Navigating the Misinformation Minefield: The Role of Higher Education in the ...
Progressivism Essay
1. Progressivism Essay
Progressivism
The Progressive Movement in the late nineteenth century, early twentieth century presented quite a
situation for historians to conquer. At the turn of the twentieth century political questioning was the
norm. Practically every historian that writes about this time period has a different opinion of what
made up "Progressive Movement," some even going so far to beg the question if it was actually a
movement or if it was more of an "era." The two are interchanged so often that they have in many
ways come to mean the same thing although according to some they are distinctly different.
The four works, Richard Hofstadter's The Age of Reform, Peter Filene's "An Obituary for the
Progressive Movement," Richard McCormick's "The...show more content...
He discusses the agrarian myth in some depth and argues that the agrarian populism eventually
evolves into part of the progressive movement. His book is one of the main sources that Peter Filene
argues against in his article questioning the existence progressivism as a movement.
Peter Filene's article presents the idea that Progressivism was not a movement at all but more of a
jumbled mess of similar ideas that occurred around the same period in history. Filene "seeks to
prove that 'the progressive movement' never existed." (Article 1, p. 20) He believed that there are
too many discrepancies between the ideas of different historians and that if it were an actual
movement that the definitions of the progressive movement/era would be consistent with each other.
The only real agreement that Filene finds between the many differing opinions is the goals of the
time period. He includes as the "standard list of progressive objectives... constraints on monopolies,
trusts and big banking interests; regulation of railroad rates; lower tariffs; the direct primary;
initiative, referendum and recall; direct election of U.S. Senators; women's suffrage; child– and
female– labor laws; pure food and drug laws and conservation." (Article 1, p. 21) Filene explains
the discrepancies between the many historians' views. He then asks the question, with so many
different initiatives and so many different groups working towards similar goals how it can be
considered
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2. John Dewey And Progressivism
Progressivism, by definition, is the advocacy for societal improvement by reform. During the early
twentieth century, education went through John Dewey was an American psychologist, philosopher,
educator, social critic, and political activist who had a profound influence on education. In 1897, he
published a groundbreaking document entitled "My Pedagogic Creed" that shaped progressive
education for the twentieth century. It is broken down into five main articles in which he explains
his philosophies about how students should learn, how teachers should teach, and how schools
should operate. He believed that the educational process has two sides; psychological and
sociological. Furthermore, he believed that the educational process should reflect those two sides
and that each individual is unique. His philosophy emphasizes the active role of the student to build
understanding and process information. He believed that students thrived in an environment in
which they were encouraged to interact with the material and take part in their education. In his
eyes, a school was not only a place to develop knowledge but also to develop life skills. Dewey's
foundational document inspired many progressive–era educational activists and teachers and helped
shape modern education.
Dewey saw education and society as interconnected concepts. He believed that school should be a
social institution because students learn best when school is an extension of a nurtured home life.
This belief of
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3. Reflection On Progressivism
After completing the survey in the Introduction to Teaching textbook, I learned that my philosophy
of education closely correlates with the views of progressivism. My understanding of this
philosophy highlights the child as a whole and the importance of active learning that readies
students for the world ahead of them. Progressivists also believe that experiences are a large part of
a students learning which is why active learning is so common allowing students to learn about
themselves and learn how to problem solve. Rather than believing in strict common core curriculum,
progressivist believe that the interest of students should be the main source of deciding curriculum
and activities. John Dewey 'father of progressive education' was a...show more content...
A student can be involved in their education and the progress they make rather than being a
bystander with a lecture style classroom and are active participants in their learning and evaluations.
Overall, the use of a progressive outlook in the classroom creates a student centered and directed
environment that focuses on the student and their interests promoting growth and knowledge rather
than testing and repetition.
The INTASC that has always stuck out to me and would fit well into a progressive classroom was
standard #2: Learning Differences. Council of Chief State School Officers define this strategy as
"the teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to
ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards" (2011).
With a progressive philosophy of education, the main goals are to give students an education that
is personal and relates to their life. The focus of meaningful life and education can be explored and
expressed in learning differences. To start the year off on a high note, I plan to meet with parents
and students as an introductory meeting. These are sometimes held in group settings, but meeting
face to face and allowing parents to voice their beliefs separate from peering eyes is a more
personal approach. In these initial meetings, I will gather information about diversity
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4. Essay about Progressivism
Progressivism implies a philosophy which welcomes innovations and reforms in the political,
economic, and social order. The Progressive movement, 1901 to 1917, was ultimately the triumph of
conservatism rather than a victory for liberalism. In a general sense, the conservative goals of this
period justified the Liberal reforms enacted by
Progressive leaders. Deviating from the "traditional" definition of conservatism (a resistance to
change and a disposition of hostility to innovations in the political, social, and economic order), the
Conservatist triumph was in the sense that there was an effort to maintain basic social and economic
relations vital to a capitalist society. The
Progressive leaders essentially wanted to perpetuate...show more content...
