Two Teachers Together

     It should come as no surprise that in a conversation pertaining to educational philosophy, conservative fundamental Christians tend to lean toward the traditional. The traditional philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas resonate more with Christian sensibilities. While an individual with a biblical worldview will find more in common with traditional philosophies, he would do well to analyze the more modern philosophies of pragmatism and existentialism through the lens of Scripture, accept those ideas which align, and reject those that do not. John Dewey, pragmatist      Pragmatism holds to the view that flexibility due to an ever-changing society is the key to education. John Dewey’s man-centered humanistic thought serves as the foundation of pragmatism. A pragmatist holds that right and wrong constantly change based on what works to solve a particular problem. In the classroom, this view is evidenced through a very child-centered approach, a lack of a strong au