APPLICATION OF JOHN DEWEY’S EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION: THEORETICAL-CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND GLOBAL PRACTICE
Abstract. The article analyzes the main principles of John Dewey’s educational philosophy — experiential learning, a democratic learning environment, the social activity of the child, and interdisciplinary integration — from a theoretical and analytical perspective. The study examines the compatibility of Dewey’s pedagogical ideas with the goals, content, and methodology of preschool education and evaluates the impact of his humanistic, child-centered approach on modern education systems. The article also critically evaluates the practical difficulties encountered in the application of Dewey’s theoretical model, in particular, the assessment of children’s experience, curriculum flexibility, and teacher training. The level of application of Dewey’s pedagogical concept is comparatively analyzed based on the experiences of the USA, Brazil, Finland, and other countries worldwide. The results of the study show that Dewey’s philosophy remains a significant theoretical foundation for the democratization of modern preschool education, the expansion of child-centered learning, and experiential approaches.
Keywords: John Dewey, philosophy of education, teaching, humanism, child, preschool education, democracy, experience.
