“Though educators have been challenged in agreeing upon a single definition for progressive education, consensus builds around these defining principles:
Education must prepare students for active participation in a democratic society.
Education must focus on students’ social, emotional, academic, cognitive and physical development.
Education must nurture and support students’ natural curiosity and innate desire to learn. Education must foster internal motivation in students.
Education must be responsive to the developmental needs of students.
Education must foster respectful relationships between teachers and students.
Education must encourage the active participation of students in their learning, which arises from previous experience.
Progressive educators must play an active role in guiding the educational vision of our society.”