Child education evolved through the years. Through decades of studies, it has morphed into different strategies and philosophies. However, one educational paradigm has become widely used in today’s school – progressive education. Although progressive education has become part of the parlance in the academe and among parents, many still hold misconceptions about this educational philosophy. Here are some misconceptions about progressive education.Progressive Education It is just play At the top of the misconceptions about progressive education is the notion that it is just making the kids play at school. Although play is utilized by a progressive school in creating meaningful experiences, it is by no means the entirety of the educational system. Progressive education focuses on creating experiences so that the child can create and strengthen their knowledge and skills. It so happens that play is a way for children to explore the world around them. Also, by nature, children love to play. And a progressive school will utilize whatever the child’s interest in order to build skills, knowledge and character. In fact, for higher levels, play may not be the best backdrop for the student’s learning. As such, a progressive school will adjust to what the student responds to in order to learn. There is more to the progressive educational approach than mere play. The teachers need to incorporate Anyone Can Do This Many abuse and misuse the progressive approach in order to get more attention. Unfortunately, not all are trained properly nor have the background and expertise to implement a progressive educational system. If untrained people try to implement a progressive education system; students fail to maximize their learning and end up “just playing” without meaningful progress.Of course, progressive education is encouraged. However, teachers and administrators must have ample training. So as a reminder for parents seeking a progressive school, make sure you scrutinize the credentials of the teacher before you sign up for their services. It is only for children with special needs Another common misconception about progressive education is that it is only for children with special needs. Because of this mentality, many parents avoid schools using a progressive approach. However, this notion is erroneous.The progressive system of education is designed with the student at the heart. Whether they have special needs or not, this approached can be used. Likewise, many if not all progressive schools are turning to an inclusive set up. This is where children with special needs are mixed with other students. The inclusion program in a global thrust encouraging schools to adapt an education for all mindset. However, like mentioned above, this requires special training and additional support from other professionals like occupational therapist.Having a better understanding of the progressive approach will give parents the ability to make an informed decision about their child’s education. Dispelling the common misconceptions about progressive education allows a better appreciation of this child-centered educational paradigm.