A critical study of the concept of education in John Dewey

Abstract

The figure of John Dewey is a central one in the realm of educational studies in many countries all over the world. This work tries to examine Dewey's overall philosophy of education and ends with some reflections on how the Maltese National Minimum Curriculum compares with it. The first chapter gives historical information as regards the situation of American education in the time between the 18th and 20th Century. The second chapter is devoted to the outline of a biography of John Dewey in order to understand him and his thoughts better. Chapter three consists in the analysis of the major philosophical influences traceable in Dewey's educational theory. The culmination of this work lies in the last three chapters. Chapter four is made up of the exposition of Dewey's major theories about education. Following this chapter, a collection of critique of these theories is provided in order to produce the most accurate position of these concepts; facilitating a more appreciative evaluation of Dewey's philosophy of education. The conclusion that follows is an examination of the Maltese National Minimum Curriculum for the Primary Schools. It includes a comparative analysis between this curriculum and Dewey's concepts. At the end some practical suggestions are also given in order to acquaint Maltese teachers with progressive educational methods and practices, especially those suggested by John Dewey who can be considered as the main force behind this revolution in the educational field.