Revisiting John Dewey: Applying What He Said 100 Years Ago to Today’s Need

John Dewey is widely accepted as one of the greatest educational philosophers of all time. Over 100 years ago, he warned that we must reset education. Without change, our society would suffer, and our democracy would wither. Now’s the time to change. This book builds on information Dewey shared regarding the basic educational necessities and compares his findings to what is really happening in today’s schools. Heart-felt experiences are woven into the chapters and make us question the purpose of school, what teachers are facing, and if children really are the center. This book is a glimpse of what Dewey might say to us today, and without change, why the future of our democracy is in trouble. Sharing real-world needs grounded in the basics, every reader will look at education like never before. United, we can finally get education moving in the direction it should have been going 100 years ago.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Chapter One: The Purpose of School Chapter Two: Children at the Center Chapter Three: How We Teach Chapter Four: Curriculum Chapter Five: Future Needs Chapter Six: Preparing Teachers

About the Author :
Latasha Holt PhD, is an assistant professor and assessment coordinator in education. She works with children and families, teachers, preservice teachers, and other members of the educational community to promote education, bridge theory and practice, and support the whole child.

Review :
At its heart, this short book is an ardent critique of contemporary schooling for its inability to squarely address contemporary social problems. Drawing from many years of experience as a classroom teacher, Holt documents the realities of this broken system: the failure of schools to meet basic human needs, the proliferation of school-related gun violence, the marginalization of teachers and the devaluing of their work, and the autocratic nature of school policies, organization, and curricula. Holt’s unique contribution is her examination of these matters through the philosophical lens of John Dewey. She finds that Dewey still has a worthwhile angle on all these matters. Urging the reader to adopt the Deweyan framework, Holt provides a valuable introduction to Dewey’s work and a hopefulness not always found in similar approaches. [This] book will provide a good starting point for the student just beginning such serious study. Recommended for introductory courses in the history and philosophy of education, as well as courses oriented around contemporary educational issues. Recommended. Undergraduates. Latasha Holt offers a wide-ranging and thoroughgoing analysis of contemporary issues in K-12 education and, in applying lessons from of one of America’s most respected educational philosophers, John Dewey, she provides bold, daring, and innovative strategies to address them. This book is essential reading for parents, teachers, academics, politicians, and anyone else interested in understanding how schools can function more effectively. Revisiting John Dewey: Applying What He Said 100 Years Ago to Today’s Need is an insightful exploration of John Dewey’s vision for American education and how it has and has not been implemented over the decades. Latasha D. Holt has provided much-needed revisiting of the purpose of schools and the concepts we must consider moving forward. Dewey’s work on education is interpreted and presented to a new generation of 21st century educators who deal with recent changes and issues in education. Latasha D. Holt offers a snapshot of the postmodern condition moving us to the reality of Dewey today.