Dewey, John

John Dewey (1859–1952) was an American psychologist, philosopher, and educator, at the helm of the progressive movement who believed in appealing to the emotional and creative aspects of teaching that put the child at the center of learning. He is often referred to as the father of the Progressive Movement and is associated with Charles Sanders Peirce and William James as the founders of American Pragmatism.

Born in Burlington, Vermont in 1859, Dewey attended Vermont public schools and then the University of Vermont where he expressed interest in natural science and moral philosophy (Westbrook, 1991). After graduating, he worked as a teacher for several years before attending John Hopkin’s University to earn his PhD in 1884. He taught at the University of Michigan until 1894 with a one-year stint at the University of Minnesota in 1888–1889. Following his tenure in Michigan he went on to the University of Chicago where he became notable for his Laboratory School that emphasized that life itself should provide the foundation of education of children, and for his work as Department Chair of Philosophy, Psychology, and Pedagogy. Following disagreements with the University Administration over the workings of the Laboratory School, he resigned as Chair and moved to the Department of Philosophy at Columbia University in 1905 at which time he was also elected President of the American Psychological Association (APA). He remained at Columbia University for the remainder of his career and died in 1952 at the age of 92.