Progressivism Theory http://people.morehead-st.edu/fs/w.willis/fourtheories.html
Progressivism is an educational theory based on child-centered teachings, with less focus on the roles of learning top-down rather than more wholesomely. It is given that only democracy permits true learning, and that cooperation and collaboration of ideas will truly grow the mind. This theory can provide great benefits in looking at the community for input as much as inputting personally. By focusing on advising the community rather than leading outright, better cooperation will be enacted, yielding better results. This theory can be applied to politics in the sense of putting the voice into the voters and constituents. It is here where collaboration and the connections of ideas can flourish, in a true democracy. As learning should be directly related to the interests of the learner, so can the policies and laws be directly related to interests of the populous.
The idea that reason and evidence is the foundation for futher or differing actions is the basis of the Progressivism Theory. The ultimate goal in this is to provide justice for all. Progress is considered to be made when equality for the people is fought for/achieved.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.progressiveliving.org/politics/definition_of_progressivism.htm
An application of the Progressivism Theory can be seen where a community organizer (social worker) is at work in a community needing advocacy on an issue such as voting,(as Tom mentioned earlier) or making sure the people's voice is being heard on an issue that they can not fight for on their own yet.
It is important for the social worker to keep the ideal of the community in mind so as to effectively advocate for the people and not push his/her own agenda. That is progress.