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Our History

In January, 1896, a new elementary school opened its doors in a small house on the South Side of Chicago and embarked on one of the most important educational experiments of the new century to come.

In three rooms with a large backyard, 16 students gathered under the guidance of John Dewey, a professor of philosophy, psychology, and pedagogy at the University of Chicago.

 

Historical Gardening Movement at Lab

The school gardening movement of the late 1800s–early 1900s was a regular part of the curriculum at the Laboratory Schools.

Students typesetting the school newspaper in the early 1900s

From the days each letter of type needed to be set, student publications have always been led by the children themselves.

Student Exploration of Cultures

Exploration of cultures has always been a part of a Lab education whether it's 1924 or 2024. 

Dewey’s intention was to challenge conventional attitudes about childhood education and to discover “how a school could become a cooperative community.” In such a community, each member had roles, performed tasks, and learned what it meant to be productive citizens. Learning, in other words, was not too different from life. 

Founder, Professor John Dewey

Our Founder

When founder John Dewey created a new kind of school in 1896, he embarked on one of the most important educational experiments of the new century to come.  

As a philosopher, he believed that learning was an intensely social process. The most effective schools, in his thinking, were those that constituted small communities. Students learned best while engaged in activities that involved creative problem-solving and responsibilities to fellow students. In such a community, each member had roles, performed tasks, and learned what it meant to be a productive citizen. In his writings, Dewey explained that education by memorization and drill, in contrast, left children seriously underdeveloped. With the founding of Lab, Dewey revolutionized the educational system and cemented his legacy (and our school) as pioneers in the progressive education movement in the United States. 

Explore Lab's Timeline

The Lab Experience for Researchers and Visiting Educators

As the nation’s first laboratory school, Lab is delighted to share our history, approach, and evolving pedagogy to our colleagues. To meet the needs of this demand, we invite you to attend one of our regularly scheduled tours for partners, peers, and educators.