Deweys other observation was that the traditional education system was subject centred and not children centred. As such the traditional education is only aimed at helping them children pass examination instead of turning the children into critical thinkers who can articulate issues and drive social progress and development in the society. For example, the current education is more inclined towards developing passive children whose receptive role in the society does not add value to the society.
While children are naturally inquisitive with very active minds, the education system makes them dumb because the traditional education is designed to help children cram and regurgitate the course content instead of allowing the children to explore their imagination. It is only by embracing the children's natural urges that they can understand the importance of finding their solution the societal problems. Rh role of the teacher should only be confined to guiding the children, controlling their interests and fostering and enduring goals orientation.
Role of Education in Social Change
Deweys perception was that the education was a vital force in social change. His pedagogic creed was that Education is "the fundamental method of social progress and reform. However he also pointed out that education should not only focus on producing intellectual and moral changes but should also be oriented towards attitude and behavior change. The school alone can not guarantee a change in the social order, but it provides the impetus necessary for the change. As such, the children can be the tools through which education is used to change the social order.
Changing the Social Circumstances:Even though the social circumstances may be different for both urban and rural children, it is the school that is tasked with providing a level ground for both children to learn. However, with the current education system, the children in the rural areas are left out and the protracted difference last into adulthood and naturally affects the society. most of the rural children are either children from the low SES families or are migrant children. As such they do not have access to the same facilities enjoyed by those children in urban areas. The current education system is not inclusive and does not does not focusing understanding the reason behind the high school dropout rate.Aligning the school with the societys needs Instead of focusing on the school as a centre for learning, the school should be seen as a centre for learning and acquiring skills. The practical lessons should encompass the required daily life skills such as cooking and carpentry. Additionally for school content to be relevant to the desired societal standard, they course content should be taught mainly in an interdisciplinary lessons which involves combining different disciplines to help the children connect between two or more disciplines.
Lessons learnt from the laboratory schoolFrom Deweys project, the following lessons were learnt1.learning should be conducted in a social environment.
2. Teaching practices should be developmentally appropriate
3. Course instruction should be project based.
4. Curriculum should be integrated
5. The school should invest on the children's interest
For children be effective contributors to the social progress if they are taught properly in small groups as this allow the teacher adequate time to interact with the students. In order for learning be interesting, hand on experiments should be integrated in the course on a\ daily basis. Finally, for the children to connect the lessons taught in class, with the community life, the course work should be related to the neighbourhood life. All the questions for which the teachers seek answers all boil down to one thing- appropriate teacher to student ratio. Teaching should address the student's impulses as well as tendencies to make, do or create, and produce. Education should aim at developing students in all aspects of life not just their ability to get control of the symbols of learning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the school should facilitate children's learning through social conversation and allow the children to participate in household roles. These two activities help them acquire important life skill and form habits of mind while at the same time gaining knowledge. Finally, learning. Should be child centred in that the childrens proclivities and instincts such as social instincts, investigative instincts and expressive instincts are allowed to develop naturallyReferences Dewey, John. Experience and nature. Vol. 1. Courier Dover Publications, 1958.
Dewey, John. Thinking Processes. pointcook power store, 2014.
Dewey, John A., and Thomas H. Carr. "When dyads act in parallel, a sense of agency for the auditory consequences depends on the order of the actions. "Consciousness and cognition 22.1 (2013): 155-166.
Jensen, Kipton E. "Review John Dewey's Philosophy of Spirit Shook John R. Good James A. Fordham UP New York." (2013). Dewey. Johan . 1900. The school and society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
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