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Why did John Dewey favor a student-centered curriculum?

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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 advocated for a student-centered approach because he viewed education as the essential foundation for a functioning democracy. He believed that to sustain a democratic society, schools must cultivate "critical and inquisitive habits of mind" in students from a young age, enabling them to become informed, engaged citizens capable of solving common problems through rational inquiry and cooperation.1

Dewey’s progressive education philosophy was deeply informed by his study of child psychology and his belief that traditional, rigid methods were insufficient for a changing society. By focusing on the student’s experience and development, he sought to create an environment that fostered the freedom necessary for individual growth and the ability to pursue a meaningful life. Ultimately, he saw the school as the "church of democracy," where students learn the social skills and public-spiritedness required to contribute to the common good.21