Dewey's Laboratory School

by Laurel N. Tanner

Book Overview

Laurel Tanner examines closely the practices and policies of Dewey's Laboratory School from its inception to the current day. There are extensive excerpts from the school's teachers' reports and other original records, and the volume provides a wealth of practical guidance on how schools today can introduce Deweyan reforms the way they were originally - and successfully - practised.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080773618X
• ISBN13: 9780807736180
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

It Was A Pleasure Meeting You, Mr. Dewey! April 9, 2002

Dewey's Laboratory School, Lessons for Today, by Laurel N. Tanner, really did capture my attention. I've been teaching for twenty-three years and it was amazing to read about Dewey's Laboratory School that was opened from 1896-1904. Tanner amazingly took an in depth look at how some of Dewey's practices were similar and different from the ways that we teach in some of our classrooms today. This is the first account that I've read about Dewey's school. Who would have ever thought that and educational experiment that began so long ago, is being implemented in many educational institutions today? After reading this book, I've taken a closer look into my teaching practices and find that I'm putting several of Dewey's theories into practice in my classroom. In Dewey's school, "the practical problem was to develop instructional approaches and materials to further child growth, both intellectually and socially." (p. 19) He did this by tapping in on the student's interest and providing many hands on experiences. Tanner did an excellent job taking us back into the Laboratory School. I could visualize his school in my head as I read the book. I could also think of many questions that I would like to ask Dewey if he were alive today. A couple of questions that came to mind were: How were the children chosen for your program? How did you chart the progress of each student? There are many points in the book that aroused my curiosity. In the final chapter of the book, I found it very interesting that Tanner provided us with a list of things to look for in an ideal school. Are you ready to make your list? I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about an authentic approach to teaching and learning.

A Must Read for any educator

Would you like to improve your school and teaching career? IF so this is a must read book. This book is full of "new" ideas and practices that have been in place for almost 100 years.Here a famous educator Dewey provides us with a wealth of knowledge from his discovery and leadership from his development of a Laboratory School. Here are just a few ways to rate your school as a Dewey school. * Children are engaged in the learning process.* Teachers are seen as specialist in their field.* There is a close relationship with a university.* Teachers work together in planning.If this describes your school then read the book for more...If you like history in schools this is for you. This book gives lessons from the early 1900's that are helpful in current practices of today. This book is a must read for every educator everywhere.

Dewey's Laboratory School

The book Dewey's Laboratory School, Lessons for Today by Laurel N. Tanner is an excellent and interesting account of John Dewey's research at the University of Chicago into best teaching practices and how children learn. She explains in detail Dewey's commitment to social learning, experiential learning, developmentally appropriate learning, interest as a learning motivator, and with curriculum including two dimensions: the teacher side and student side. These are just a few of the creative ideas and techniques that Dewey and his research team reported being invaluable to student learning and engagement. So often we feel that we have come so far in education and that we are much more knowledgeable than those who came before us. Tanner (1997) reveals to us that many of the ideas and practices that we are trying to implement today, Dewey and his teachers were putting into practice back in the late 1800s and early 1900s: "relating curriculum to children's life and experience, integrating the curriculum, teaching critical thinking and problem solving, stimulating creative thinking, supporting collaborative decision making by the school staff" (page xii). Many in education have known of Dewey for a long time. Some private schools seem to practice Dewey's techniques of teaching. Laurel N. Tanner is helping those of us who were not familiar with Dewey's work to discover some refreshing old ideas and reflect on our current techniques of teaching.

History Worth Repeating

Politicians and the general public spend endless hours debating educational policies and instructional practices. While many of these discussions focus on the future and how our educational system will or will not adequately prepare students, it may be worthwhile for the debators to pause, read Tanner's "Dewey's Laboratory Schol: Lessons for Today," and discover many answers to today's questions. Tanner reveals that many of today's "buzz-words" for educational reform were not "buzz-words" in Dewey's school, instead they were ideas put into practice. Tanner's book is not a simple recount of a school's operations in the early twentieth century. She compares and contrasts present day instructional practices with Dewey's Laboratory School's practices. Tanner's in-depth research of the school's records and teachers' notes provides a comprehensive report of the inner-workings of this experimental school. Tanner does not merely summarize the underlying beliefs and practices of Dewey and his teachers, she also provides direct quotations from Dewey's writing and his teachers' reports. These accounts allow the reader to not only step inside Dewey's school, but also inside the minds of the teachers as they reflect on their instruction and learning.The most poignant section of Tanner's book is the final chapter: "Lessons Learned." In this chapter Tanner reviews and highlights what educators and policy makers can learn from Dewey's school. I recommend that the contents of the final page in Tanner's book ("Some things to look for in a school") be read and reread by all educators and policy makers. Tanner's list of 25 lessons learned would be an excellent detailed mission statement for a school, school system, and the entire nation.Don't worry! You will not walk away from this book feeling like we are miles away from meeting the "Lessons Learned" from Dewey's school. What you will find is motivation to work towards fulfilling more of the "Lessons Learned" in our schools.