers are more concerned with maintaining social order so that children have the freedom to learn and explore than infusing the children with knowledge. The teacher serves as a guide and social servant, identifies the interests, and provides proper experiences to promote learning that enrich a child's life and successfully prepare them for life.
Progressivist teachers believe:
- Learning comes naturally to children
- Children learn by doing
- They should teach skills over content
- Learning must be relevant to a child's life
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There are pros and cons to the progressivist philosophy on education. The pros of the movement can be seen in contemporary classrooms. Some pros are:
- Cooperative and collaborative learning that breeds critical thinking skills and an emphasis on participation.
- Interdisciplinary learning that instills creativity.
- Emphasizing the importance of becoming a lifelong learner.
- Focus on deep learning versus rote memorization
- Educating all children regardless of socioeconomic status
The criticisms of progressivist philosophy on education include:
- The lack of a formal curriculum that doesn't allow for standardization
- The focus on the feelings and interpersonal development of the student
- The lack of competitiveness with other countries education systems
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The progressivism philosophy of education took form in 1693 when John Locke published Some Thoughts on Education. The philosophy was further shaped and eventually put into practice through notable philosophers and educators such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Dewey, and Francis Parker. Essentially, the progressive education definition is that children learn best by experimenting at their developmental level and about their areas of interest through hands-on learning.
While the progressivism philosophy of education never really took off, it was no longer in use by the 1950s. Some tenets of the philosophy have emerged in classrooms. Progressivist teachers use hands-on, interdisciplinary and collaborative learning in their classrooms. The progressivism teaching philosophy is meant to actively engage students in their own learning to build skills that promote the ability to problem solve, think critically, and develop a deep understanding of the subject.
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Video Transcript
Progressivism
Jonah is a new teacher, and he's heard a lot about different types of teaching philosophies. When he was growing up, the teacher just stood in the front of the classroom and told him what he needed to learn. For homework, he would read his textbook, and that was that.
But some of the other teachers at his school say that he should focus more on progressivism, or the idea that education comes from the experience of the child. This theory was started in America in the late 19th century and continued to develop through the first half of the 20th century.
American educator John Dewey was a key figure in progressivism. He believed that children should experience democracy in school to make them better citizens. Instead of having an all-knowing teacher standing up front and talking, the students themselves should be an active part of their education, according to Dewey.
Jonah is intrigued by these ideas, but he isn't sure how to apply them in his classroom. Let's look closer at how he can put together a progressive classroom for his students.
The Whole Child
Remember that progressivism believes that education comes from the experience of the child. As such, children are the focus of a progressive classroom.
Take Jonah, for example: when he was in school, the teacher was the focus of the classroom. The teacher stood in the front and told the students what he or she wanted them to know. The center of gravity of the classroom was with the teacher; everything revolved around him or her.
But in a progressive classroom, the center of gravity is within each child. That is, progressive education revolves around the child's needs, not around the teacher or a prescribed curriculum. If Jonah wants to teach fractions, but one of the students is still struggling with basic division, then Jonah will have to work with that student on division until he or she is ready to move on to fractions.
Another major part of progressivism is teaching the whole child. That is, teaching students to be good citizens and not just good learners. For example, Jonah could design a unit that explores issues like human rights or why voting is important. He could choose literature that teaches students values, like honesty and justice. In this way, he would be teaching the children how to be good citizens and not just teaching them facts and figures.
A final concept of progressivism that focuses on children is the idea that children live and learn in a community. That is, children aren't isolated from others in the real world, and they shouldn't be isolated from others in their learning community. In progressive education, children often collaborate on projects and learn from one another.
How can Jonah use the learning community to help his students? He could design assignments so that the students are working in pairs or groups so that they can learn together. He can also encourage a community that values learning and encourages students to talk about what they are doing in class, even when they are in the lunchroom or on the playground.
Active Learning
The idea that education revolves around the students is a major tenet of progressivism, but it's not the only one. Remember that progressivism says that students learn from their experiences. As such, hearing someone talk about something or reading something out of a textbook is not seen as the best way to learn.
In progressivism, the curriculum is guided by the children, a concept known as active learning. Students formulate questions and seek out answers. For example, Jonah can have them list off questions they have about plants and use their questions to help him shape his unit about plants.
I just noted that, in progressive education, students formulate questions and seek out answers. You might have already noticed that that is a basic description of the scientific method, or the procedures outlined for finding scientific answers.
Indeed, the scientific method is a big part of the progressive classroom. It allows students to explore topics and the world in a way that interests them. Jonah, for example, can encourage his students to use the scientific method to find answers to their questions about plants. One student might want to do an experiment that looks at how plants respond to different colored lights, while another student might choose to use the scientific method to answer the question, 'What type of music is the most beneficial for plant growth?' Either way, the students are using the scientific method to guide their learning, which is in line with progressivism in education.
Lesson Summary
Progressivism is an educational movement started by John Dewey that says that students learn through their own experiences. Progressivism revolves around the students' needs, including teaching students to be good citizens as well as good learners, a concept known as focusing on the whole child. Further, group work is common in progressive classrooms because children live and learn in a community. Finally, children are encouraged to contribute to the curriculum through formation of questions and seeking answers, known as active learning, which is closely tied to the scientific method, or procedures outlined for finding answers in science.
Learning Outcomes
When you reach the end of this video lesson on progressivism, ensure that you can:
- Discuss John Dewey's theories on progressivism
- Understand the concept of the whole child
- Define active learning and consider the way in which it impacts progressivism
- Highlight the role of the scientific method in a progressive classroom
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Progressivism Theory & Curriculum | Progressivism Philosophy of Education
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