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Dewey's Laboratory School: Lessons for Today

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Dewey's Laboratory School, Lessons for Today, by Laurel N. Tanner, really did capture my attention. I've been teaching for twenty-three years and it was amazing to read about Dewey's Laboratory School that was opened from 1896-1904. Tanner amazingly took an in depth look at how some of Dewey's practices were similar and different from the ways that we teach in some of our classrooms today.

This is the first account that I've read about Dewey's school. Who would have ever thought that and educational experiment that began so long ago, is being implemented in many educational institutions today? After reading this book, I've taken a closer look into my teaching practices and find that I'm putting several of Dewey's theories into practice in my classroom. In Dewey's school, "the practical problem was to develop instructional approaches and materials to further child growth, both intellectually and socially." (p. 19) He did this by tapping in on the student's interest and providing many hands on experiences.

Tanner did an excellent job taking us back into the Laboratory School. I could visualize his school in my head as I read the book. I could also think of many questions that I would like to ask Dewey if he were alive today. A couple of questions that came to mind were: How were the children chosen for your
program? How did you chart the progress of each student? There are many points in the book that aroused my curiosity.

In the final chapter of the book, I found it very interesting that Tanner provided us with a list of things to look for in an ideal school. Are you ready to make your list? I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about an authentic approach to teaching and learning.

"Dewey's Laboratory School Lessons for Today" is the book to read if you have any concerns about education. If there are children in your school falling between the cracks because they don't have the fifteen point discrepancy in their test scores to recieve help, then this is one of the books of hope.

Dewey believed that the teacher should be the facilitator who functions indirectly by structuring and supplementing the educational evirononment and serving as a equal participant with the students in the educational process. He believed that one of the ways thinking and genuine learning took place was through problem solving.

Laurel Tanner did a wonderful job describing Dewey's Laboratory School. Child-Centered classroom activities are a must. A child's interest should be a part of his motivation to learn.

I can see characteristics of Dewey's school in our lab schools in Durham, North Carolina. These schools strive to be rich in applied learning. We use theme-related activities, hands-on experiences and developmental eduacation is emphasized. Since we have stop offering a lot of vocational courses, students are not graduating from school which leads to students dropping out. Dewey's Laboratory School seemed to have a curriculum for all. The role of the teacher, student, administrator, parent and community was spelled out. Tanner reflects on today's educational goals with the goals of John Dewey.

Reading this book enables me to look at education in John Dewey's day and compare it with education today. If we were in a
race for education today, the hare would represent today's education, and the tortoise would represent John Dewey. We know who won the race.

"...it is better for learning to view education as an organic whole than to view it as segregated by level."

Dewey's Laboratory School enveloped this theme. Tanner relates the story of the development of the school and its philosophy. Dewey's creation of a learning environment that honored all individuals (students, teachers, parents, community) and implemented a vertically aligned curriculum can be viewed in contrast to the schools of today.

As a teacher, I appreciated the frankness of Tanner as she described the positive characteristics of the Laboratory School versus our use of these strengths today. I was very envious of the teachers and students as they experienced a "happy" learning atmosphere that recognized them as individuals and supported their growth.

The book challenged this educator to look intently at the issues that guide my teaching day to day in reference to tested educational experiences. As one reads a text related to our profession, should we not analyze how we can use the information to grow ourselves. Dewey would be elated to know that his philosophy of learning has been extended through the writings of Tanner about his school. This book characterizes the professional learning experience we should all continue to foster in our work. Learning continues over time...a vertically aligned curriculum is timeless.

Every educator needs to read this text for inspiration and encouragement.

The book Dewey's Laboratory School, Lessons for Today by Laurel N. Tanner is an excellent and interesting account of John Dewey's research at the University of Chicago into best teaching practices and how children learn. She explains in detail Dewey's commitment to social learning, experiential learning, developmentally appropriate learning, interest as a learning motivator, and with curriculum including two dimensions: the teacher side and student side. These are just a few of the creative ideas and techniques that Dewey and his research team reported being invaluable to student learning and engagement.
So often we feel that we have come so far in education and that we are much more knowledgeable than those who came before us. Tanner (1997) reveals to us that many of the ideas and practices that we are trying to implement today, Dewey and his teachers were putting into practice back in the late 1800s and early 1900s: "relating curriculum to children's life and experience, integrating the curriculum, teaching critical thinking and problem solving, stimulating creative thinking, supporting collaborative decision making by the school staff" (page xii). Many in education have known of Dewey for a long time. Some private schools seem to practice Dewey's techniques of teaching. Laurel N. Tanner is helping those of us who were not familiar with Dewey's work to discover some refreshing old ideas and reflect on our current techniques of teaching.

Politicians and the general public spend endless hours debating educational policies and instructional practices. While many of these discussions focus on the future and how our educational system will or will not adequately prepare students, it may be worthwhile for the debators to pause, read Tanner's "Dewey's Laboratory Schol: Lessons for Today," and discover many answers to today's questions.

