Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Engagement:
Directions: Define comprehensively philosophy in your own words based from your prior
knowledge and experiences.
Exploration:
Teachers need to be guided by a sound philosophy in the practice their profession. It is a way of
thinking about the meaning of life and their profession. It is a statement that outlines their view on
education and how it is supposed to be delivered to the learners.
Teachers plan lessons, interacts with their students and evaluate their performance according
to their own personal view of teaching and learning. This depends on how they take their role as
teachers and on their philosophy of education. Their personality and values reflected in their
philosophy and set their behavior in the classroom. Their philosophy of education guides them in
reflecting on the meaning of what they are doing as teachers – why they are teaching it and how they
are teaching it.
It is important that teachers and students understand one another’s philosophy to better
understand their behavior in class which is crucial to a healthy learning environment.
At the end of this chapter, you are expected to develop your own philosophy of education
which will serve as your guiding light in your teaching career. If you take your philosophy seriously it is
assumed that you have achieved wisdom in the conduct of your profession.
This chapter introduces you to philosophies and theories of education. Reflect on each
philosophy/theory presented and select the element which you have think are worth including in your
own philosophy.
What is philosophy?
Philosophy can be defined as a set of ideas that answer question about nature of reality and
about the meaning of life. Some important questions that are commonly asked are… What is
knowledge? What is worth striving for? What is just, good, right or beautiful? These are philosophical
questions that may be important in teachers’ lives.
Philosophy originated with ancient Greek word Philo which means love and Sophie which means
wisdom. Philosophy is therefore the love of wisdom.
Greek thinkers divided philosophy into three branches: metaphysics, epistemology, and
axiology.
Metaphysics addresses reality. It is divided into two categories:
Ontology examines issues related to nature, existence or being.
Cosmology is related with nature and origin of the universe (the cosmos)
Philosophy of education is a set of related beliefs that influence what and how students are
taught. Teachers’ philosophy of education guides their behavior or performance in the classroom. The
philosophy statement reflects their personality and values.
Formulating your own philosophy may not be easy since you are just beginning, but here are
some questions you may consider in framing your philosophical statement.
What is the purpose of education?
What content and skills should schools develop?
How should school teach the content of the curriculum?
What are the roles of students and teachers in the teaching learning process?
How should learning be assessed?
Continue reading the chapter to get acquainted with various philosophies of education.
In education, metaphysics refers to the knowledge of most worth which is the curriculum. The
subjects in the curriculum contain or describe the knowledge which teachers should impart to the
learners. Epistemology is concerned with the methods of teaching or how teaching and learning are to
be delivered. Axiology relates to the behavior, civility, appreciation, and expression.
Idealism
Idealism contends that reality lies in our consciousness or our intellect. Idealists believe that
perfect knowledge of the ideal resided outside humans as an Absolute or as God. They believe that the
spiritual essence or soul is the permanent element of human nature that gives them the power to think
and feel. They believe that the ideas that make-up reality have already existed in the mind of the
Absolute or God so that when we know something, it means we have reached our conscious
understanding of these ideas.
Idealism envisions schools that are intellectual centers of teaching and learning where teachers
guide the student to realize their intellectual potential and appreciate the finest and enduring
achievements of culture.
Idealist Teachers:
Believe that the schools are the repositories of eternal truth which have organized the
hierarchical curriculum in education.
Believe that on top of this hierarchy are the most important subjects that cultivate abstract
thinking – Philosophy, Theology and Mathematics.
Believe in the use of Socratic Method – asking probing questions to stimulate consciousness of
students in discovering knowledge.
Believe that thinking and learning are the processes of bringing latent ideas to consciousness
and logic is encouraged in organizing their lessons.
Believe that teachers should lead exemplary lives and be models for models for students to
imitate.
Believe that the internet can make the great book accessible to all, but they insist that
technology should be the means rather than the end in transmitting knowledge.
Realism
Realism advocates that reality is outside of our minds. They are not internal to our minds as
idealists claim. Realists believe that the objects we perceive exists independently of the mind; that
whether or not we perceive these objects, they really exist in the world. Realists assert that the human
mind can know about the real world and that knowledge is a reliable guide to our behavior.
For the realists, the purpose of education is to teach students about the world in which they
live. That the most accurate and efficient way of learning is through the curriculum of organized and
classified subject-matter discipline.
Realist Teachers:
Believe that teachers should be equipped with a wide repertoire of methods in teaching to
achieve their goals.
Believe that their primary responsibility is to bring students’ ideas about the world into reality.
