The school and society

by John Dewey

"The School and Society" by John Dewey is an educational work published in 1899. Based on three influential lectures, it establishes a foundational framework for progressive education that responds to the Industrial Revolution's transformation of childhood learning. Dewey argues that modern schools must replace the practical, hands-on education children once received working alongside parents. He proposes making collaborative experimentation central to schoolwork, designing student-centered classrooms around children's natural interests rather than passive listening, and integrating manual training with academic subjects to reconnect theory with meaningful practice.