Lessons from The Progressive Educator Newspaper (1893–1899)

From 1893 to 1899, The Progressive Educator was published and distributed to every teacher in the Republic of Hawai‘i. This article explores what the newspaper can teach us about Hawai‘i’s unique and ongoing contributions to the American progressive education movement. The author focuses on an article from the newspaper originally printed in 1895 titled, “Nature Study in Hawaiian Schools.” She wonders: Were progressive educators in the Kingdom and Republic eras of Hawai‘i already thinking about, writing about, and putting into practice what modern-day progressive educators might consider defining features of a twenty-first-century progressive education philosophy and pedagogy? Connections between constructivist scholarship and research, interdisciplinary studies, culturally responsive and sustaining teaching, and place-based learning support this inquiry. The article concludes by reflecting on how increased understanding of Hawaiian epistemology, especially ʻāina-based teaching and learning, can support all contemporary progressive educators as we make our way into the future.