The following presents reactions to five questions related to the following sources: John DeweyÆs Pedagogic Creed, Horace MannÆs 10th and 12th Annual Reports in James W. FraserÆs book: the School in the United States, John DeweyÆs and Progressivism: The Interdependence for the national and Social Worlds and Traditional versus Newer Educational Philosophies for the Modern Context, and Chapter 1 of Joel SpringÆs: The American School 1642-2004.
1. What is the nature of education in a modern democratic society?
To understand the nature of education today, one must begin with an understanding of the goals of education in a modern democratic society. Mann (n.d.) provided an idealistic view of education, noting that it allows for the human nature to be developed and his allows for each individual to become skilled to better their life. Education serves as the ôgreat equalizer,ö (p. 186) helping all people to increase their physical well-being status regardless of origin. Dewey (n.d.a) noted further that education is the method used to ensure social progress and reform; it regulates social consciousness and guides an individualÆs activity accordingly. Education is a ôcontinuing reconstruction of experienceö with the ôprocess and the gold of education ô being ôone and the same thingö (pp. 27, 30). These authors provide a basis for judgment of modern democratic education. If the aim of education is to provide each individual with an equal opportunity to reach his or her potential and maintain a democratic society, the question is whether education today reaches this goal.
According to Dewey (n.d.b) todayÆs educational system is more focused on stuffing the studentÆs mind with information rather than forming the mind with ôinsight and understandingö needed for a child to develop a ôcommand of himselfö (pp. 2-3). I believe that this passage captures the essence of modern education, which is a departure fro...