Good Research Paper On Progressive Education In The 1930s: American Philosopher John Dewey.

Beliefs

The instructor should understand each learner’s own strengths as well as his/her inhibitions. To this end learning and democracy have been closely related in that the learner is given an opportunity to choose which method of drawing and retaining knowledge suits them best. The teacher is relegated to a mere instructor guiding the learner. The learner uses what he or she understands best to apply what is being taught.
This method of teaching/instructing is superior since it brings out the best in the student by capitalizing on his strengths. It acknowledges that the human mind is superior and limitless. Confining it to what the instructor knows only may inhibit its full potential. It also ensures that the teacher is merely a guide and not a commander. The student can learn to think on his own and not depend on the instructor’s commands of problem solving which may have been passed over generations and are not contextual to present needs. Simply put, it allows for creativity and innovativeness that in turn deals with the contextual and present need. Further, the method acknowledges each child’s talents. There can never exist a homogenous society as capitalizing on each learner’s strengths adds value to the learning process.

Dilemmas

It is prudent to admit that children learners are not mentally developed so as to make their own rational decisions. Lack of stern adult guidance may render them wayward and confused. They need authority and mentorship as they cannot make sound decisions at this early stage of life. The teacher being the apprentice imparts what he already knows to make the learner have a smoother experience at learning.

Contradictions

The suggestion that the learner’s individual experiences be applied to learning is contradictory since not all experiences are beneficial in a learning context. A prior abusive experience may make a learner have an aversion for say the police making him not want to obey the law or authority.