After his acquiring BA degree with excellence, Nouri Jaffar went to Cairo to study at the High Education Institute in the mid-forties of the previous century. Afterwards, he was able to obtain a scholarship to the United States of America in 1945 to attain the MA and Ph.D degrees in five years. His studies concentrated on education and psychology.

Nouri Jaffar recounting the memories of his relationship with the American philosopher John Dewey, the pragmatic theorist, during this period, thus:

“I had the honour of meeting John Dewey in person during my graduate studies in Education and Psychology in the United States between 1945 and 1949.

I visited him twice—once at his residence in New York City and again at his summer retreat in a rural Pennsylvania village, where I resided with him for nearly a month. During this period, I engaged in critical discussions with him regarding the foundations of his philosophical framework, including several points of contention where I offered substantive critiques. My academic tenure in the United States further afforded me the opportunity to comprehensively study nearly all of his published works, most of which I acquired and later transported back to Iraq for scholarly reference. I actively participated in the numerous commemorative events organized by American universities in 1949 to celebrate his ninetieth birthday. Following my return to Iraq later that same year, I maintained a close intellectual correspondence with him until his passing approximately two years ago. I currently possess an extensive collection of his handwritten letters, as well as several photographs taken together during my stay at his summer residence in a rural Pennsylvania village.

It is noteworthy in this context that the John Dewey Society, established fourteen years ago and comprising a select group of Dewey’s students and colleagues, publishes an annual yearbook. This volume critically examines contemporary educational challenges in American society through the lens of John Dewey’s philosophical framework.

Although John Dewey did not formally supervise my thesis—having already retired by the time we became acquainted—I developed a direct intellectual relationship with him. This included extended stays at his residence, during which I engaged in substantive knowledge exchange and constructive dialogue, receiving his consistent encouragement. My study of his works reached such depth that I memorized his texts verbatim, to the point where his ideas became indistinguishable from my own intellectual formulations.

 I was one of the eminent students at the time, for I received an appreciation letter every three months from Iraqi Embassy when they received our grades. That appreciation carried the signature of the Iraqi Ambassador at the time, Ali Jawdat Al-Ayoubi”.