PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION

ESSENTIALISM

WHY: It contends that teachers teach for learners to acquire knowledge, skills and values

WHAT: Teach the basic skills, (cultural heritage) needed for citizenship. (Curriculum can change slowly)

HOW: Emphasize mastery on subject matter. They are expected to be intellectual and moral models of their
status.

EXISTENTIALISM

WHY: Help students understand and appreciate themselves as unique individuals who accept complete
responsibilty for their thoughts, feelings, actions and values.

WHAT: Gives variety of options from which to choose. Emphasis on the Humanities. Vocational education to
teach children about themselves and their potentials. In arts students are encouraged to practice and value
creativity and imagination

HOW: Focuses on the individual. Individual contact of teachers. Understand the uniqueness of one’s self .

PROGRESSIVISM

WHY: Teachers teach to develop enlightened and intelligent citizens of a democratic society

WHAT: Need-based and relevant curriculum

HOW: It employs experiential methods. Problem-solving methods makes use the scientific method. Hands-on-
Minds-on Teaching technology.

PERENNIALISM (Authoritarianism)

WHAT: Curriculum is a universal one on the view that human beings possess the same essential nature.
Great Books.

HOW: Perennialist classrooms are teacher-centered.

IDEALISM

WHY: Ideas are only the true reality.

WHAT: Curriculum developed according to the ideals and eternal values. Involves Humanistic Subjects:
Religious and Spiritual Studies, Literature, History and Fine Arts

HOW: Emphasis on inner discipline. Moral and religious freedom.

REALISM

Reality exists independent to the human mind. World of physical objects is the ultimate reality.

“What you can see, what you can feel, or what you can experience is the real, and it’s the ‘REAL’ that we should
be teaching instead of the ideal.”

RECONSTRUCTIONISM

Critical pedagogy: Analysis of world events, controversial issues and diversity to provide vision for better world
and social change.
PRAGMATISM

Universe is dynamic and evolving. Education should be about life and growth.

Students develop social efficiency as they experience solving problems of life and learn how to become better
functioning members of society.

BEHAVIORISM

Learning occurs through interaction with the environment.

HUMANISM

Student is primarily responsible for learning, emphasizing freedom of choice with regards to the learning
process.

RATIONALISM

The epistemological view that "regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge“.

NATURALISM

It is concerned with “natural self” or “real self”. It contends that the ultimate reality is matter, and not mind or
spirit.

EMPIRICISM

A theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience.

LIBERALISM

It is a political and social philosophy that advocates freedom.

CONSERVATISM

It is is the belief that institutions should function according to their intended original purpose.

DISCIPLINISM

It is the theory also known as formal discipline was based upon Aristotle’s “faculty” psychology which asserted
that mind is made up of certain in faculties such as memory, reason, will, judgment, etc.