Why did John Dewey establish the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in 1896?

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John Dewey, an older man with glasses and a mustache, sits and reads a document, wearing a suit and tie. — John Dewey John Dewey.

John Dewey established the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in 1896 to serve as a research and demonstration center for the University of Chicago’s Department of Pedagogy.1

His primary goal was to create a space to exhibit, test, and conduct research on progressive education methods that centered on the child. By moving away from traditional instruction based on drill and memorization, Dewey sought to implement a curriculum where subjects were correlated to real life and lessons featured collaborative, hands-on activities. This initiative marked a significant shift in teacher preparation and educational research in the United States.1