Democracy and Education · Chapter
Endnotes explained
This chapter provides endnotes and references that elaborate on key concepts from the main text, including discussions on stimulus-response, immaturity and plasticity, Rousseau's educational philosophy, and the distinction between psycholog
What happens
This chapter provides endnotes and references that elaborate on key concepts from the main text, including discussions on stimulus-response, immaturity and plasticity, Rousseau's educational philosophy, and the distinction between psychological and logical methods.
Themes in this chapter
Critique of Traditional Curriculum
The endnotes critique existing educational conditions and reference Rousseau's opposition to the state of affairs that forms neither citizen nor man.
Experience and Learning by Doing
The value of problems arising in work in the garden, shop, and laboratory is highlighted, emphasizing learning through practical activity.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“There is a much neglected strain in Rousseau tending intellectually in this direction. He opposed the existing state of affairs on the ground that it formed neither the citizen nor the man.”
Rousseau criticized contemporary society for failing to develop individuals into either good citizens or complete human beings.
Highlights Rousseau's critique of existing education and society.
“Upon the positive side, the value of problems arising in work in the garden, the shop, etc., may be referred to (see here). The laboratory may be treated as an additional resource to supply conditions and appliances for the better pursuit of these problems.”
Practical activities like gardening and shop work provide valuable problems for learning, with laboratories serving as supplementary resources.
Emphasizes learning through doing and the role of practical environments.