The Child and the Curriculum

Name: The Child and the Curriculum
Author: John Dewey

By John Dewey

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Philosophy & Ethics Teaching & Education

About This Book

A collection of essays analyzes the persistent tension between a child's narrow, integrated world of personal interests and the abstract, historically accumulated structure of school subjects. It argues that education must be understood as the interaction between an immature learner and social aims, not as the dominance of either side. The author critiques methods that fragment experience into isolated lessons or that dismiss subject-matter in favor of undirected activity, and proposes reconstructing curriculum so that studies grow from and connect with learners' interests, promote continuity of experience, and develop intellectual habits suited to social living.

About the Author

John Dewey

John Dewey (1859-1952) was an influential American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer associated with pragmatism and functional psychology. He is best known for his work in education, particularly his book "Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education," which emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and critical thinking in the educational process. Dewey's ideas have significantly shaped modern educational practices and theories, advocating for a more interactive and democratic approach to teaching. In addition to his contributions to education, he wrote extensively on ethics, logic, and social philosophy, making him a key figure in American intellectual history.