What Is Progressive Education?

Definition: Progressive education is a reaction against the traditional style of teaching which teaches facts largely at the expense of understanding what is being taught. When you examine the teaching styles and curriculum of the 19th century, you understand why certain enlightened educators decided that there had to be a better way. A Brief Overview of Progressive Education chronicles the influence of progressive educators such as John Dewey and William H. Kirkpatrick

The progressive education philosophy embraces the idea that we should teach children how to think and that a test cannot measure whether or not a child is an educated person. The Calhoun School lays out the argument in Progressive Education. The philosophy is complete anathema to conservative educators who cling to outmoded ways of teaching. They would rather teach children what to think than teach children to think for themselves through a process of discovery. One of the champions of progressive education is Independent Curriculum Group. Learn why AP courses, for example, are absent from curricula in progressive schools.

Progressive schools enjoyed some favorable publicity in 2008 as President and Mrs. Obama sent their daughters to the school John Dewey founded in Chicago, The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

Find more terms in the Private School Glossary.