Cultural Pluralism and the Search for Educational Equality

Is Dewey's Educational Vision Still Viable?

“…This view is shared in some measure by Sarlos, who rejects Dewey's "narrow and dogmatic insistence on scientific method as sole arbiter of social change" (Sarlos, 1983, p. 161; see also Itzkoff, 1969). She suggests that there are "existential and intuitive avenues toward attaining and retaining values" that can also serve as means to the development and maintenance of culturally diverse values (p. 161).…”

Chapter 8: Is Dewey’s Educational Vision Still Viable?

“…He identifies pragmatic themes of pluralist meliorism and tolerance with American Protestantism and concludes that "the gift of pragmatism to non-Protestant nations, then, becomes an invitation to conversion, or disintegration" (Pruitt, 1984, p. 677; see also Ichimura, 1984). This view is shared in some measure by Sarlos, who rejects Dewey's "narrow and dogmatic insistence on scientific method as sole arbiter of social change" (Sarlos, 1983, p. 161; see also Itzkoff, 1969). She suggests that there are "existential and intuitive avenues toward attaining and re-taining values" that can also serve as means to the development and maintenance of culturally diverse values (p. 161).…”