Progressivism is a movement that gained attention in the early 1900s for its sharp contrast to prevailing, conservative educational approaches. Progressivism promotes the idea that students should be encouraged as independent thinkers, creative beings, and expressive about their feelings. Progressivism is characterized by the following basic tenets:

• School is a microcosm of society
• Science and experience should be applied to problem-solving
• Education is characterized by real-world curriculum with an emphasis on problem-solving
• Inquisitive active learning style of children must be optimized
• Classrooms are designed for experiential learning (e.g., labs, art rooms, woodshops, kitchens)
• Children learn from each other, so emphasize cooperative group learning experiences
• A child-centered curriculum is preferred

The major proponents of progressivism include William James, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and John Dewey

For more information on the philosophy of progressivism, we recommend the following Web pages.

Additional resources on the philosophy of progressivism may be found at the end of this topic.

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