Notes on Progressive Education Presentation

Introduction

• The presentation discusses the evolution of education in the U.S.
• Focuses on the shift from traditional teaching methods to progressive education.

Traditional Education

• Historical Context:
  • U.S. children used to attend school due to obligation.
  • Often one-room schoolhouses with a single teacher for all grades.
• Teaching Methods:
  • Students learned through drills and memorization.
  • Skills taught included multiplication tables, history dates, spelling, and geography.
  • Example: Johnny learned through repetitive drills.
• Student Experience:
  • Students often measured their success by memory retention rather than understanding.
  • The happiest time was when school let out; some faced after-school detentions.

Progressive Education

• Key Figure: Professor William Hurt Kilpatrick
  • Advocates for education that prepares children to face their future.
  • Emphasizes learning through real-life experiences and practical application.
• Implementation:
  • Progressive education is now prevalent in many public schools.
  • Learning by doing, addressing real-world problems (e.g., traffic issues).
• Learning Activities:
  • Children engage in projects that integrate various subjects.
  • Example: Cake baking project that involves reading, math, and cooperation.
  • Other projects include managing a school store and inspecting the outside world.
• Creative Imagination:
  • Encourages creative storytelling as part of the learning process.
  • Example: Story about a bear living on the sun.

Criticism of Progressive Education

• Chief Critic: Dr. William C. Bagley
  • Warns that some progressive methods may weaken educational rigor.
  • Draws parallels with historical declines in educational systems (e.g., Greek civilization).
• Balancing Old and New:
  • Progressive schools aim to retain beneficial aspects of traditional education.
  • Emphasis on experiential learning as a means to better understanding and retention.

Conclusion

• Importance of Preparing for the Future:
  • John Dewey stresses the need to prepare children for their future world, not the past.
  • Majority of educators support progressive education methods for their effectiveness.
• Overall Impact:
  • Progressive education aims to equip students with necessary skills for modern challenges.