Tanner reveals that many of today's "buzz-words" for educational reform were not "buzz-words" in Dewey's school, instead they were ideas put into practice. Tanner's book is not a simple recount of a school's operations in the early twentieth century. She compares and contrasts present day instructional practices with Dewey's Laboratory School's practices.

Tanner's in-depth research of the school's records and teachers' notes provides a comprehensive report of the inner-workings of this experimental school. Tanner does not merely summarize the underlying beliefs and practices of Dewey and his teachers, she also provides direct quotations from Dewey's writing and his teachers' reports. These accounts allow the reader to not only step inside Dewey's school, but also inside the minds of the teachers as they reflect on their instruction and learning.

The most poignant section of Tanner's book is the final chapter: "Lessons Learned." In this chapter Tanner reviews and highlights what educators and policy makers can learn from Dewey's school. I recommend that the contents of the final page in Tanner's book ("Some things to look for in a school") be read and reread by all educators and policy makers. Tanner's list of 25 lessons learned would be an excellent detailed mission statement for a school, school system, and the entire nation.

Don't worry! You will not walk away from this book feeling like we are miles away from meeting the "Lessons Learned" from Dewey's school. What you will find is motivation to work towards fulfilling more of the "Lessons Learned" in our schools.

Tanner allows the reader to experience practices in education from a time period past. Amazingly some of these ideas are in practice today but seen in a different format. Eduactors looking for ways to reinvent the wheel, should perhaps take a look into Dewey's philosophies and practices. His perceptions of educational reform give one pause for thought.

Teachers today would be surprised to find the teachers of yesterday concerned with some of the same issues. Flexibility in philosophy and organization were key factors to the success of the laboratory school. The meshing of administration and curriculum,real-life experiences for children, and integrating the curriculum are among some of the subjects that peak one's interest.

A book to be read by those seeking reform and rejuvination in education. The significance of the children as thinkers while experiencing developmentally appropriate practices is impacting.

Dewey's Laboratory School - Lessons for Today was a very informative resource that provided an in-depth view into John Dewey's University Laboratory School of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Tanner definitely spent some time in collecting her research from the University of Chicago and she able to compile a concise, yet very detailed and informative overview of the school. She also did a wonderful job of making comparisons between Dewey's school and the public schools of today. Tanner forces the reader to really evaluate their educational experience against the experiences of Dewey's students and to question the way in which public schools are educating our children today.
Some of Tanner's writing is dry and she uses many quotes and citations that, at times, seem overwhelming, but overall, this book is a helpful resource for educators to look into when considering school reform, curriculum reconstruction, etc. There are, indeed many lessons to be learned from Dewey's Laboratory School.

Dewey's Laboratory School, Lesson for Today by Laurel N. Tanner is a must read! Tanner provides individual schools, school districts and teacher a road map to success. She gives us insight to Dewey's educational ideas, as well as, discusses how Dewey along with his staff explored and implemented these ideas. They were able to create, with much success, a cooperative learning society for their students, which many schools are trying to recreate today. The style in which Tanner compares the practices and policies of Dewey's Laboratory School with todays schools is excellent. She compares how Dewey used children's curiosities and life activities that were familiar to them as spring boards to construct curriculum that helped children learn important concepts. Tanner takes this example and talks about how schools today, which are searching for models to help improve their schools, are missing the opportunity to take advantage of this vauable research as a way to apply children's curiosities to guide curriculum. This comparison, along with others in this book, forces us to take a closer look and evaluate as administrators and teachers our school's practices and policies and to see if they demonstrate the lessons learned from Dewey's Laboratory School.

Would you like to improve your school and teaching career? IF so this is a must read book. This book is full of "new" ideas and practices that have been in place for almost 100 years.

Here a famous educator Dewey provides us with a wealth of knowledge from his discovery and leadership from his development of a Laboratory School. Here are just a few ways to rate your school as a Dewey school.
* Children are engaged in the learning process.
* Teachers are seen as specialist in their field.
* There is a close relationship with a university.
* Teachers work together in planning.

If this describes your school then read the book for more...
If you like history in schools this is for you. This book gives lessons from the early 1900's that are helpful in current practices of today.

This book is a must read for every educator everywhere.

Would you like to improve your school and teaching career? IF so this is a must read book. This book is full of "new" ideas and practices that have been in place for almost 100 years.

Here a famous educator Dewey provides us with a wealth of knowledge from his discovery and leadership from his development of a Laboratory School. Here are just a few ways to rate your school as a Dewey school.
* Children are engaged in the learning process.
* Teachers are seen as specialist in their field.
* There is a close relationship with a university.
* Teachers work together in planning.

If this describes your school then read the book for more...
If you like history in schools this is for you. This book gives lessons from the early 1900's that are helpful in current practices of today.

This book is a must read for every educator everywhere.