Dewey’s philosophy of mathematics, that of the Pragmatist Movement, is more empiricist, or even fallibilist , than absolutist. However, he never worked out fully the consequences of his views for the philosophy of mathematics. Thus, he had little impact on the absolutist philosophy of mathematics of the progressive tradition, except perhaps to shift it towords progressive absolutism. However his pragmatist view of knowledge was readily assimilated to the epistemology described above, with its focus on the empirical roots of knowledge (empiricism), as well as on the structured unfolding of knowledge in the mind of the individual, in accord with some absolute pattern (rationalism).
Another contributor to the progressive tradition in education in the early years of this century is Maria Montessori. The ‘noble’ savage’ and ‘growing flower’ view of childhood are explicitly contained in her ideas.
Her theories view …the child’s nature as essentially good and
education as a process of unfolding what has been given the child at birth…liberty as an essential ingredient for this unfolding, and [ the need for] …sense experiences in this process of development.
(Lillard,1973,page10