EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 2
Abstract
John Dewey was an early influence of education and curriculum development. He originally
believed in the idea of individualism, and this formed Dewey’s theories. Christian education
became an important founding principle and influence in Dewey’s theories. His views changed
the idea of individualism to form an important concept in teaching that is still followed today.
Liberal education was the movement within philosophy that education did not need a religious
basis. Teaching consisted of curriculum, the scriptures from the bible, and learning how to read
and write would produce better students with better lives from education.
Dewey would bring another influential man into the education fold , Johnathan Edwards. These
school houses would provide more capable education including excellent teachers and provide
the latest curriculum utilizing both theories.
John Dewey stated that the proper curriculum would need external funding. These children in
his schools would learn all of the important educational concepts coming from a faith-based
curriculum including ethics and moral lessons.
Keywords: Individualism, Education, Faith-Based, Curriculum, Christian
EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 3
The Philosophy of Early Foundational Influence in Curriculum
Life experiences were a crucial part of John Dewey's theory. It cannot be applied to
online students, since the individualism component is vastly missing from the online instruction
method. Individualism and democracy-based curriculum should be combined with life
experiences.
“Dewey introduced his new conceptions in The Child and the Curriculum and later and more
fully in Democracy and Education”(Beckett, 2017, p. 380)
Background and Culture Context
John Dewey was an academic philosopher and educator that taught from 1884 to 1930.
He worked tirelessly to fight the difficulty of developing a curriculum that all children could
benefit and learn through. During Dewey’s experiences, he created many theories such as
individualism and democracy in education. Schools should provide equal education to all of
their students. Training should be equal to the courses that teachers are teaching and improves
their instruction. The training for educators should be a program for thinking about how the
teacher provides instruction. “Dewey rejected the notions of individualism and narrow elite
interests and suggester that democracy is not only a type of government but also a way of living
together and concerning oneself with the greater good”(Tienken, 2020, p. 36). Teaching children
should be different, which would overcome “one reason why I see Individualism old and new as
something of a companion piece to Science of Education”(Frank, 2017, p. 4) . During
instruction, children need to be challenged based on their skills and teaching adjusted to match
their learning abilities. Curriculum will be changed based on these observations and the
educators will report these back to administration to make those changes. Learned experiences
EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 4
will provide children the important skills of social, morals, values and even confidence. Social
status would not affect what these children would learn since many of the social influences were
learned through class. Dewey's ideology still currently resides in the education system and has
provided progress and positive changes to many learners over the years.
Philosophy of Education
John Dewey was celebrated in 2016 as his philosophy just passed the hundred-year mark.
His philosophy has proven to improve the lives of students. Dewey shaped, such as humanism,
political beliefs, sense, and views. These guiding foundations were built through the views of
democracy and education through children. Children were the focus of the original thoughts on
the individualism theory as it was making the movement to more progressive education system.
Dewey’s views were that experiences were critical in the factor of how education and how
teachers should educate their students. Socialization would be included in the curriculum to
improve their student’s education.
Community life would be the setting of individual’s educational experience basis and students'
ability to learn from one another. “The need for whole child research considerations and
inclusive learner experience like Dewey’s work many years ago when making an educated
decision and building curriculum that meet the needs of individuals to promote a positive global
change”(Latasha, 2020, p. 142). John Dewey Hypothesized that socialization was an important
part of children’s education. Instruction would provide a better life and improve the financial
standing in the community for these students. Children’s education provides them the skills need
to succeed in society and being socially competent.
EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 5
Theory to Practice
Education issues of this time gave John Dewey a purpose and guided his theories, such
as humanism, political beliefs, sense, and views. These guiding foundations were built
through the views of democracy and education through children. Children were the focus of
the original thoughts on the individualism theory as it was making the movement to more
progressive education system. Dewey’s views were that experiences were critical in the factor
of how education and how teachers should teach their students. Dewey lived through the two
world wars. This inspired him to be involved in making education humane across the globe.
Education should be diverse and molded to fit the individual students and not a “cookie
cutter” once size fit all approach.
“He believed in an interdisciplinary curriculum, or a curriculum that focuses on connecting
multiple subjects, where students are allowed to move in freely and out of the classroom, as
they pursue their interest and construct their own paths fo acquiring and applying
knowledge”(Sikandar, 2016, p. 197) Many of Dewey's experiences provided him a new view
on education and, and guided his influences to promote better logic, and the education we are
familiar with today.Social reform was rooted in the democracy of education. Each of Dewey’s
experiences provided him with a new concept that could be applied in education. This driving
philosophy made great contributions to today’s education.
