The John Dewey Society

The John Dewey Society ^ | 1897 | John Dewey

[rapsux]

John Dewey Lecture "I believe that education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform. All reforms which rest simply upon the law, or the threatening of certain penalties, or upon changes in mechanical or outward arrangements, are transitory and futile.... But through education society can formulate its own purposes, can organize its own means and resources, and thus shape itself with definiteness and economy in the direction in which it wishes to move.... Education thus conceived marks the most perfect and intimate union of science and art conceivable in human experience." --John Dewey, My Pedagogic Creed, 1897

[rapsux]

In my humble opinion, the philosophy of John Dewey in the public school is at least partially responsible for the disaster known as public education. He advocated the use of pubic education for social engineering, rather then educating. From the first day a child sets foot in a public school, the molding begins.

[pariah]

He advocated the use of pubic education for social engineering, rather then educating. From the first day a child sets foot in a public school, the molding begins.

Absolutely right! If you read Dewey's statement, it is clear that he intends 'education' to have a pre-determined outcome, and to be wedded to a particular social-economic philosophy. Well, it doesn't take a genius to ascertain that what Dewey has in mind in NOT education in any vital sense, but programming of the masses, and the denigration of the recipients of said education to mere 'social units', all squeeling and squawking in unison at the direction of the choirmasters. And, naturally, Dewey and his like-minded friends, the 'enlightened' ones, are to be the choirmasters: Marxist-inspired social control masquerading as kindly intentions. Beware, because for every ounce of good intentions you receive, you lose 8 ounces of respect and a pound of freedom!

The results of this enterprise are also clear when our 'best' universities are the source of the stupidest, most unworkable, most anti-freedom ideas.

[KC Burke]

Good point. I read a quote by him certifying his creation of the Educational arm of Secular Humanism as a religion. It was clear he meant to replace all others.