John Dewey and the Lessons of Art [Paperback]

Mr. Philip W. Jackson (Author), Philip W. Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

In this provocative book, Philip W. Jackson examines John Dewey's thinking about the arts and its implications for educational practices. Jackson discusses Dewey's aesthetic theory, considers the transformative power of the experience of art, and shows in specific instances how the application of Dewey's view of the arts would improve learning experiences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Philip Jackson's searching meditations on Dewey and art are of abiding interest for all of us who care about our lives and how we nurture and nourish our children." Howard Gardner, Harvard Graduate School of Education "Jackson presents a useful and...insightful review of John Dewey's systematic consideration of the arts...Jackson examines Dewey's theories on how the arts might help people live their lives differently. He also asks teachers of all kinds to consider how they might use the 'lessons' of art in their role as educators...This book makes a sound addition to commentary on the writings of John Dewey and to the fields of curriculum studies, educational philosophy, and arts education." Choice

About the Author

Philip W. Jackson is the David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Education and Psychology at the University of Chicago. The immediate past president of the John Dewey Society, he is the winner of the American Educational Studies Association 1998 Critics' Choice Award for outstanding contributions to an area related to educational studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300082894
• ISBN-13: 978-0300082890
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars make and do, June 17, 2003

By 

W. Jamison "William S. Jamison" (Eagle River, Ak United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Dewey and the Lessons of Art (Paperback)

John Dewey and the Lessons of Art by Philip W. Jackson:
Jackson argues that Dewey may never really have enjoyed art for arts sake but dealt with art as something to explore how his philosophical principles should be applied to it. Among the interesting themes in this book concern the laboratory school's growth out of Dewey's goal to increase the attraction of education to more students. Most young people wanted to get to making and doing and work and did not have the interest in more abstract learning. The laboratory school was an attempt to get students to "make and do" but focus on abstract learning doing it. Jackson examines the dilemma this causes in that teachers tend to do less abstract learning and overall learning declines as a result, and that Dewey tried to work with this dilemma but didn't quite get the message out. It sounds a lot like the issues educators face today. If you keep the students interested will they be learning what they need to? Art is one way to make and do in the class room but does it achieve what classical education about art does?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and thought-provoking, July 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: John Dewey and the Lessons of Art (Paperback)

This book has had a huge influence on my thinking. In clear prose Jackson lays out the phenomelogical approach of Dewey to art. It took me awhile to grasp where this was going, but when I did, it was trememdously rewarding. Highly recommended.