LESSON III: MAJOR FOUNDATIONS OF CURRICULUM

The Four accepted foundations of curriculum are the following:

1. Philosophical
2. Historical
3. Psychological
4. Social

I. PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CURRICULUM

PHILOSOPHY

- Provides educators, teachers and curriculum makers with framework for planning,
implementing and evaluating curriculum in schools.
- In decision making. It provides the starting point and will be used for succeeding
decision making.
- It helps in answering the following :
 what schools are for
 what subjects are important
 how students should learn
 what materials and methods should be used

Note: The philosophy of a curriculum planner, implementor or evaluator reflects his or her life
experiences, common beliefs, social, economic background and education.

John Dewey:

- looks at “education as a way of life” a laboratory in which philosophy becomes concrete and is
tested.

Ralph Tyler’s View of Philosophy in Relation to School Purposes

1. Studies of learners
2. Use of Philosophy
3. Use of Psychology of Learning
4. Studies of Contemporary Life
5. Suggestions from Subject specialists

Four Educational Philosophies:

A. PERRENIALISM

Aim of Education: To educate the rational person, To cultivate intellect

Role of Education: Teachers help students think with reason, based on the Socratic methods of oral
exposition or recitation. Explicit or deliberate teaching or traditional values

Focus in the Curriculum: Classical subjects, literary analysis and curriculum is constant

Curriculum trends: Use of great books and return to liberal arts

B. ESSENTIALISM

Aim of education: To promote the intellectual growth of the individual and educate a competent person.

Role of Education: The teacher is the sole authority in his or her subject area or field of specialization

Focus in the curriculum: Essential skills of the 3Rs and essential subjects (Math, Science, English and
History)

Curriculum trends: Excellence in education, back to basics and cultural literacy

C. Progressivism

Aim of education: To promote democratic and social living

Role of Education: Knowledge leads to growth and development of lifelong learners who actively learn
by doing

Focus in the Curriculum: Subjects are interdisciplinary, integrative and interactive. Curriculum is focused
on students’ interest, human problems and affairs

Curriculum trends: School reforms, relevant and contextualized curriculum, humanistic education

D. Reconstructionism

Aim of education: To improve and reconstruct society. Education for change

Role of Education: Teachers acts as agents of change and reform in various educational projects
including research.

Focus in the curriculum: Focus on present and future trends and issues of national and international
interests

Curriculum trends: Equality of educational opportunities in education, access to global education.

 II. HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CURRICULM

Curriculum is not an old field. The Philippines education came about from various foreign influences.
This can be track back to our glorious history. From all foreign educational system, the American
educational system has the greatest influence on our educational system.

Several Curriculum Theorists and their Views of Curriculum in a Historical Perspective:

1. Franklin Bobbit (1876-1956)

- The Curriculum 1918
- He presented curriculum as a science that emphasizes on student’s needs
- Curriculum prepares students for adult life
- Objectives with corresponding activities should be grouped and sequenced.
- Objectives can only be done if instructional activities and tasks are clarified.
2. Werret Charters (1875-1965)
- Curriculum is a science that emphasizes on student’s needs
- The listing if objectives and matchinh tjese with corresponding activities ensures that
the content or dubject matter is relatef to objevtives.
- The subject matter and the activities are planned by the teacher
3. William Kilpatrick
- Curricula are purposeful activities which are chuld-centered.
- The purpose of the curriculum is child development and growth
- Teacher and students plan the activities
- The curriculum develops social relationships and small group instruction
4. Harold Rugg (1886-1960)
- Curriculum should develop the whole child.
- The objectives and related learning activities, curriculum should practice outcomes.
- He emphasizes social studies and the teacher plans curriculum in advance.
5. Hollis Caswell (1901-1989)
- Curriculum ad organized around social functions of themes, organized knowledge and
learner’s interest.
- Curriculum is a set of experiences.
- Subject matter is developed around social functions and learners interests.
6. Ralph Tyler
- Curriculum is a science, an extension of school’s philosophy.
- It is always based in students needs and interest.
- Vurriculum is always related to construction.
- Subjevt matter is organized in termd of knowledge, skills and values.
- The process emphasized probñem solving.
- Curriculum aims to educate generalists and not specialists.