Dewey, Democracy in Education, and the Spatial Nature of Educative Practice

• In Event: Dewey, Democracy, and School Reform

Abstract

John Dewey, in his Democracy and Education, explained democracy as an associated way of living, as a social space defined by the practices conducted within and through the conjoined activities of the people. Relatedly, in this paper the author examines the nature of democratic schools as social space; a practiced place wherein students and adults define the place of school through spatial practices. Importantly, the author examines the role of educative practice (versus mis-educative practice) as democratic spatial practice using Dewey’s ideas of democracy as the philosophical positioning of school as democratically practiced place.

Author

• Patrick M. Jenlink, Stephen F. Austin State University