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Living Pragmatism: Alice Dewey’s Open-Minded Approach to Experiential Education and Cross-Cultural Immersion

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Abstract

While John Dewey has long held a position of prominence in pragmatic philosophy, little attention has been attributed to the contributions of Alice Chipman Dewey, his wife, intellectual partner, and perpetual confidant. In recognition of Alice’s pivotal role in advancing pragmatism, this chapter explores her efforts as an administrator and educator at the University of Chicago Laboratory School as well as her experiences with John as a feminist in Asia. Alice’s work exemplifies pragmatism as it was meant to be: a practical, active philosophy that is shaped by experience and responsive to change. In this spirit, Alice Dewey deserves to be recognized for her key role in enriching John Dewey’s pragmatic beliefs, and for grounding his ideas about education and openness in experience and action.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    John Dewey to Alice Dewey , April 1, 1886 (00038) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  2. 2.

    John Dewey to Alice Dewey , November 1, 1895 (00218) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  3. 3.

    Article in the 1900 Elementary School record, a nine-part monograph that explained the theory and practice of the Laboratory School , Box 12 Folder 2, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  4. 4.

    Correspondence from Mrs. C.M. Burns to Katherine Camp Mayhew and Anna Edwards describing her son’s life following The Laboratory School , Box 17 Folder 7, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  5. 5.

    Footnote in draft for Chapter 9 of The Dewey School, Box 17 Folder 3, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  6. 6.

    Article by Brent Dow Allinson, former student of The Laboratory School , Box 17 Folder 7, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  7. 7.

    Correspondence from Helen Greeley Russell to Katherine Camp Mayhew and Anna Edwards, Box 18 Folder 3, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  8. 8.

    Letter from McClintock’s parents, Box 18 Folder 3, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  9. 9.

    Footnote in draft of Chapter 19 “Parents and Children” in The Dewey School, Box 17 Folder 11, Katherine Camp Mayhew Papers (6561), Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

  10. 10.

    Wilbur Jackman to John Dewey , June 10, 1902 (01503) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  11. 11.

    John Dewey to Alonzo K. Parker, July 25, 1902 (00765) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  12. 12.

    Anita McCormick Blaine to Whom it May Concern, Report of conversation between Miss Rice, Miss Baber, and Mrs. Blaine, teachers at the Parker School, April 17, 1903 (08087) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  13. 13.

    Alice Dewey to President Harper, resignation letter, April 5, 1904 (00931) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  14. 14.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 27, 1919 (03893) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  15. 15.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, March 14, 1919 (10743) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  16. 16.

    John Dewey to Dewey children, April 12, 1919 (10749) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  17. 17.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 19, 1919 (10752) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  18. 18.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, May 3, 4, 1919 (03899) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  19. 19.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, June 7, 1919 (10762) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  20. 20.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, June 25, 1919 (10766) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  21. 21.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 15, 1919 (10751) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  22. 22.

    Alice Dewey to Evelyn Dewey, May 26, 1919 (03906) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  23. 23.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, June 1, 5, 1919 (03907) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  24. 24.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, February 10, 1919 (10735) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  25. 25.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, March 4, 1919 (10740) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  26. 26.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, February 10, 1919 (10735) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  27. 27.

    John Dewey to the Dewey children, February 22, 1919 (03877) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  28. 28.

    John and Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, May 1, 1919 (03898) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  29. 29.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, April 19, 1919 (10752) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  30. 30.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, April 1, 1919 (10745) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  31. 31.

    John Dewey to the Dewey children, February 22, 1919 (03877) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  32. 32.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, February 28, 1919 (10738) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  33. 33.

    Alice Dewey to the Dewey children, April 1, 1919 (10745) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  34. 34.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 15, 1919 (10751) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  35. 35.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, February 11, 1919 (13873) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  36. 36.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 19, 1919 (10752) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  37. 37.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, April 27, 1919 (03893) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  38. 38.

    Alice Dewey to Dewey children, February 10, 1919 (10735) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

  39. 39.

    Alice Dewey to Albert C. Barnes, August 19, 1920 (04099) The Correspondence of John Dewey (electronic resource) (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1999–2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, USA

    Karen Shea

  2. University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI, USA

    Krysten Manke

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  1. Karen Shea
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  2. Krysten Manke
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Correspondence to Karen Shea .

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  1. Department of Communication Arts, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Robert Danisch

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Shea, K., Manke, K. (2019). Living Pragmatism: Alice Dewey’s Open-Minded Approach to Experiential Education and Cross-Cultural Immersion. In: Danisch, R. (eds) Recovering Overlooked Pragmatists in Communication. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14343-5_6

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