Statement by United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath Upon the Death of John Dewey

STATEMENT * John, Dewey's life and teachings have more widely affected educational thon; tht and practice in this country and throughout the world than has the work of any other man of nis reneration. He roleased education from excessive formalism and rote learning. Instead, under Dewey's influence education becomes life itself, and hence experiences in the school are not to be artificial exercises but real living situations. And these experiences are designed to make better citizens for a modern democratic world. Dewey represents in philosopnic terms the pioneer outlook and way of life--that -- an- individual must depend upon his own initiative and resources and that he has to accept responsibility. for his actions. He also represents the developing social conscience of a democracy, in insisting that each person must make his decisions in the light of the common good. Consequently, John Dewey placed great emphasis both on the development of the child+s own individual capacities and upon the needs of the society in which he lives. - Dewey's death comes at a time when many of his basic educational concepts have been generally accepted even by his stoutest critics. Illustrations of the influence of his "learn by doing" concept can be found in almost every field of learning. For example, odern-methods *By Earl James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, D. C., to the press on June 4, 1952, upon the death of John Dewey.