Eleanor Smith’s Influence and Music Contributions at John Dewey’s Laboratory School

• In Event: John Dewey and Issues of Pedagogy

Abstract

This study will discuss Eleanor Smith’s music pedagogy influence, as well as the social reform vision of Chicago’s Hull-House on John Dewey and the Chicago Laboratory School. It is evident from materials published by the school and based on biographical information that Calvin Brainerd Cady and his music students did not have the knowledge or expertise in teaching music education to children. It is posit that much of the pedagogy at the school reflected Smith’s ideas on music education. Smith was a pioneer in teacher training, a prolific composer writing numerous children songs and widely used school books, and was a practitioner of music teaching children at Hull-House, Cook County Normal School, Dewey’s Laboratory School, and the University of Illinois.

Author

• Colleen Pinar, Independent Researcher