Class Notes for April 1

Dewey and Vocational Education

Vocational education is typically attributed to Dewey
Founded the Laboratory School htt:www.ucls.uchicago.edu/
Students would engage in activities that were key components of adult social life
While engaging in these activities students would develop habits and skills that
would have value outside of the current activity
Skills and knowledge developed from previous activities could transfer to new
activities/experiences to be used in a new way
Reflection Questions: Would Dewey approve of our current Vocational or
Career &Technology education? Is the current system too narrow and reducing
opportunities for students?

Dewey and Education as Preparation

Dewey believed that the then current school system was too focused on the
future
He believed in making the most of the here and now "We always live at the
time we live and not at some other time, and only be extracting at each present
time the full meaning of each present experience are we prepared for doing the
same thing in the future. "This is the only preparation which in the long run
amounts to anything." Pg 49
Dewey saw preparation in education as shaping attitudes about
learning/developing habits of learning to apply to new experiences

Dewey and Habits

Dewey believed there are habits everyone should have and schools should
develop in students
The havit of lifelong learning/growing, problem solving, and making each
experience fruitful and valuable

Dewey and the End in View

Always have a problem - something to work on
Purpose and goals - give a path to follow and motivation
Humans - unique ability to create problems for self
Problems give purpose
Problems and solutions define themselves
Teachers - know enough to provide classroom problems
Teachers are to create meaningful problems for students
that are relative to life
Mis-educative experiences limit growth

Dewey and morality

Dewey not very specific on morality
Some degree of rules for civilization to exist
Consequences to others should be weighed in
Mature teachers guide into growth
Encourage behavior that leads to individual
growth and more opportunity

Dave Thomas and David Wybenga