Question

In the context of progressive education, which of the following statements is true according to John Dewey?
1. There should not be a place for democracy in a classroom
2. Students should be able to solve social problems themselves
3. Curiosity does not belong to the inherent nature of students rather it is to be cultivated
4. Students should be observed and not heard in the classroom

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Students should be able to solve social problems themselves

The meaning of "progressive education" depends on the meaning assigned to the word 'progress'. Progress implies movement and movement involves changes in some direction. 

'progressive education', is that body of educational thought that nourished in the fertile mind of John Dewey. 

According to John Dewey, “Education is reconstruction or reorganisation of experience which adds to the meaning of experience and which increases the ability to direct the course of subsequent experiences.” This view implies that-

• the child already has acquired some experiences from his/her interaction with the environment
• education plays a role in reconstructing these experiences in the required direction in order to add meaning to those experiences
• ‘reconstruction of experience’ by themselves that results in knowledge which further helps in understanding subsequent knowledge through subsequent experiences. 
• The values, ideals, goals, mores, traditions and culture of a society are inculcated in a child through education in order to make him/her an effective member of the society.

Thus from above-mentioned points, it is clear that in the progressive education students should be able to solve social problems themselves.