John Dewey and Our Educational Prospect : A Critical Engagement with Dewey's Democracy and Education

2007 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitleThese original essays focus on John Dewey's Democracy and Education, a book widely regarded as one of the greatest works ever written in the history of educational thought. The contributors address Dewey's still powerful argument that education is not a preparation for life, but rather constitutes a fundamental aspect of the very experience of living. The authors examine Dewey's central themes, including the dynamics of human communication, the nature of growth, the relation between democracy and education, and the importance of recognizing student agency. They link their analyses with contemporary educational concerns and problems, offering ideas about what the curriculum for children and youth should be, how to prepare teachers for the profession, what pedagogical approaches make the most sense given societal trends, and how to reconstruct the purposes of school. This first book-length study of Dewey's extraordinary text attests to the continued power in his work and to the diverse audience of educators to whom he has long appealed. John Dewey and Our Educational Prospect......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 1. Introduction: Reading Democracy and Education......Page 12 2. “Of all affairs, communication is the most wonderful: ”The Communicative Turn in Dewey’s Democracy and Education......Page 34 3. Curriculum Matters......Page 50 4. Socialization, Social Efficiency,and Social Control: Putting Pragmatism to Work......Page 78 5. Growth and Perfectionism? Dewey after Emerson and Cavell......Page 92 6. Rediscovering the Student in Democracy and Education......Page 108 7. Dewey’s Reconstruction ofthe Curriculum: From Occupation to Disciplined Knowledge......Page 124 8. A Teacher Educator Looks at Democracy and Education......Page 140 9. Dewey’s Philosophy of Life......Page 158 10. Dewey’s Book of the Moral Self......Page 176 List of Contributors......Page 200 E......Page 202 H......Page 204 T......Page 205 W......Page 206 Introduction: Reading Democracy And Education / David T. Hansen -- Of All Affairs, Communication Is The Most Wonderful: The Communicative Turn In Dewey's Democracy And Education / Gert Biesta -- Curriculum Matters / Reba N. Page -- Socialization, Social Efficiency, And Social Control: Putting Pragmatism To Work / Larry A. Hickman -- Growth And Perfectionism? Dewey After Emerson And Cavell / Naoko Saito -- Rediscovering The Student In Democracy And Education / Gary D. Fenstermacher -- Dewey's Reconstruction Of The Curriculum: From Occupations To Disciplined Knowledge / Herbert M. Kliebard -- A Teacher Educator Looks At Democracy And Education / Sharon Feiman-nemser -- Dewey's Philosophy Of Life / Elizabeth Minnich -- Dewey's Book Of The Moral Self / David T. Hansen. Edited By David T. Hansen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation These original essays focus on John Dewey's