Definition of Pedagogical Progressive

"Pedagogical" means that something is related to teaching. A "pedagogical progressive" is someone who uses teaching methods founded in the progressive movement of the late 19th/early 20th century, which generally advocated a child-centered approach to education.

History

From 1890 to 1919, various educators developed and experimented with teaching methods that differed radically from traditional forms of education. John Dewey, called "the father of progressive education," founded the Laboratory School in Chicago and published several books on educational theory.

Philosophy

Dewey's philosophy emphasized the importance of the relationship between democracy and education. He and other progressives focused on the needs of the child over the needs of the school as an institution. Progressive educators advocated methods to teach the "whole child" based on the child's needs and interests.

Application

Progressive techniques relate thinking with doing. Students engage in problem-solving in an experience-based curriculum. A student might, for example, learn basic arithmetic skills in the course of measuring the ingredients in a cooking project.

Controversy

Critics argued that progressive education neglected the traditional curriculum. Dewey countered that traditional subject matter could be taught in new ways.

Long-term Effects

Although the progressive movement lost credibility by the 1950s, its pedagogical theories had permeated American education and formed the basis for the educational reforms that followed.

References

• The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
• State University.com, Education Encyclopedia

Resources

• Learning is Change