Photo of John Dewey,

 1859-1952

Founding Theories

Founded in 1998, the John Dewey Learning Academy has offered an alternative educational experience that leads to a high school diploma.

Although he is no longer widely known, John Dewey was a writer, lecturer and philosopher whose theories had a profound influence on public education in the first half of the 20th century, especially in the United States. During his distinguished academic career, which began in 1884 at the University of Michigan, Dewey was a strong promoter of what was called instrumentalism (related to the pragmatism of Charles Pierce and William James) and the radical reform of the public education system. His view held no room for eternal truth outside human experience, and he advocated an educational system with continued experimentation and vocational training to equip students to solve practical problems. In his career he also worked at the University of Minnesota, the University of Chicago and Columbia University, and lectured all over the world, including in China, Japan and Scotland. His works include Democracy and Education (1916), Art as Experience (1934) and a series of lectures collected as Experience and Nature (1925).

JDLA incorporates the theories and philosophies of John Dewey into a modern day educational setting.  The use of hands on, practical experience helps students to develop their own problem solving skills as well as critical thinking.  John Dewey also emphasized a theory called progressivism.  A significant aspect of progressivism is the individualization of instruction.  At JDLA, students are assessed to determine their skill level then instruction is designed to meet their individual learning needs.  Following the theories of Dewey, instruction at JDLA is not just text book and lecture but instead incorporates project, experiential learning and tangential strands that arise out of student interest.

In addition to the theories of Dewey, JDLA makes use of Environmental Education in almost every subject.  Following the Father of Conservation, Aldo Leopold, JDLA teaches that environmental ethics incorporated into daily living reaches into  a larger understanding of the world.  Students learn empathy for others around the world as well as ecological literacy skills to carry with them into their futures.

John Dewey Learning Academy