The Study on Elements of Manufacturing Activities and Technical Education in the Curriculum of "The Dewey Experimental School"

Abstract

John Dewey who knows as a theoretical leader of an American progressive education (John Dewey1859-1952) was invited to University of Chicago as the head professor of the philosophy. He established The Laboratory School of the University of Chicago in 1896. It was called "The Dewey school", "Experimental school" and "The Dewey Experimental School" . He led this pedagogical "experiment" as a director until he resigned from University of Chicago in 1904.

The curriculum of "The Dewey experimental school" was based on home life and social action. Children from 4 years old to 15 years old, could discover a system of technology and engineering by learning activity such as handicrafts, technology, industry, science and manufacturing step by step.

This paper tries to make it clear that theory of Dewey is practiced in Japanese technology and manufacturing education. It focuses on Arts and Crafts of elementary school and considers the relation between the class contents and the theory of John Dewey.