Essay Sample on The Purpose of Education

John Dewey was an American philosopher and educator who started the philosophical movement of pragmatism, where action over fixed ideas are paramount and achieving results is of utmost importance. This pragmatic view naturally led to the idea of progressive education where the child takes an active part in learning through doing task or activities based on learning, i.e. takes action and helps control their own learning (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia, 2019). 

His theories on education can be broken into 5 key sections, however at the heart is the idea that a democratic society with knowledgeable and informed people are best equipped to improve the life and interests of all (Gouinlock, 2021). This can be seen with the current Covid-19 pandemic where ‘researchers with the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found that adults with a bachelor’s degree were 1.3 times more likely to be vaccinated compared to those without any college experience’ (Miller, 2021). In addition, a country’s productivity can be increased as the workforce is able to complete task more quickly, knowledge is better transferred and creativity boosts capacity for new technological production (Barro and Lee 2010). In fact, a population’s improved education more likely leads to economic growth (IIASA 2008).

Key Principles on Education

We can break John Dewey’s key principles into 5 separate themes (Talebi, 2015).

1. Education and learning are social and interactive
2. Students are best served when they can interact with the curriculum and take an active part in their own learning
3. Education is a place to learn how to live, not only for the obtainment of knowledge
4. Education should be about realizing the student’s potential and using those skills for the greater good
5. Education is invaluable in affecting social change and reform

The idea that education and learning are social and interactive can be seen in responsive classrooms. The responsive classroom fosters a safe and happy learning community that is both social and interactive (Responsive Classroom, n.d.). The aim is to create a warm inviting classroom where students can be shown behavior expectations, find their learning space and learn how to care for the materials they will interact with (Williams 2017). Closing circles in these classrooms also harbor an inclusive social climate and the children can celebrate achievements and feel a belonging (Responsive Classroom (n.d.).

Montessori schools are a good example of students being best served by taking an active part in their learning. They aim to promote creativity and draw upon the idea of learner-centered education. The students are able to more easily self-motivate through finding their own interests because the style allows for playful learning (Lillard 2013).

Forest schools and nature preschools are examples of Place-Based Education where the students are able to learn much more than knowledge. Students can engage in local culture, landscapes and history all while picking up valuable life skills (Elfer 2011).

Doctors learning skills to help save lives is a vocational response to students using their skills for the greater good. However, at an even baser level education can give people the knowledge to seek out better care and medical treatment, make greater efforts to improve their children’s health and are more likely to continue the cycle and send their children to school (Grant 2017).

Education preserves cultures and proliferates cultural values and beliefs. We learn numbers, philosophy, agriculture, and many other disciplines from different areas of the world. In many nations students from different backgrounds share their customs and cultures and it facilities shared understanding. When people have this understanding and the tools with which to remember their history varied history and the facts continued therein, it gives people the ability to see different paths and obtain different outlooks (Sharma & Monteiro 2016). Thus, they can change their path for the future.

How these principles align with an International Baccalaueate (IB) education

The key profile of an IB is to develop people who think on the global scale. People recognize that we are all human and share the common goal of protecting the planet and creating a better world for all (IB learner profile 2013). This directly connects with Dewey’s idea that education is for the greater good and can affect social change. Open-minded, knowledgeable thinkers help drive social change with creative solutions to issues with local and global significance.

An IB learner is curious and uses their skills for inquiry and research with an enthusiasm for learning much like the idea of having a warm, social, and interactive classroom fosters that same enthusiasm and thirst for learning. 

A balanced mindset leads to valuing different parts of life and having a strong sense of fairness and justice derives from a broad connection with others from around the world.

As in the responsive classroom, students are invited to reflect on the role, responsibilities and how best to learn. This concept leads to contemplative personal development where students can better understand their strengths, weaknesses and ideas about a variety of topics.

In Dewey’s principles we can see a direct alignment with many of the principles of an IB education.

References

Barro, R. J. & J.-W. Lee. (2010) A New Dataset of Educational Attainment in the World, 1950– 2010. NBER Working Paper No. 15902. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2019, September 10). progressive education. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/progressive-education

Elfer, C. J. (2011) PLACE-BASED EDUCATION: A REVIEW OF HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS IN THEORY & PRACTICE. The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Gouinlock, J. S. (2021, October 16). John Dewey. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Dewey

Grant, C. (2017). The Contribution of Education to Economic Growth. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies

IIASA (2008). Economic Growth in Developing Countries: Education Proves Key, Policy Brief #3http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/resources/publications/IIASAPolicyBriefs/pb03-web.pdf

Lillard, A. S. (2013). Playful learning and Montessori education. American Journal of Play, 5(2), 157-186.

Miller, J. (2021). Education is a bigger factor than race in desire for COVID-19 vaccine. https://news.usc.edu/182848/education-covid-19-vaccine-safety-risks-usc-study/

Responsive Classroom (n.d.). What is Responsive Classroom? https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/

Responsive Classroom (n.d.). Closing Circle. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/closing-circle/

Sharma, R. & Monteiro, S. (2016). Creating Social Change: The Ultimate Goal of Education for Sustainability. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 6(1), 72-75.

Talebi, K. (2015). John Dewey- philosopher and educational reformer. European Journal of Educational Studies, 1(1). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED564712.pdf

The IB learner profile. (2013). International Baccalaureate.  Baccalaureate. https://www.ibo.org/contentassets/fd82f70643ef4086b7d3f292cc214962/learner-profile-en.pdf

Williams, M. K. (2017). John Dewey in the 21st Century. Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 9(1), 91-102.