Rediscovering Dewey: A Reflection On Independent Thinking
Product Description
by Steve Simpson
“Dewey inspired me with a grand fresh idea about teaching, and it has been a while since I’ve been inspired with a fresh idea about my teaching. I have no interest in running for political office. I take care of my family, I serve on the boards of a couple of community environmental groups, I write, AND I teach. That’s what I do, and it’s what I want to do. If a critical mass of teachers valued democracy and communication and cooperation and believed that their jobs were to create a society where friendship, beauty, and knowledge were the bywords and individual student success was the goal, I would want to be of part of that.”
John Dewey believed in education, and he believed in American participatory democracy. Simpson uses personal anecdotes, Dewey’s extensive writings, and even Chinese legends to discuss Dewey’s ideas about teaching democracy, independent thinking, and a sense of community. They are as relevant today as when they were written.
Review: “This is a very well written, insightful study of John Dewey’s educational philosophy that adds to the literature on John Dewey. I am particularly impressed with Professor Simpson’s use of other major thinkers like Henry David Thoreau, Chuang Tzu, Richard Rorty, Aldo Leopold, Hilary Putnam, Richard Bernstein, Reinhold Niebuhr to help critique and make fuller an understanding of Dewey. This is a truly synthetic piece of work and is academically serious, while at the same time being very accessible to the non specialist. I recommend it without hesitation.” —Dr. Jasper S. Hunt, Professor of Experiential Education and Leadership Studies, Department of Educational Leadership, Minnesota State University, Mankato
ISBN: 978-1-885473-61-5
SIZE: 6 x 9
PAGE COUNT: 224
Table of Contents
Publisher’s Note
Prologue
Chapter One: Dewey 101
Chapter Two: Dewey on Student Freedom and Educator Guidance
Chapter Three: A Comparison of Dewey and Thoreau
Chapter Four: Mr. Democracy
Dewey on Democratic Education
Chapter Five: Mr. Science
Dewey on Science Education, Cooperative Learning, and Service
Chapter Six: The Common People’s Educator
Dewey on Work and Play, the Liberal Arts and Vocational Education
Chapter Seven: Why Some Educators Think Dewey is Wrong
Chapter Eight: Why Some Educators Think Dewey is Needed Now More Than Ever
Notes
Bibliographic Essay
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
“Dewey inspired me with a grand fresh idea about teaching, and it has been a while since I’ve been inspired with a fresh idea about my teaching. I have no interest in running for political office. I take care of my family, I serve on the boards of a couple of community environmental groups, I write, AND I teach. That’s what I do, and it’s what I want to do. If a critical mass of teachers valued democracy and communication and cooperation and believed that their jobs were to create a society where friendship, beauty, and knowledge were the bywords and individual student success was the goal, I would want to be of part of that.”
John Dewey believed in education, and he believed in American participatory democracy. Simpson uses personal anecdotes, Dewey’s extensive writings, and even Chinese legends to discuss Dewey’s ideas about teaching democracy, independent thinking, and a sense of community. They are as relevant today as when they were written.
Review: “This is a very well written, insightful study of John Dewey’s educational philosophy that adds to the literature on John Dewey. I am particularly impressed with Professor Simpson’s use of other major thinkers like Henry David Thoreau, Chuang Tzu, Richard Rorty, Aldo Leopold, Hilary Putnam, Richard Bernstein, Reinhold Niebuhr to help critique and make fuller an understanding of Dewey. This is a truly synthetic piece of work and is academically serious, while at the same time being very accessible to the non specialist. I recommend it without hesitation.” —Dr. Jasper S. Hunt, Professor of Experiential Education and Leadership Studies, Department of Educational Leadership, Minnesota State University, Mankato
ISBN: 978-1-885473-61-5
SIZE: 6 x 9
PAGE COUNT: 224
Table of Contents
Publisher’s Note
Prologue
Chapter One: Dewey 101
Chapter Two: Dewey on Student Freedom and Educator Guidance
Chapter Three: A Comparison of Dewey and Thoreau
Chapter Four: Mr. Democracy
Dewey on Democratic Education
Chapter Five: Mr. Science
Dewey on Science Education, Cooperative Learning, and Service
Chapter Six: The Common People’s Educator
Dewey on Work and Play, the Liberal Arts and Vocational Education
Chapter Seven: Why Some Educators Think Dewey is Wrong
Chapter Eight: Why Some Educators Think Dewey is Needed Now More Than Ever
Notes
Bibliographic Essay
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
