"Philosophies of Education": Five Philosophies of Education

"Philosophies of Education": Five Philosophies of Education: ESSENTIALISM ** Why Teach? This philosophy contends that teachers teach for learners to acquire basic knowledge, skills and value...

PERENNIALISM

*Why teach?

We are all rational animals. Schools should, therefore, develop the students' rational and moral powers. According to Aristotle, if we neglect the students' reasoning skills, we deprive them of the ability to use their higher faculties to control their passions and appetites.

**What to teach? 

The perennialist curriculum is a universal one on the view that all human beings possess the same essential nature. It is heavy on the humanities, on general education. it is not a specialist curriculum but rather a general one. There is less emphasis on vocational and technical education. Philosopher Mortimer Adler claims that the Great Books of ancient and medieval as well as modern times are a repository of knowledge and wisdom, a tradition of culture which must initiate each generation." What the perennialist teachers teach are lifted from the Great Books.

***How to teach?

The perennialist classrooms are "centered around teachers" The teachers do not allow the students' interests 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."

EXISTENTIALISM

*Why teach?

The main concern of the existentialists is "to help students understand and appreciate themselves as unique individuals who accept complete responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions".

Since 'existence precedes essence', the existentialist teacher's role is to help students define their own essence by exposing them to various paths they take in life and by creating an environment in which they freely choose their own preferred way. Since feeling is not divorced from reason in decision making, the existentialist demands the education of the whole person, not just the mind."

**What to teach?

"In an existentialist curriculum, students are given a wide variety of options from which to choose." Students are afforded great latitude in their choice of subject matter. The humanities, however, are given tremendous emphasis to "provide students with vicarious experiences that will help unleash their own creativity and self-expression. For example, rather that emphasizing historical events, existentialists focus upon the actions of historical individuals, each of whom provides possible models for the students' own behavior.

Moreover, vocational education is regarded more as a means of teaching students about themselves and their potential than of earning a livelihood. In teaching art, existentialism encourages individual creativity and imagination more than copying and imitating established models."

***How to teach?

"Existentialist methods focus on the individual. Learning is self-paced, self-directed. It include a great deal of individual contact with the teacher, who relates to each student openly and honestly. To help students know themselves and their place in society, teachers employ values clarification strategy. In the use of such strategy, teachers remain non-judgmental and take care not to impose their values on their students since values are personal."

Philosophy of Education video

Five Philosophies of Education

ESSENTIALISM

 

**Why Teach?

This philosophy contends that teachers teach for learners to acquire basic knowledge, skills and values. Teachers teach "not to radically reshape society "but rather" to "transmit the traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge that students need to become model citizens.

***What to Teach?

Essentialist programs are academically rigorous. The emphasis is on academic content for students to learn the basic skills or the fundamental r's - reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, right conduct - as these are essential to the acquisition of higher or more complex skills needed in preparation for adult life. The essentialist, curriculum includes the "traditional disciplines such as math, natural science, history, foreign language, and literature. Essentialists from upon vocational courses or other courses with 'watered down academic content.' The teachers and administrators decide what is most important for the students to learn and place little emphasis on student interests, particularly when they divert time and attention from the academic curriculum.

****How to teach?

Essentialist teachers emphasize mastery of subject matter. They are expected to be intellectual and moral models of their students. They are seen as "fountain" of information and as "paragon of virtue", if ever there is such a person. To gain mastery of basic skills, teachers have to observe "core requirements, longer school day, a longer academic year..."

With mastery of academic content as primary focus, teachers rely heavily on the use of prescribed textbooks, the drill method and other methods that will enable them to cover as much academic content as possible like the lecture method. There is a heavy stress on memorization and discipline.

• PROGRESSIVISM

**Why Teach?

Progressivist  teachers teach to develop learners into becoming enlightened and intelligent citizens of a democratic society. This group of teachers teach learners so they may live fully NOW not to prepare them for adult life.

***What to Teach?

The progressivists are identified with need-based and relevant curriculum. This is a curriculum that "responds to students' needs and that relates to students' personal lives and experiences."

Progressivists accept the impermanence of life and the inevitability of change. For the progressivists, everything else changes. Change  is the only thing that does not change. Hence, progressivist teachers are more concerned with teaching the learners the skills to cope with change. Instead of occupying themselves with teaching facts or bits of information that are true today but become obsolete tomorrow, they would rather focus their teaching on the teaching of skills or processes in gathering and evaluating information and in problem-solving.

The subjects that are given emphasis in progressivist schools are the "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. In addition, students solve problems in the classroom similar to those they will encounter outside of the schoolhouse."

• How to teach?

Progressivist teachers employ experiential methods. They believe that one learns by doing. For John Dewey, the most popular advocate of progressivism , book learning is no substitute for actual experience. One experiential teaching method that progressivist teachers heavily rely on is the problem-solving method. 

This problem-solving method makes use of the scientific method. Other "hands-on-minds-on" teaching methodology that progressivist teachers use are field trips which students interact with nature or society. Teachers also stimulate students through thought-provoking games, and puzzles.