Appalachian Principals' Perception of Dewey's My Pedagogic Creed

• In Event: 63.085 - MTCC Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: 63.085-6 - Deweyan Connections

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate how modern-day educational leaders in the Appalachian region of the United States, specifically in West Virginia, view Dewey’s late 19th-century philosophical truisms (Moss & Normore, 2006). Do the theoretical frames that Dewey proposed actually impact contemporary educational administrative thought? Do the perspectives of contemporary educational leaders, particularly Appalachian school principals, align with early century Deweyan ideals? To what extent do school principals in West Virginia use Dewey’s educational values to guide their practice? Do they adhere to Deweyan philosophies when making curricular and pedagogical decisions? This study aims to investigate specifically whether building leaders in the person of the school principal are faithful to the theoretical and practical implications of Dewey’s earliest claims.

Authors

• Charles L. Lowery, Ohio University

• Michael E. Hess, Ohio University

• Chetanath Gautam, Delaware State University