Philosophical foundation of education
material world
• Essentialism (William Bagley)
Going back to the basics
Focus on 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic)
Subject matter is the center of the educational
process.
The teacher is the authority, a master of his/her
discipline.
Discipline based (Authority)
Essence preceded existence
• Perrenialism (Robert Hutchins)
Maintains that education involves confronting
the problems and questions that have
challenged people over the centuries.
Thus there is a need to study classical tradition
of great books.
Views education as a recurring process based
on eternal truths. (Forever)
Good education involves a search for and
understanding of truth which can all be found in
the great works civilization.
Need to study the classical tradition of great
books.
Its curriculum is fixed and subject-centered
relying heavily on the disciplines of literature,
math, languages, and history. (General
Subjects)
Good education involves a search for and
understanding of truth which can all be found in
the great works civilization.
Need to study the classical tradition of great
books.
Its curriculum is fixed and subject-centered
relying heavily on the disciplines of literature,
math, languages, and history. (General
Subjects)
• Idealism (Plato)
Mind
Values
Ideas are the only true reality
What exist is in the mind only
Existence of ideas independent from the
Ideas are believed to be innate in the individual
as these have been endowed by a perfect
thing
• Existentialism (jean Paul Sartre)
Reality is subjective, lies within individual
Individual choice and standards are central
Man’s freedom of in the accomplishment of his
destiny
• Progressivism (john Dewey)
“Learning by doing principle”
Education should focus on the whole child.
Learner is a problem solver who makes
meanings through active interplay with others.
Involves participation of students and allows
them to exercise freedom and moral powers
Methods: Scientific method and problem
solving
Child’s need and interest
Education is a continuous process
• Behaviorism (john b. Watson)
Teacher centered
A behavior can be best explained in terms of
responses to external stimuli.
Education can be achieved by modifying or
changing student behaviors in socially
acceptable manner through the arrangement of
conditions of learning
Human beings are shaped entirely by their
environment
• Reconstructionism (George Counts
and Harold Rugg)
Covers the underlying factors that constitute
reality or society.
Students are encouraged to become involved
in the problems whether political, social, or
economical that confront thesociety and be
able to arrive at solutions in order to
reconstruct society.
Declares that the chief purpose of all
educational efforts is to “reconstruct” society in
order to meet the cultural crisis of times.
Social reforms
rebuild the society

• Constructivism
Prior knowledge
construct
schema
 Realism (Aristotle)
Reality exist independent on human mind
reality is not in the mind

 Pragmatism
student centered
problem solver/ critical thinkers
inductive activities, scientific problem method
experimental activities

 Rationalism (Rene Descartes)

Life goes on when you are using your mind
well
what you thinks is what you are
I think, therefor I am
Knowledge in God
Happiness resides when you know things
encounter all the challenges
love solving problems help students develop
their mental power and great ideas
 Hedonism
Pleasure is the only good thing