experimental school

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June 17, 2026

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The term "experimental school" refers to an educational institution that deviates from conventional schooling. These schools might alter their structure, such as implementing open classrooms, or modify their curriculum to include subjects like religious instruction. They may also foster different relationships between students and teachers, or among students of varying ages, often aiming for more informal interactions.1

The underlying philosophy of these schools is to address perceived shortcomings in traditional education, whether it's a lack of moral or ethical grounding, or a failure to recognize individual learning styles and innate creativity in children. This approach aligns with the ideas of educational reformers like John Dewey, who advocated for student-centered learning based on experience and the child's developmental needs, rather than rote memorization.12

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education
Progressive education
…ideas into practice to establish experimental schools during the last decade of the 19th century and in the early 20th century. The principal experimental schools in America until 1914 were the University of Chicago Laboratory School, founded in 1896 and directed by John Dewey; the Francis W. Parker School, founded…
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…ideas into practice to establish experimental schools during the last decade of the 19th century and in the early 20th century. The principal experimental schools in America until 1914 were the University of Chicago Laboratory School, founded in 1896 and directed by John Dewey; the Francis W. Parker School, founded…
Read More