Which statement best captures Dewey's view of education compared to traditional didactic instruction?

• A. Dewey supports rote memorization and standardized testing.
• B. Dewey advocates learning through inquiry and democratic participation; traditional instruction emphasizes transmission of preselected content via teacher-led lectures.
• C. Dewey favors isolated individual work; traditional instruction emphasizes group discussion.
• D. Dewey rejects experiential learning; traditional instruction uses discovery-based learning.

Answer: (C)

Learning through inquiry and democratic participation is central to Dewey's philosophy. He argued education should be active and connected to real-life contexts, with students tackling authentic problems, working together, and reflecting to build understanding. Traditional didactic instruction, in contrast, centers on transmitting preselected content through teacher-led lectures, often emphasizing memorization and standardized testing. Because Dewey emphasizes student initiative, collaboration, and learning by doing within a democratic classroom, a statement that foregrounds inquiry-based, participatory learning best captures his view. The other descriptions misalign with his approach by focusing on rote, isolated work or denying experiential learning.