Philosophies on Education & How Children Learn

This interview presents the reader with two different educational philosophies and those who hold to them. These two ideologies are described as the "academic achievement" and the "non-academic goal" categories, and are held to by "the public" and educators respectively. Cunningham seems to hold to the "academic achievement" philosophy of learning, and thus he cites many facts in favor of this...

"Engelmann is a pariah in educational circles not because he grooms like a biker, dresses like a farmer, and curses like a sailor, though all those things are true. Nor are his methods shunned because he isn't part of the academic guild, although his only degree is a B.S. in philosophy from the University of Illinois. He is an outcast because for thirty years, he has succeeded by defying all...

As a proponent of Piaget's educational philosophies, Seymour Papert reports on Piaget's background and his interest concerning how children learn. According to Papert, Piaget believed that correcting children on their right and wrong ideas caused their theory forming ability to be stifled. The end of this article acknowledges that some of Piaget's theories have been disproved, but the author...

Spaulding notes how the influence of progressive education philosophies in America have gradually led to a failure to teach our nation's history to students. In view of the recent aggressive assault against terrorism, Spaulding believes it is time for Americans to begin a mission to "relearn America's principles and purposes" in the realm of education.

This short opinion piece proposes the idea that progressive philosophy is not the problem with America's educational system. Jesness points out that Japan's high academic quality is undiminished by their love of Dewey's ideologies, and suggests that American education suffers from a lack of good content rather than any philosophy, traditional or progressive.

"This guide examines claims for 24 schoolwide programs-- programs that promise to improve student learning by changing the entire school. Focusing on quantitative achievement measures such as test scores, grades, and graduation rates, the report was prepared for educators and others to assist them in their investigation of different approaches to school reform."

In their comparison of both the phonics and whole language approaches to reading, Collins and Gwynne acknowledge that research is on the side of the phonics philosophy. This article gives equal time to both viewpoints, while also providing a look into the ideology of those who advocate for whole language instruction. Collins conclusion suggests that children learn best when taking...

As a self-ascribed "political liberal and an educational conservative," Hirsch gives a detailed study concerning how children learn better under more traditional education philosophies. This lengthy article cites both national and international studies which suggest that children learn best under repetitive, teacher-directed, challenging education standards. Hirsch also notes the effectiveness...

As an educational psychologist, Professor Stone believes that the philosophies on how children learn are hatched in the schools that train teachers. A majority of teachers today are being trained to follow the "learner-centered" philosophy, a method which...

This piece concentrates on Ohio schools and discusses whether or not their proclivity is more toward the progressive or traditional philosophies of education. Containing clear information on how the components of progressive or traditional philosophies operate, Chandler's study offers interesting results which suggest that more schools desire to be on the progressive end of the philosophical...

This link features a speech given by George Cunningham on the ideological differences between teacher's associations and the No Child Left Behind legislation. Cunningham asserts that while NCLB's philosophy focuses on high student achievement, teachers are being trained to instruct students with progressive methods. Cunningham fears that teacher associations will...

In this piece Dewey truly does lay out his own "creed" on education, even beginning each paragraph with, "I believe."  Using his extensive background in psychology and combining it with his social philosophy, Dewey presents five sections concerning education:
1)      What Education Is
2)     ...

"For the past one hundred years, Americans have argued and worried about the quality of their schools. Some charged that students were not learning enough, while others complained that the schools were not furthering social progress. In Left Back, education historian Diane Ravitch describes this ongoing battle of ideas and explains why school reform has so often disappointed. She...

Jeanne Chall contributes years of research and observation into this book dealing with two opposing methods of childhood education known as "student-centered" and "teacher-centered." Much of the research in this book argues for the effectiveness of the latter, more traditional approach to education and includes chapters on subjects such as preschools, disadvantaged students, and "trends" in...

Committed to "exploring informal education, lifelong learning and social action," infed.org is a website that contains articles and information pertaining to the progressive philosophy of education.