We have three approaches at our disposal: the observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. Observation serves to assemble the data, reflection to synthesise them and experimentation to test the results of the synthesis. The observation of nature must be assiduous, just as reflection must be profound, and experimentation accurate. These three approaches are rarely found together, which explains why creative geniuses are so rare.
John DeweyI believe that the only true education comes through the stimulation of the child's powers by the demands of the social situations in which he finds himself.
John Deweymost notable distinction between living and inanimate beings is that the former maintain themselves by renewal.
John DeweyThe real process of education should be the process of learning to think through the application of real problems.
John DeweyThat the great majority of those who leave school should have some idea of the kind of evidence required to substantiate given types of belief does not seem unreasonable. Nor is it absurd to expect that they should go forth with a lively interest in the ways in which knowledge is improved and a marked distaste for all conclusions reached in disharmony with the methods of scientific inquiry.
John Dewey