学校与社会书评

The book "School and Society" is a work full of reflection and criticism, based on the close relationship between school and society. It reveals that education should start from the instinct and needs of children and emphasizes the importance of activities that are directly connected to the experiences of children, social life, and family life. Firstly, Dewey pointed out that education should focus on students' personality and interests. He believed that the traditional education model at that time focused too much on imparting knowledge, even indoctrination, and neglected the practical needs and development of students. The authority of education institutions and teachers was too strong, and the relationship between teachers and students was too rigid and lacked interaction and freedom, which restricted students' development. He believed that students' personality and interests were important educational resources. Education should focus on cultivating students' interests and potentials, enabling students to actively participate in the educational process and exert their creativity and imagination. Secondly, Dewey argued that education should be the extension of social life. He believed that education was not just about imparting knowledge but also about cultivating students' abilities and qualities to participate in social life. Education should be combined with the actual needs of society, and students should be trained to adapt to the development and changes of society. He believed that school should be a part of social life, and education should focus on closely linking students' learning with practical experiences of life, helping students understand the nature and problems of society, and gradually become responsible citizens with the awareness to participate in society. Finally, Dewey proposed the idea of educational reform. He believed that educational reform was not only about changing the education model and curriculum but also about changing the education system and social structure, so that education and society could be more closely integrated. He put forward several specific educational reform proposals: firstly, education should focus on social practice, enabling students to apply what they have learned in real-life situations; secondly, education should focus on practical skills and creativity, training students' practical abilities and creativity; thirdly, education should focus on students' personality and interests, combining education with students' individual needs, and meeting their practical needs; fourthly, education should focus on students' self-directed learning ability, fostering students' learning interest and methods, so that they can become the main subject of self-directed learning. It can be seen that Dewey's book presents a series of educational concepts and reform proposals that were of significant significance at that time. These ideas have had a great impact on the education system of that period, and they continue to influence the development of education today.