Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Philosophies of Education
Philosophies of Education
1. Essentialism
a. Why Teach?
This philosophy contends that teachers teach learners to acquire basic
knowledge, skills and values.
To transmit the traditional and moral values and intellectual knowledge
that students need to become model citizens.
b. What to Teach?
Programs are academically rigorous.
The basic skill or the fundamental R’s – Reading, Riting, Rithmetic,
Right Conduct needed ion the preparation for adult life.
Curriculum includes traditional discipline – Math, Science, History,
Foreign Languages and Literature.
c. How to Teach?
Essentialist teacher emphasize mastery of subject matter. They are
expected to be intellectual and moral models of their students.
Teachers fountain of information and paragon of virtue.
Teachers observe “ core requirements, longer school days, and a
longer academic year”
Rely heavily on the use of prescribed textbooks.
Heavily stress on memorization and discipline.
2. Progressivism ( Pragmatism or Experimentalism)
a. Why Teach?
Progressivist teachers teach develop learners into becoming
enlightened and intelligent citizens of a democratic society.
They teach learners so they may live fully NOW not to prepare them
for adult life.
b. What to Teach?
Need-based and relevant curriculum. This is a curriculum that
“responds to students” needs and that relates to students’ personal
lives and experiences.
More concern with teaching the learners the skills to cope change.
Change is the only thing that does not change.
Give emphasis on natural and social sciences. Teachers expose
students to many new scientific technological and social
developments, reflecting the progressivist notion that progress and
change are fundamental.
Give focus to teaching of skills or process in gathering and evaluating
information and in problem solving.
c. How to teach?
Progressivist teachers employ experiential methods. The believe that
one “learns by doing”. ( John Dewey)
Heavily rely on the problem-solving method make use of scientific
method.
Hands-on minds-on teaching methodology ( e.g. field trips during
which students interact with nature or society) ].
Teachers also stimulate students through thought provoking games
and puzzles.
3. Perennialism
a. Why Teach?
To develop the students’ moral and rational powers.
Belief ion the primacy of reason and in the human’s ability to make
rational judgments about the goodness of things. ( Adler and Hutchins)
b. What to Teach?
The perennialist curriculum is a universal one on the view that all
human beings possess the same essential nature.
Heavily rely on the humanities, general education. Less emphasis on
vocational and technical education.
What the perennialist teachers teach are lifted from the Great Books.
c. How to Teach?
The perennialist classrooms are “centered around teachers”. The
teachers do not allow the students’ interest or experiences to
substantially dictate what they teach. They apply whatever creative
techniques and other tried and true methods which are believed to be
most conducive to disciplining the students’ minds.
Students engaged in Socratic dialogues or mutual inquiry sessions to
develop an understanding of history’s most timeless concepts.
4. Existentialist
a. Why Teach?
To help students understand and appreciate themselves as unique
individual who accept complete responsibility for their thoughts,
feelings and actions.
To help students define their own essence by exposing them to various
paths.
Education of the whole person, not just the mind.
b. What to Teach?
Students are given a wide variety of options from which they to
choose.
Tremendous emphasis is given to Humanities to provide students with
vicarious experiences that will help unleash their own creativity and
self- expression.
Vocational education is regarded more to teach students about
themselves and their potentials.
In the arts, students are 1encouraged to practice individual creativity
and imagination.
c. How to Teach?
Focuses on the individual.
Learning is self-paced, self-directed.
Great deal of individual contact with the teacher.
Teachers remain non-judgmental and take care not to impose their
values on the students; since values are personal.
5. Behaviorism
a. Why Teach?
Students’ behavior is a product of his environment.
Modification and shaping of students’ behavior by providing a favorable
environment.
b. What to Teach?
Teach students to respond favorably to various stimuli in the
environment.
Look other people and animal as complex combination of matter that
act only in response to internally or externally physical stimuli.
c. How to Teach?
Arranges environmental conditions so that students can make the
responses to stimuli.
Ought to make the stimuli clear and interesting to capture and hold the
learners’ attention.
Ought to provide appropriate incentives to reinforce positive responses
to awaken or eliminate negative ones.
Pre Activity
1. Why do you consider teaching as a valuable career?
In our society, we come across doctors, engineers, accountant, and many
other professions and these professions may not exist without teaching or
teachers. Nevertheless, teaching I believe is the most important profession in the
world. How else can we continue to develop in such a technical world, or in any
other way for that matter without teacher or teaching? Teachers are nation
builders- the strength of every profession in our country grows out of knowledge
and skills , they have the capacity to shape the minds and futures of many - and
they do so at all kinds of critical life stages. They have the ability to shape
leaders of the future in the best way for society to build positive and inspired
future generations and therefore design society, both on a local and global scale.
In reality, teachers have the most important job in the world. Those who have an
impact on the children of society have the power to change lives. Not just for
those children themselves, but for the lives of all.
On the other hand, education is a fundamental aspect in the development
of a country. If the youth of a society is educated, a future is born. Teachers
provide the education that improves quality of life, therefore bringing so much to
both individuals and society as a whole.
Thus, each career and the future of our country depend importantly on the
work of armies of teachers who ultimately are those in society who with people
teaching and there is nothing more important than that.