It is believed that education is a spontaneous and natural growth process of human innate instinct, which, like plant growth, does not grow for a certain purpose.
Oppose parents and schools to determine the educational purpose for their children, and think that the purpose imposed on the activity process is fixed and inflexible, which can not stimulate wisdom in specific situations; It is divorced from the reality of life, out of reach, and has nothing to do with the means to achieve the goal. It is believed that education should not only enable individuals to make a living, but also serve the society as much as possible and train children to become qualified citizens of American society.
The essence of education is comprehensively explained. "Education is growth, life and continuous transformation of experience"; The educational principles of "child-centrism", "school is society" and "learning by doing" are put forward.
The modern educational theory model of "activity center, experience center and student center" is constructed. His theory of "education without purpose" holds that there is no purpose outside the educational process, and the educational purpose only exists in the educational process. His above viewpoints opened a brand-new page in the history of educational theory and had a far-reaching impact on the educational theory and practice in the United States and even the world at that time.