Progressivists believe that individuality

1. Progressivistsbelieve thatindividuality,progress,andchange are fundamentaltoone'seducation.
Believingthatpeople learnbestfromwhattheyconsidermostrelevanttotheirlives,progressivists
centertheircurriculaonthe needs,experiences,interests,andabilitiesof students.Progressivist
teacherstry makingschool interestingandusefulbyplanninglessonsthatprovoke curiosity.Ina
progressivistschool,studentsare activelylearning. The studentsinteractwithone anotheranddevelop
social qualitiessuchascooperationandtolerance fordifferentpointsof view.Inaddition,studentssolve
problemsinthe classroomsimilartothose theywill encounterintheireverydaylives.Progressivists
believethateducationshouldbe aprocessof ongoinggrowth,notjusta preparationforbecomingan
adult.Anobviousexampleof progressivismwouldbe ourclass.We are in groupsa lot and we actively
learnthroughdiscussion.We talkabouthow whatwe read can be incorporatedintoourfuture teaching
careers.Dr. Theodore takesintoaccountthe suggestionsfromthe previoussemester'sstudentsand
modifieshisclassaccordingly.
AfterreadingJohnDewey’sbookanddiscussinghisthoughtsandideasinclass,one cansee John
Dewey'srelationshiptoprogressivism.He wantedstudentstolearnthroughactionandbeinginvolvedin
the processesthatwill gettothe endproduct.He wantedthe studentstoworkonhands-onprojectsso
learningwouldtake place,ratherthanmemorization.Inaregularclassroomstudentsjustmemorize
whattheyneedto knowandit goesawayafter the test.InDewey’smind,the studentswouldhave to
exercise theirbrainbyproblemsolvingandthinkingcritically,resultinginlearning(eventhoughthe
studentsmaynotevenknowit!).Thisallowsthe individual'sbraintodevelop,soasthe individualgrows
learningbecomeseasier!Afterattendingaschool Deweywouldhave setup,achildwouldbe readyfor
the real worldand a lot of the everydaysetbacksthatan individual wouldexperience,suchaslosinga
button,changinga tire,makinglunch,orbalancinga checkbook.School wouldbe alotof hands-on
learning,andthe progressionof educationwouldnotend!