"Education is life", "education is growth" and "education is the transformation of experience" constitute the main theme of Dewey's whole educational thought.

(A) education and life experience are closely combined.

1. "Education is a process of life, not a preparation for future life." This is a "new life" of "turning over a new leaf". "Education is life" has two opposite meanings: one is to combine school with society, and the other is to combine school with children's lives. ?

2. "School is society"

This proposition does not confuse school with society. The school life required by Dewey is a selected, purified and ideal social life. Make the school have the function of simplifying, purifying and balancing social life, and let everyone have the opportunity to contact a broader environment without being restricted by social groups. Emphasize that students are learning by doing.

(b) "Education is growth"

Dewey put forward the theory of growth, requiring children to be fully developed, establishing a new relationship between teachers and students, respecting children and requiring teachers to participate in school management. Expressed a new concept of education and development. The purpose of education and growth lies in the process itself. Growth is a continuous process with no ultimate goal, and it is the process and result of the interaction between the body and the environment. The all-round growth of children is not only a means and tool to achieve social goals, but also a requirement of democracy. Growth theory requires respect for children, so that all education and teaching meet the requirements of children's psychological development level.

"Education is the transformation of experience"

Dewey believes that "all real education comes from experience", but this does not mean that all experiences really have or play the same educational role. Experience plays an important role in emphasizing people's initiative in the process of experience, and requires that children's physical and mental development conditions and levels should be respected in the process of education, so as to improve children's initiative in participating in the education process.

Democracy and education

Education is for democracy, and education should also be democratic. Democracy not only provides a goal for education, but also puts forward democratic requirements for education. Dewey believes that democracy itself is an educational principle, an educational principle and policy. Dewey believes that teachers should be enlighteners and inducers of children's life growth and experience. Teachers play a very important role in students' learning process. They are guides and guides for students, and also explorers and creators of knowledge. Not the oppressor of students.