Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction
Despite continuing criticism of public education, experimentally demonstrated and field tested teaching methods have been ignored, rejected, and abandoned. Instead of a stable consensus regarding best teaching practices, there seems only an unending succession of innovations. A longstanding educatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Arizona State University
1996-04-01
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| Series: | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| Online Access: | http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/631 |
| _version_ | 1818758540667387904 |
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| author | J. E. Stone |
| author_facet | J. E. Stone |
| author_sort | J. E. Stone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite continuing criticism of public education, experimentally demonstrated and field tested teaching methods have been ignored, rejected, and abandoned. Instead of a stable consensus regarding best teaching practices, there seems only an unending succession of innovations. A longstanding educational doctrine appears to underlie this anomalous state of affairs. Termed developmentalism, it presumes "natural" ontogenesis to be optimal and it requires experimentally demonstrated teaching practices to overcome a presumption that they interfere with an optimal developmental trajectory. It also discourages teachers and parents from asserting themselves with children. Instead of effective interventions, it seeks the preservation of a postulated natural perfection. Developmentalism's rich history is expressed in a literature extending over 400 years. Its notable exponents include Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget; and its most recent expressions include "developmentally appropriate practice" and "constructivism." In the years during which it gained ascendance, developmentalism served as a basis for rejecting harsh and inhumane teaching methods. Today it impedes efforts to hold schools accountable for student academic achievement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f9af0fde5b942c0917536d157fbf14f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1068-2341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 1996-04-01 |
| publisher | Arizona State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f9af0fde5b942c0917536d157fbf14f2022-12-21T21:17:58ZengArizona State UniversityEducation Policy Analysis Archives1068-23411996-04-0148Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive RestrictionJ. E. StoneDespite continuing criticism of public education, experimentally demonstrated and field tested teaching methods have been ignored, rejected, and abandoned. Instead of a stable consensus regarding best teaching practices, there seems only an unending succession of innovations. A longstanding educational doctrine appears to underlie this anomalous state of affairs. Termed developmentalism, it presumes "natural" ontogenesis to be optimal and it requires experimentally demonstrated teaching practices to overcome a presumption that they interfere with an optimal developmental trajectory. It also discourages teachers and parents from asserting themselves with children. Instead of effective interventions, it seeks the preservation of a postulated natural perfection. Developmentalism's rich history is expressed in a literature extending over 400 years. Its notable exponents include Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget; and its most recent expressions include "developmentally appropriate practice" and "constructivism." In the years during which it gained ascendance, developmentalism served as a basis for rejecting harsh and inhumane teaching methods. Today it impedes efforts to hold schools accountable for student academic achievement.http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/631 |
| spellingShingle | J. E. Stone Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| title | Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction |
| title_full | Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction |
| title_fullStr | Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction |
| title_short | Developmentalism: An Obscure but Pervasive Restriction |
| title_sort | developmentalism an obscure but pervasive restriction |
| url | http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/631 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jestone developmentalismanobscurebutpervasiverestriction |