John Dewey
An influential educator in the early 20th century, John Dewey laid the foundation for progressive education. Considered a pragmatist, Dewey did not agree with the traditional teaching practices of the time of rote learning and instead preferred taking a child-centered approach engaging in practical application, and working toward content mastery. He believed in democracy, encouraging these aspects within the classroom as not necessarily a simple form of government but also how we should conduct our community life. He was also concerned with increasing diversity in the classroom, believing the cultural changes in America needed to reflect more in the classroom. John Dewey had a tremendous impact on education reform in America with his fundamental principles of progressive education.