Perspectives on Diversity
John Dewey's view helped shape the perspective of diversity and how it looks in
today’s education system. Values and consistency are two definitions practiced to assist in
getting all teachers to educate the same instruction to all students. A balanced approach means
that nothing can be a guaranteed given in any aspect of life, including education. The same
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standards have to be set across all education systems in order to achieve diversity for all.
Education is instructed to give all of the same resources to every student in the system.
“Teachers preparation programs could effectively equip all future educators to (a) recognize
characteristics of exceptionalities, (b) differentiate curriculum for diverse learners, and (c)
effectively implement a positive behavior support system, dual-track systems of special
education versus general education could be eliminated” (Stone & Carrero, n.d., p. 5) Life
experience of a balanced approach where the instructors have the ability to have the
understanding of both views. Teachers should be able to understand both and apply them as
needed in each of these situations. Many school districts provide things like supplies to their
students to help ensure all students have the same resources starting off school on equal footing
on the first day.
Special education is viewed as needing a different classroom setting for children in these
classes. Their physical and mental limitations should be individually addressed.
Critical Analysis
John Dewey was a teacher worried for the future as he saw less religious views coming
from his own mother. He excelled in his career before reaching a point where faith had become
more important within himself. If you have faith in God, then God explains to that Christians
not to worry about anything. The book of Matthew 6:25, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life…" (NIV). Dewey continued with promoting faith within his teaching , his Co-worker
and friend William James was concerned about his teachings. Christians do not fear as God is
our protector of everything living. Evaluating yourself is the principle of pragmaticism. Safety is
a learned through students experience and the ability to be provided the secure feeling of safety.
Bible scripture teachers most of these concepts and is found in the curriculum.
EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 7
Dewey and James discussed the how and the why of the foundation of the curriculum.
While at the same time ,focusing on the religious experiences that would be available in the
reading and writing classes. Individualism was similar to what was around in nature and should
be viewed with an open mind. Dewey would later continue his heated debate with James about
religion being the foundation surrounding the curriculum taught. “In this context, reform in
higher education teaching has been focused on shifting teachers; practices away from traditional
lecture-style teaching-historically associated with higher education teaching-toward student-
centered pedagogical approaches, largely because of how the latter facilitate student’s social
learning” (English, 2020, p. 1047). John Dewey would exclaim that God provides all students
free will to have the ability to learn in any way they would like. Students will be provided the
ability to take advantage of all learning styles from anywhere around the world.
Implications and Conclusions
John Dewey was a philosopher and educator ahead of his time. He worked hard to
make education changes to include equality for all students. John Dewey was an early
influence of education and curriculum development. He originally believed in the idea of
individualism, and this formed Dewey’s theories. Christian education became an important
founding principle and influence in Dewey’s theories. His views changed the idea of
individualism to form an important concept in teaching that is still followed today. Creating
curriculum for educators to ensure all educators teach all students to meet their goals in order
to ensure equal outcomes for those students. Teachers must be accustomed to overcoming
these hurdles in education. Learned experiences will provide children the important skills of
social, morals, values and even confidence social status would not affect what these children
would learn since many of the social influences were learned through class. Dewey's ideology
still currently resides in the education system and has provided progress and positive changes
EARLY FOUNDATIONS IN CURRICULUM 9
References
Beckett, K. (2017). John Dewey's: Conception of Education: Finding Common Ground with R.
S. Peters and Paulo Freire. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 50(4), 380–389.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2017.1365705
English, A. R. (2020). John Dewey and the role of the teacher in a Globalized World:
Imagination, Empathy, and Third Voice. In John Dewey’s Democracy and Education in
an Era of Globalization (pp. 70–88). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351112116-
5
Frank, J. (2017). Realizing a democratic community of teachers: John Dewey and the idea of a
science of education. Education Sciences, 7(1), 11.
https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci7010011
Latasha, Holt. “John Dewey: A Look at His Contributions to
Curriculum.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 11.21 (2020): 142-
150
Sikandar, A. (2016). John Dewey and his philosophy of education. Journal of Education and
Educational Development, 2(2), 191. https://doi.org/10.22555/joeed.v2i2.446
Stone, J. P., & Carrero, K. (n.d.). Thoughts on Dewey's Democracy and (Special) Education.
Journal of Thought, 3–63.
Tienken, C. H. (2020). Democratic Education: What Would Dewey say? Kappa Delta Pi Record,
56(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/00228958.2020.1696093
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