Democracy And Education

Rating:
Summary: Democracy and Education
Review: As an Education major at Macon State College, I read this book for my Education 2403 class. Despite my problems with this book, I have to say, that Dewey was WAY ahead of his time, in my opinion! Most of his theories are relevant today, and as such, I can only imagine the reaction he received in the early 1900's. Unfortunately, this book is not easy to read. It feels much too technical in both language and philosophy. For a student just entering an Educational major program, I think it would be great! However, at this stage, the theories were repetitious to me. I had difficulty remaining focused as I read it. One point to emphasize: we Never stop learning! I hope that I can incorporate each of the many theories as I continue my own education.

Rating:
Summary: Good... but tough reading!
Review: As an Education major at Macon State College, I read this book for my Education 2403 class. Despite my problems with this book, I have to say, that Dewey was WAY ahead of his time, in my opinion! Most of his theories are relevant today, and as such, I can only imagine the reaction he received in the early 1900's. Unfortunately, this book is not easy to read. It feels much too technical in both language and philosophy. For a student just entering an Educational major program, I think it would be great! However, at this stage, the theories were repetitious to me. I had difficulty remaining focused as I read it. One point to emphasize: we Never stop learning! I hope that I can incorporate each of the many theories as I continue my own education.

Rating:
Summary: Democracy needs democratic educational systems
Review: Dewey always said that his 1916 Democracy and Education was the fullest statement of his philosophy, although many have ignored this claim. One of the major stumbling blocks in reading Dewey is his appropriation of terms that mean something very specific to him, such as democracy, experience, growth, philosophy, and education. In using these terms, he leaves behind all of the classical dualisms between the self and society, mind and subject matter, theory and practice, and others. (For instance, society educates selves and selves constitute and can modify societal practices).

The key to democracy is education (which is much more than just schooling) that promotes criticism, self-education, and constant growth. Philosophy, in the broadest sense, is criticism. Since life is best lived as growth (the unexamined life is not worth living), and democracy is the best way to deal with the constant changes that all societies face, an education that helps children love learning and change is essential to a democratic society. Unfortunately, many societal constructs are educative in a narrow sense, and allow us to be complacently self-satisfied and rigid in our habits (ie we become fundamentalists). Dewey warns against the "business mind" that, since the writing of this book, has thoroughly permeated many institutions, including the university. Children naturally are inquisitive and love growth, but many societal constructs, such as traditional schooling or dogmatic religious practices, dampen this curiosity.

Dewey was a radical thinker, but his prose is plodding and sometimes obscures his revolutionary message. Although Dewey was a trained philosopher and was a Hegelian until he read William James' Principles of Psychology, Dewey is much easier to read than most philosophers. Still, the philosophical content is there for those who need it. For those less philosophically inclined, you won't be missing out on too much. Also, to respond to another reviewer, Dewey was a socialist in the same way that Social Security is socialistic. He merely felt that a truly democratic society must allow equal educational opportunities for all. Finally, the claim that his work was unscientific is ridiculous. He ran the first laboratory school at the University of Chicago with the help of Jane Addams, amongst other reformists, to test his theories. And, his philosophy, like James', is in response to the major scientific advances of his time.

An amazing work for philosophers, educators, and social thinkers alike.

Rating:
Summary: Democracy needs democratic educational systems
Review: Dewey always said that his 1916 Democracy and Education was the fullest statement of his philosophy, although many have ignored this claim. One of the major stumbling blocks in reading Dewey is his appropriation of terms that mean something very specific to him, such as democracy, experience, growth, philosophy, and education. In using these terms, he leaves behind all of the classical dualisms between the self and society, mind and subject matter, theory and practice, and others. (For instance, society educates selves and selves constitute and can modify societal practices).

The key to democracy is education (which is much more than just schooling) that promotes criticism, self-education, and constant growth. Philosophy, in the broadest sense, is criticism. Since life is best lived as growth (the unexamined life is not worth living), and democracy is the best way to deal with the constant changes that all societies face, an education that helps children love learning and change is essential to a democratic society. Unfortunately, many societal constructs are educative in a narrow sense, and allow us to be complacently self-satisfied and rigid in our habits (ie we become fundamentalists). Dewey warns against the "business mind" that, since the writing of this book, has thoroughly permeated many institutions, including the university. Children naturally are inquisitive and love growth, but many societal constructs, such as traditional schooling or dogmatic religious practices, dampen this curiosity.

Dewey was a radical thinker, but his prose is plodding and sometimes obscures his revolutionary message. Although Dewey was a trained philosopher and was a Hegelian until he read William James' Principles of Psychology, Dewey is much easier to read than most philosophers. Still, the philosophical content is there for those who need it. For those less philosophically inclined, you won't be missing out on too much. Also, to respond to another reviewer, Dewey was a socialist in the same way that Social Security is socialistic. He merely felt that a truly democratic society must allow equal educational opportunities for all. Finally, the claim that his work was unscientific is ridiculous. He ran the first laboratory school at the University of Chicago with the help of Jane Addams, amongst other reformists, to test his theories. And, his philosophy, like James', is in response to the major scientific advances of his time.

An amazing work for philosophers, educators, and social thinkers alike.

Rating:
Summary: Why is this book ignored by educators?
Review: Dewey describes a philosophy of education that values and respects the learner through experiential and situated educational experiences. Despite the fact that Democracy and Education was published at the beginning of the century, many of the common sense ideas that Dewey suggests have yet to be implemented in American education. Democracy and Education supplies educators with a valuable alternative to the traditional philosophy of education that is based on a socially constructed dis-connect between formal schooling and the social context that educatoin is situated in. Dewey starts with what he sees as the foundations of education, then builds a philosophy of education that sees a democratic society as the ultimate goal of American education.

Rating:
Summary: This book was helpful, but kind of lenthy.
Review: I found most of this book useful, things I learned in my education classes came up frequently. I think that this book was a bit outdated, although it did have some very relevant information. I found it a bit hard to read because of the language. The content at times was boring. On the whole, I think that this book was a good historical account on what educationally philosophy was in it's time.

Rating:
Summary: A milestone
Review: This book is one of the great milestones of American history and philosophy and particularly education. It's as relevant today as the day it was written a century ago.