John Dewey

Information cropped from Wikipedia.
John Dewey (October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational reformer. The overriding theme of Dewey's works was his profound belief in democracy, be it in politics, education or communication and journalism.

Dewey continually argued that education and learning are social and interactive processes, and thus the school itself is a social institution through which social reform can and should take place. According to Dewey, the teacher should not be one to stand at the front of the room doling out bits of information to be absorbed by passive students. Instead, the teacher’s role should be that of facilitator and guide.

He was one of the original 34 signees of the first Humanist Manifesto (1933).
Kinda cool in my book. :)

I'm inspired by some of his educational ideas in my own studies to be a teacher and hope that some of his quotes might inspire you too.


"Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination."

"We only think when we are confronted with problems."

"Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes."

"Skepticism: the mark and even the pose of the educated mind."

"The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action."

"Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself."

"The teacher is not in the school to impose certain ideas or to form certain habits in the child, but is there as a member of the community to select the influences which shall affect the child and to assist him in properly responding to these influences."