In the process of expressing that the best way for students to learn is through social interaction, John Dewey has confused me a little bit.
Article IV-The Nature of Method (p.247), ends with Dewey's opinions about dealing with student emotions in the classroom. He said, "If we can only secure right habits of action and thought, with reference to the good, the true, and the beautiful, the emotions will for the most part take care of themselves...our education is threatened with no greater evil than sentimentalism."

Is he saying that we should avoid emotions in the classroom? If so, is that possible? I do not think it is. I think that students have to be able to express their emotions, especially in a social environment where they can feel supported.

Let me know what you think because I am a little bit confused.

I'm not sure about what Dewey is saying, but on the topic of emotion in the classroom, it must be incorperated into how we teach. Of course, this is my opinion as a future art teacher.Ssay I taught in a cole mining town where tragedy has happened you can not go into your classroom and ignore the issue and paint rainbows and butterflies these things are critical to how students cope with emotions. The way we deal with the students in a gragile state can have a much greater affect than we might think.
Teresa Holden

Hi:

Dewey is definitely not against emotion in the classroom, in fact he (like you) thinks it is important and positive!