Idealism and Aims of Education:

According to the idealists following are the major aims of education:

i. Self-Realisation:
Idealists believe that man is being spiritual is a supreme creation of God. Hence the human
Personality is the noblest one. So idealists assume that the foremost aim of education is to
exalt this personality. This exaltation of human personality means self-realisation.
The aim of development of man is a “self-directed striving after a form to which it has
inherent impulse”. Recognising the immense potentialities of a man, the idealists wish that
the aim of education should be full realisation of these potentialities, thus developing the
personality completely. The aim is to enable each one to become his highest, trust self. This
self-realisation is not to be achieved by becoming selfish and an isolated person but the self-
realisation must be achieved in social context. Truths of life can be established and affirmed
only in the context of the society. According to Rusk,

“Education must enable mankind through its culture to enter more and more fully
into the spiritual realm and also to enlarge the boundaries of the spiritual realm”

Man the idealists believe has two natures’ original nature into spiritual nature. Education
must convert original nature into spiritual nature. It must produce a pure, faithful, complete
and therefore, holy life. “Man can only become man by education”. In other words
“The divine in man is to be unfolded and brought to his consciousness by means of
education”.
The self-realisation is not the objectives in the case of few selected personalities only: it
should be the goal of education effort for all. Each individual has to be provided with
suitable environment and conditions that will be conductive to the realisation of him.
ii. Preservation of Culture:
Idealists give much importance to the spiritual and cultural possessions of the individual and
of the real. At the same time, they contend that man has in him the powers of retaining and
creating such values. Hence one of the premier tasks of education is to help in the process of
transmission of the spiritual and cultural inheritance of man. They believe that through this
transmission the preservation of culture can take place.
iii. Development of a Moral Sense:
The aim of education according to idealism is to develop the child’s moral sense so that he
can distinguish between the right and the wrong. Education should enable him to develop a
will power so that he follows the good and rejects evil. The child must develop a will power
so that he follows the good and rejects evil. The child must develop a proper sense of values
and should practice them in his own life.
iv. Development of Creative Powers:
Man is not like other animals. He has thinking and reasoning powers. He has thinking and
reasoning powers. It is these which lead to a creative genius in him. According to idealism
education should enable the individual to develop these powers and modify the existing
environment for better and fuller life.
 v. Development of Complete Man:
The Idealists believe that physical development leads to intellectual development which in
turn leads to pursuit of moral values. Thus they believe in the development of the complete
man. It is only a fully development individual who can engage himself in the pursuit of higher
ideals.
vi. Simple Living and High Thinking:
This also is one of the aims of education according to the Idealists. It is only these persons
who practice this ideal, who can pursue great ideals of life. It is such an individual who can
realise unity with the creator.
vii. Universal Education:
The idealists believe that every man is equally the noblest work of God. Hence, Self-
realisation should not be confined to the favoured few, but should be universal in nature.
They, therefore, advocate universal education.
Realism and Aims of Education

It is hard to mention what are the aims of education according to realism because realists do not
believe in general or common aims of education.

Aims are specific to each individual and his perspectives the pupil, teacher, parent, administrator,
political leader, etc. have different perspectives. As such how can there be a general aim suited to all
persons. However, if one insists that realists must come out with such a general aim then Dr. Broudy
presents such an overall aim of education. He presents the realist view point in education defines
the common aim of education as preparation for the "Good Life". As Broudy defines it in the context
of the school, “The task of the school is to transcribe the good life, the good individual and the good
society into learning that presumably will contribute to their production". The basic questions
remain as to what constitutes a 'good life' and how to realise it. It answers, Dr. Broudy would
suggest one must study human nature and understand the dynamics of a healthy personality. A
healthy personality who can be supposed to be capable of leading a good life is governed by four
principles. They are the principles of self-preservation, self-determination, self-realisation and self-
integration. Self-preservation is an appetitive principle and is the physiological base of a healthy
personality. 'Self-determination' guides the person to visualise reality and understand his strengths
and limitations. The individual would develop a 'free-will' based on his reality perception. Free-will
does not mean the ability to do whatever or desire. It is the means to carry out well thought out
decisions; it is the willingness to work hard, to avoid routine and to plan ones actions. Self-realisation
as it is used by realists use it has different meaning than the one implied by idealists. Here it means
that every individual will have certain congenital potentialities and there are also differences in the
degree and breadth of such potentialities by a person is called as self-realisation. It is not
transcendental perfection. It is individualistic and social at the same time. Education must enable a
person to actualise his potentialities. Self-integration refers to the integrated development of an
individual.

To state the aims of education in a concrete way and make it intelligible. Following may be
important objectives:

1. Equipping students with knowledge and skill needed to understand and master their physical
environment.

2. Enabling students to adjust themselves to the realities of the physical world and to adjust with
adult approved behaviour.