In 1902, the United Mine Workers were willing to submit to arbitration, but the coal operators
adamantly opposed any recognition of the union. Thus, the union members decided to strike over
wages, safety conditions, and union recognition. The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 ended with the
appointment by Roosevelt of an arbitration commission to rule on the issues. Business men did not
regard politics (government regulation) as a necessary evil, but as an important part of their position
in society. Roosevelt did not see big business as evil, but a permanent development that was
necessary in a modern economy. Roosevelt couldn't rely on the courts to distinguish between "good"
or "bad" trusts. The only solution was for the executive to assume that responsibility.
Roosevelt's ingenious "square dealings" and "gentlemen's agreements" controlled many firms. In
1903, a new cabinet position was created to address the concerns of business and labor (Department
of Commerce and Labor).
Within the department, the Bureau of Corporations was empowered to investigate and report on
illegal activities of corporations. The abuse of economic power by railroads proposed another
problem for Roosevelt. However, in 1903, the Elkins Act empowered the ICC (Interstate Commerce
Commission, first American federal regulatory agency) to act against
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5. Progressivism Reflection
Upon self–evaluation and reflection of the chapter on philosophies of education, I have determined
that I lean mostly towards progressivism and I will explore the role as a teacher, the students'
cognitive development, curriculum development, and the ways people learn best, in the American
history classroom scenario. Progressivism sees learning as student–centered, therefore, the teacher's
role is the facilitator. As a progressive teacher, I believe that students should be problem–solvers in
order to adapt to the ever–changing world. In a progressive classroom, a curriculum is not a
collection of standards and facts, it is, instead, ongoing "hands–on investigations, projects, and
design challenges that inspire greater interest, depth and understanding" ("Progressive Education",
2017, para. 2). Constructivism is the paradigm where students learn through experimenting and
real–world problem solving to construct their own understanding of the world. As a subject,
American history lends itself to becoming a microcosm of the ideals and practices of a democratic
community with simulated, real–world problems in the historical setting.
In my classroom I am the facilitator of my students learning. I began by training them in critical
thinking skills, communication and collaboration, as well as, effectively using, managing, and
evaluating information ("Progressive Education", 2017, para 5). Providing resources and activities
for developing students' problem–solving abilities includes setting up multiple learning spaces with
several resources for exploration that are both print and technology based. Student–centered
classrooms require that the teacher acts as guide in helping children do what they want to do and
learn. In the provided American History Teacher scenario, the teacher needs to scaffold the children
from the traditional classroom expectations and habits to more independent, critical thinking skills.
This will eliminate students' responses such as, "I didn't have my hand up" or "I don't know."
C'mon, just tell us what you want us to know, "Why do we have to learn this stuff?" (Philosophy
Essay, n.d., para. 2).
The aim of progressive education is to nurture the student's curiosity about their world and
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6. The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era was a period of economic and social struggle which cause rapid
industrialization in America. A Widespread of social activism and political reform across the United
States.
The Progressive Era was addressing the problems of economic and social problems. The
progressivism started as a social movement and later grew into a political movement. The reformers
of the Progressive Era were young, college educated, and in the middle–class.
Although many laws were passed to regulate better working conditions, not many were by it, many
companies still made their workers, work long hours. Not many had better working conditions as
still many died from lack of better safety regulations.
The Progressive Era did help the United States to improve many things, and if these things didn't
occur many things such as working conditions would still be the biggest problem.
There were laws passed to improve working conditions but didn't really do anything Working
conditions: The laws that were passed were to include efforts to outlaw the sale of alcohol; regulate
child labor.
How was working conditions in the Progressive Era? Many companies in the Progressive Era
didn't have better working conditions other places had little to no safety in the building of their
workplace an example That didn't a good working place with safety is The Triangle Fire. The
triangle fire occurred in March 25 in 1911, most of the victims died as a result of neglected safety
features and locked doors within the factory building. There were no sprinklers that could've put out
the fire in time, the doors were locked that not many were able to get out on time, many jumped to
their deaths. There were teenage girls that didn't speak English, they worked everyday for 12 hours.
Forty–nine workers had burned to death or being suffocated by smoke, 36 were dead in the
elevator shaft and 58 died from jumping to the sidewalks. With two more dying later from their
injuries, a total of 145 people were killed by the fire. What were the laws that were passed to
improve situations in the Progressive Era.
The Progressives wanted to take part of the government in passing laws, political reformers were
protecting workers and also regulating big business.
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