The Four Educational Philosophies (Part 2)

As what we learned from the part 1 of this article, it’s possible for us to pinpoint which world philosophy best represents us.

However, some of these world philosophies are adapted and merged to form schools of thought in the philosophy of education. Let’s talk more about them.

World philosophies are merged to form some of the educational philosophies.

1) Essentialism refers to the “traditional” or “Back to the Basics” approach to education. It is so named because it strives to instill students with the “essentials” of academic knowledge and character development.

“Gripping and enduring interests frequently grow out of initial learning efforts that are not appealing or attractive.” — William Bagley

• Essentialists urge that the most essential or basic academic skills and knowledge be taught to all students.
• Traditional disciplines such as math, natural science, history, foreign language, and literature form the foundation of the essentialist curriculum.
• Essentialists frown upon vocational, lift-adjustment, or other courses with “watered down” academic content.
• Essentialist programs are academically rigorous, for both slow and fast learners. It calls for more core requirements, a longer school day, a longer academic year, and more challenging textbooks.
• Essentialist teachers focus heavily on achievement test scores as a means of evaluating progress.
• Essentialists hope that when students leave school, they will possess not only basic skills and an extensive body of knowledge, but also disciplined, practical minds, capable of applying schoolhouse lessons in the real world.
• The essentialism philosophy of education stresses the following: Intellectual and Moral Standards, Fundamental and Factual knowledge and Culture defines Competence.

I belong to the Essentialism group. Surprisingly, my personality is ENTP (aka Debator) whose key feature would include love for intellect. Somehow, it seems that personality has a relationship with philosophy. Note: While I love more challenging textbooks, I wouldn’t want a longer school day.

2) A sibling of Essentialists, Perennials are also intellects.

They believe that knowledge is the same everywhere — it is an organized information that has been reflected upon and thought about. They love educating in the liberal arts and the great books, and are also teacher-centered.

“The Paideia Program seeks to establish a course of study that is general, not specialized; liberal, not vocational; humanistic, not technical. Only in this way can it fulfill the meaning of the words “paideia” and “humanities,” which signify the general learning that should be in the possession of every human being.” — Mortimer Adler

• Together with essentialists, both aim to rigorously develop all students’ intellectual powers, first, and moral qualities, second.
• They apply whatever creative techniques and other tried and true methods are believed to be most conducive to disciplining the students’ minds.
• Unlike essentialism, perennialism is not rooted in any particular time or place. Perennialists seek to help students discover those ideas most insightful and timeless in understanding the human condition.
• Like progressivists, perennialists criticize the vast amount of discrete factual information that educators traditionally have required students to absorb. Perennialists urge schools to spend more time teaching about concepts and explaining how these concepts are meaningful to students.
• The perennialism philosophy of education stresses the following: Liberal Education, Cultivation of the Intellect and Constant and Unending truth.

3) On the other hand, Progressivists believe that education should focus on the learner, rather than on the content or the teacher.

“We may, I think, discover certain common principles amid the variety of progressive schools now existing. To imposition from above is opposed expression and cultivation of individuality; to external discipline is opposed free activity; to learning from texts and teachers, learning through experience…” — John Dewey

Its founder, John Dewey, proposed a five step method for solving problems:

1. Become aware of the problem;
2. Define it;
3. Propose various hypotheses to solve it;
4. Examine the consequences of each hypothesis in the light of previous experience
5. Test the most likely solution.

• Progressivism is about respect for individuality, its high regard for science, and its receptivity to change harmonized well with the American environment in which it was created.
• As students, they practice shared decision making and planning with teachers, and prefer student-selected topics.
• As teachers, they plan lessons that arouse curiosity and push the students to a higher level of knowledge. They often make students leave the classroom for fieldtrips during which they interact with nature or society.
• Progressivists believe that education should be a perpetually enriching process of ongoing growth, not merely a preparation for adult lives. They also deny the essentialist belief that the study of traditional subject matter is appropriate for all students, regardless of interest and personal experience.
• Progressivists emphasize in their curriculum the study of 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.
• The progressivism philosophy of education stresses the following: Experiential Learning, The Scientific Method and Intrinsic Motivation.

4) Lastly, Existentialists believe that education should change the world for the better and that knowledge is constructed through experience.

Their historical roots show that student believers construct meaning on their own rather than having authority figures teach them.

• Existentialism rejects the existence of any source of objective, authoritative truth about metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Instead, individuals are responsible for determining for themselves what is “true” or “false,” “right” or “wrong,” “beautiful” or “ugly.”
• For the existentialist, there exists no universal form of human nature; each of us has the free will to develop as we see fit.
• Therefore, they prefer to take-home readings and learn at their own pace and current understanding.
• Their philosophy of education stresses the following: Improving and reforming society, Social purpose, and Democracy in the classroom.

In your case, which educational philosophy do you work best with? What makes it your strength and your weakness as a learner or teacher?

Philosophy simply means love for wisdom or knowledge. Therefore, philosophy is not just some cheesy motto line or deep mantra in life. If inwardly learned and realized, and outwardly practiced and strengthened, a philosophy can be a guiding principle towards attainment of goals and even self-actualization.

Some of you would try to analyze the description for each philosophy and try to tick which ones apply to you. While this may be a way to align your activities in life to certain principles, it is more advisable for you to get to know yourself even more and to contemplate which philosophies you can commit to and learn the most from.

Credits: Ms. Dots of NTTC for the awesome study material!

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