Post date: Sep 29, 2014 3:00:45 AM
Upon completion of John Dewey's Democracy and Education, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Let's keep in mind that I am now a part of the Waves here at Pepperdine so it feels natural to ride the ebb and flow of the tide. It is nice, now, to test the waters of another book.....OK, I think I'm done with water metaphors ... for now...
I have to say that I found Democracy and Education a tough read. But, I appreciate his point of view and agree overall with Dewey's ideas. My career objective is to ultimately improve education (by helping teachers and school districts) to prepare students to be active and involved members of society effectively using the tools of the 21st century technology, regardless of the background from which they come. Dewey feels that a thriving democracy should educate it's peoples by eliminating any divisions of classes and allowing them to gain knowledge through participation in a social groups that teach each other and moderate each other towards the required moral standing. The best method for learning is experience shared and reflected upon while inside and outside of school.
I'd like to leave this book citing some of the final words in Democracy and Education, "... all the aims and values which are desirable in education are themselves moral. Discipline, natural development, culture, social efficiency, are moral traits - marks of a person who is a worthy member of that society, which it is the business of education to further. ......... Discipline, culture, social efficiency, personal refinement, improvement of character are but phases of the growth of capacity nobly to share in such a balanced experience. And education is not a mere means to such a life. Education is such a life. To maintain capacity for such education is the essence of morals. For conscious life is a continual beginning afresh." I found these words to really wrap things up for me. I was actually moved by them..Is that strange? I'm hoping not. For I agree that being a productive member of society means having the capacity to share in a balanced experience that includes the moral essences listed above.