John DeweyJohn DeweyHis life and contribution to educationHis life and contribution to education

By Tiffany Aab

Life Before SchoolingLife Before Schooling

Born October 20,1859, in Burlington, VermontBorn October 20,1859, in Burlington, Vermont The third child born to Archibald and LucinaThe third child born to Archibald and Lucina Archibald was a traditional Congregationalist, his wife an Archibald was a traditional Congregationalist, his wife an

intense evangelicalintense evangelical A shy child, for which he blamed his Calvinistic New A shy child, for which he blamed his Calvinistic New

England background, Dewey lived in his head. England background, Dewey lived in his head. His brothers and cousin formed his social worldHis brothers and cousin formed his social world At the age of fifteen, Dewey, after receiving average At the age of fifteen, Dewey, after receiving average

grades in Vermont public schools, entered the University grades in Vermont public schools, entered the University of Vermontof Vermont

Dewey birthplace in Burlington, Vt

College LifeCollege Life After graduating in 1879, Dewey taught high school in Oil City, After graduating in 1879, Dewey taught high school in Oil City,

Pennsylvania, for two years. Pennsylvania, for two years. Dewey lost his job. He returned to Vermont to become the only Dewey lost his job. He returned to Vermont to become the only

teacher in a private school in Charlotte.teacher in a private school in Charlotte. In 1881, he taught at a small school near Burlington with the goal of In 1881, he taught at a small school near Burlington with the goal of

studying philosophy with Torrey. Dewey published two articles in the studying philosophy with Torrey. Dewey published two articles in the Journal of Speculative PhilosophyJournal of Speculative Philosophy

he set his mind on a PhD at Johns Hopkins University and, he set his mind on a PhD at Johns Hopkins University and, borrowing $500 from an aunt, went to Baltimore in 1882. borrowing $500 from an aunt, went to Baltimore in 1882.

When Dewey graduated from Hopkins in the spring of When Dewey graduated from Hopkins in the spring of 1884, Morris offered him an instructor's post at Michigan 1884, Morris offered him an instructor's post at Michigan

at a $900 salaryat a $900 salary , teaching there from 1884 to 1888 , teaching there from 1884 to 1888 he wrote his first major book, he wrote his first major book, PsychologyPsychology He married one of his students at University of Michigan He married one of his students at University of Michigan

Harriet Alice Chapman, on July 28, 1886Harriet Alice Chapman, on July 28, 1886

Dewey’s WifeDewey’s Wife

In 1885, Alice Chipman's second year at Michigan, the In 1885, Alice Chipman's second year at Michigan, the ArgonautArgonaut

reflected on the 15th anniversary of the admission of women.reflected on the 15th anniversary of the admission of women. Alice had taken courses in philosophy before Dewey came, and Alice had taken courses in philosophy before Dewey came, and

took his courses as well.took his courses as well. The philosophy department was unusually welcoming to women The philosophy department was unusually welcoming to women

students. When Chipman graduated in philosophy in 1886, six of the students. When Chipman graduated in philosophy in 1886, six of the

department's 13 graduates were womendepartment's 13 graduates were women As the end of the 1886 academic year approached, As the end of the 1886 academic year approached,

Chipman was completing her substitute-teaching of Chipman was completing her substitute-teaching of Higher English and German courses at Ann Arbor High Higher English and German courses at Ann Arbor High

SchoolSchool

Samovar ClubSamovar Club

In fall 1885, John Dewey and Alice Chapman became founding In fall 1885, John Dewey and Alice Chapman became founding members of the Samovar Clubmembers of the Samovar Club

Discussing Turgenev and Tolstoy gave John and Alice more Discussing Turgenev and Tolstoy gave John and Alice more chances to be together. They were not the only couple in the chances to be together. They were not the only couple in the Samovar Club to marry. Elsie Jones and Charles Horton Cooley Samovar Club to marry. Elsie Jones and Charles Horton Cooley (standing at left in the back row) also married. Cooley was one of (standing at left in the back row) also married. Cooley was one of the founders of sociology. Alice is second from left, but Dewey is the founders of sociology. Alice is second from left, but Dewey is absent from the year-end photo. absent from the year-end photo.

Religious lifeReligious life

Dewey applied for membership at the Congregational Church, Dewey applied for membership at the Congregational Church,

becoming member #959.becoming member #959. He joined the Student Christian Association (SCA), one of the He joined the Student Christian Association (SCA), one of the

largest campus organizations and was soon conducting a weekly largest campus organizations and was soon conducting a weekly

SCA Bible-study classSCA Bible-study class. .

John Dewey came to Chicago in 1894 with his wife, Alice Dewey, to John Dewey came to Chicago in 1894 with his wife, Alice Dewey, to

start a school in order to test his theories of learningstart a school in order to test his theories of learning He believed that learning was active and that children He believed that learning was active and that children

came to school to do things; that learning arithmetic came to school to do things; that learning arithmetic would come from learning proportions in cooking or would come from learning proportions in cooking or figuring out how long it would take to get from one place figuring out how long it would take to get from one place to another by mule. to another by mule.

History, how people lived, geography, what the climate History, how people lived, geography, what the climate was like, and how plants and animals grew, were was like, and how plants and animals grew, were

important subjectsimportant subjects. .

JOHN DEWEY: HIS LIFE AND WORK JOHN DEWEY: HIS LIFE AND WORK Progressive Education in the 1940Progressive Education in the 1940 John Dewey: Analysis of his readings John Dewey: Analysis of his readings

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