I became familiar with progressive education and the work of John Dewey during my undergraduate degree. However, it was not until I worked at The Nueva School, a progressive early childhood through twelfth-grade school just outside San Francisco that I began to see how truly powerful and relevant this model of education was. Soon after beginning work at Nueva, I was struck by the way the school’s motto of "Learn by doing, learn by caring” infused all aspects of the community and had a profound effect on all the students.
I loved the way Nueva emphasized educating the whole child and developed age-appropriate, project-based curriculum. Working at Nueva inspired me to learn more about the roots of progressive education. I read incredible books by John Dewey and Lawrence Cremin and became convinced that the progressive education approach of preparing students for active participation in a democratic society was more relevant than ever before.
Many of the most effective aspects of progressive education are now common among independent schools who do not label themselves progressive. Due to the fact that progressive approaches can transform the lives of children, school administrators across the country are now weaving some of the key tenets of progressive education into their leadership practice and philosophy. These include methods such as; learning through play, student-centered classrooms, spiraling curriculum, community partnerships, and joyful learning.
My passion for progressive education eventually led me to Tom Little’s book, Loving Learning: How Progressive Education Can Save America's Schools. This beautifully written book is a great place to start for anyone looking to become familiar with or deepen their understanding of progressive education.
