Undoing Dewey One Student at a Time
One way to undo Dewey’s impact is to help parents make an
intentional and informed decision regarding the education
of their children. Too many parents follow the world’s way
without the intentional pursuit of godly wisdom to make
this decision. Parents should use prayer, Bible study, biblical
counsel, and a strong desire to teach children the fear of the
Lord to help them review the educational options available.
The research will not only uncover the option of state educa-
tion that denies God but will also reveal a rich variety of
answers that honor God and restore many of the aspects of
education that were lost in the implementation of Dewey’s
vision. Options include homeschool, Christian school,
university model school, educational co-ops, and more.
Who can you encourage to make a prayerfully informed and
intentional educational decision for their children?
Undoing Dewey Through Christian Education
Ministries
good citizen is a radical activist as contrasted with the old
civics classes that taught the foundations of law, liberty, and
self-government. 6
Dewey’s Impact on American Culture
To say that Dewey has impacted our culture is an under-
statement. We may not agree with his philosophy, but we
must give credit where credit is due: John Dewey’s vision
transformed the American educational landscape. The result
of his vision for our culture and country is overwhelming,
and it begs the question, “How do we undo the damage that
Dewey has wrought?”
How do we get back to:
• a Christ-centered education that provides students with
a biblical worldview?
• giving the responsibility to educate our children back to
the parents?
• teachers that model Christianity and teach a Bible-based
curriculum that holds Christ as the center of all things?
• an education that recognizes the six days of creation
while examining the theory of evolution?
• teaching children to think for themselves?
• an emphasis on literacy and the three Rs during the
early school years?
• striving for excellence and a love of learning versus
citizenship?
16
Another way to undo Dewey is to support and promote
Christian education ministries. Inspire your pastor and
church to embrace their local Christian schools and
homeschools and encourage the families who choose these
forms of K-12 education. Start or assist groups that are
reaching public school students through Christian clubs
and Christian after-school programs. Join the cause of
Renewanation whose vision is “to see culture transformed
by giving millions of children a biblical worldview.” There
are numerous ways to partner with ministries that are on
the front lines in the battle for the hearts and minds of our
children. Discover more at renewanation.org.
Mark Koscak is Director of Development at Providence Acad-
emy in Johnson City, TN. Mark spent 20 years in the business
world in various leadership positions before he was called
full-time to raise funds for Providence Academy. He is also the
creator and director of the Christian Storytelling Festival (chris-
tianstorytellingfestival.com), a scholarship fundraiser that edi-
fies the Christian community through story and song and has
included guest artists The Isaacs, Steven Curtis Chapman, and
more. Mark is married to Beth, and they have two children.
FOOTNOTES
1. Ellis Washington, “John Dewey’s Dunces,” WND.com, last modified January
25, 2013, http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/john-deweys-dunces.
2. David Vaillancourt, “The Dewey Deception,” The Middle Road, last modified
February 18, 2016, https://drvcourt.com/2016/02/18/the-dewey-deception.
3. John Dewey, The Primary Education Fetish (1898), 315-328.
4. John Dewey, The University School (University of Chicago Press, 1896), 128.
5. Emily Ekins, “Poll: Americans Like Free Markets More than Capitalism and
Socialism More Than a Govt Managed Economy,” Reason.com, last modified
February 12, 2015, http://reason.com/poll/2015/02/12/poll-americans-like-
free-markets-more-th.
6. Colleen Flaherty, “Report Warns of ‘New Civics,’ Seeks Requirement,” Inside-
highered.com, last modified January 11, 2017, https://www.insidehighered.
com/quicktakes/2017/01/11/report-warns-new-civics-seeks-requirement.