Philosophical Roots of Education

For many years have been gone and change is the only constant to the world, system of education
undergo to molding and forming to create the best educational philosophies and theories that can would
suits, guide and help the new generation of students.
For many theories and philosophies have been examined and discussed, there is only one aim that
they are conveying to us Schooling should be available to all, education is for all. Many philosophies
have been proposed to us for education and every philosophy say something relevant and important to the
changing world condition. Every philosophy complimented and at the same time contradicted to each
other. More importantly they are aiming for better change of Educational Systems.
Two philosophies of education that somehow complimented to each other are the Idealism and
Realism. These two philosophies emphasize that reality is spiritual, objective, fixed therefore unchanging.
For realism knowing is consist of sensation and abstraction, for idealism, knowing is the rethinking of
latent ideas knowledge is already present but not evident- in the mind. Idealist see education as the
process of bringing ideas to learners consciousness and teachers should be the models worthy of
imitation by students; they should have wide knowledge of cultural heritage and lead an exemplary life.
In idealism, teachers have special role in learners growing mind. Teachers see as the vital agent in helping
students realize their fullest potential. For Idealist, teachers are role model, for realist, the primary
responsibility of teachers is to teach skills that would help the student grow. The relist teacher shouldnt
turn the classroom into therapeutic center for emotional and behavioral adjustment. In realism, they
oppose nonacademic activities to interfere with school purposes.
If we see Idealism and Realism as an authoritarian philosophy, existentialist would be the
contradicting philosophy of the two. For Existentialism, human freedom is total, and ones responsibility
for choice is also total. Because of this believe, the metaphysical, epistemological, axiological and logical
position of Existentialism is difficult to categorize and maybe one reason is that they avoid systemization
in education unlike in Idealism and Realism that are very organized and systemized.
In my point of view, to balance these three philosophies of education, Pragmatism will somehow
balance the philosophies and perspective in education in some circumstances. Pragmatism emphasizes the
need to test the ideas by acting on them to see is to believe. Pragmatist featured change, process,
relativity and the reconstruction of experiences. In this philosophy, the teachers do not dominate the
classroom unlike in Idealism and realism, rather they guide the learning as facilitators of the students
research and activities. Teachers in pragmatism, work to transform classrooms into learning communities
by encouraging students to share their interests and problems.
People change, and so the system of education. Surprisingly, many individual devoted themselves
to change the system of education for the better of each individual. They proposed different
methodologies and approaches that really applicable in certain circumstances that help the new generation
of students and teacher in dealing with knowledge and learnings. It is inspiring to know this philosophical
root of education, which people never stop to search for what would be the better for the system of
education. From time to time, they give way to new face of education that suits the need of individual for
own growth and development and for the societal improvement and reconstruction.