Believe the deductive and inductive logic, and the scientific method are reliable means to
discover knowledge.
Believe that the inclusion of non-academic activities interfere with the schools’ primary purpose
as a center of disciplined academic inquiry.
Believe in the use of technology as an aid in learning; they recommend computer program to be
as “realistic” and effective as possible.
Reflect:
As you prepare to develop your own philosophy of education, consider these questions:
Pragmatism
Pragmatism evaluates the truth and meaning of ideas according to their physical consequences
and practical value. It emphasizes the need to test the validity of these ideas by acting on them. The
best way to validate ideas empirically is by using the scientific method. For pragmatists, if something
works, it is true.
John Dewey, a pragmatist, related education as preparation for life. He believed that the
function of education was to enhance human potential to be able to adapt to a constantly changing
world. Students should be trained to construct knowledge as they interact in the world. Pragmatists
believe that students should be encouraged to do researches and apply them to the solution of a
problem.
Pragmatist Teachers:
Believe that education is an experimental process – a method of solving problems that
challenges people as they interact with the world
Believe that children should learn how to make difficult decisions by considering the
consequences of their actions on others
Believe that education should focus in real- life problem to be prepared to live fully and
effectively in society
Believe that students should learn process of problem-solving rather than by being passive
learners as knowledge transmitted to them
Reflect:
As you prepare to develop your own philosophy of education,
consider these questions:
Educational theories are rooted from philosophies. They examine the roles and functions of
schools, curriculum, teaching and learning. Five educational theories are presented on the pages that
follow for you to analyze and consider in developing your own philosophy. Select the elements or
features in these theories that you agree with and include in your own philosophy.
Perennialism
Perennialists assert that the primary purpose of education is to bring students in contact with
the truth by cultivating their intellect and sense of rationality or reasoning power. They contend that
there are principles that students need to learn like the universality of truth, the importance of
rationality and power of aesthetics. They also propose the study of religion to encourage ethical
behavior.
Perennialists urge that students read the Great Books – works by history’s finest thinkers and
writers, and develop their understanding of the concepts about human knowledge. They oppose the
inclusion of non-academic subjects in the curriculum because they defeat the primary purpose of the
school which is to develop students intellectually. They indorse subject-matter curriculum loaded with
cognitive subjects that develop rationality and morality.
Perennialist Teachers:
Believe that the teachers are the intellectual mentors and models for their students
Believe that fundamental skills such as reading, writing, computation and research be
developed starting elementary to prepare them for life long learning
Believe that subjects with human concern like history, literature, drama, and art should be
include in the secondary school curriculum
Believe that their role is to sharpen the students’ intellectual powers and enhance their moral
qualities.
Believe that electronic vision of great books and other classics may be viewed by larger
audience but this could not be a substitute for reading the classics.
Reflect:
As you reflect on creating your own philosophy, are there elements of perennialism that you
would like to include in your philosophy of education?
Essentialism
Essentialism is a teacher-centered philosophy that adheres to the belief that the basic skills of
literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy (arithmetic) as well as subject-matter knowledge should be
developed in schools. Subjects such as history, mathematics, science, language, and literature are
essential subjects for secondary education. They believe that these basic essential subject-matter need
to be mastered to be able to function effectively in society. These skills will prepare them to be
competent and skilled individuals for the competitive global village.
Essentialists Teachers:
Believe that teachers have authority to discipline students
Believe that teachers should have mastery of knowledge and skills they teach
Believe in the use of deductive method of teaching
Believe that student should learn the “essentials”
Believe that only when the students have mastered the required competencies can they be
promoted to the higher level
Believe that test scores are the basis for evaluating students’ progress
Reflect:
As you reflect on creating your own philosophy, are there elements of essentialism that you
would like to include in your philosophy of education? What are these?
Progressivism
Progressivisms belong to a reform movement that opposed the traditional education. They
were against: 1) authoritarian teachers, 2) book-based instruction, 3) rote memorization, and 4)
authoritarian classroom management. Progressivists contend that although knowledge may come from
varied sources, the best way to learn is by actively exploring/or by engaging in direct experiences. They
believe that the school should be a laboratory for experimentation. They organize schools around
concerns, curiosity and real-world experiences of the learners. They advocate using the project method
and problem-solving which promotes democratic learning communities in the classroom.
Progressivist Teachers:
Believe that teachers should possess a repertoire of learning activities to be used in the
teaching-learning process like problem-solving, field trips, creative artistic expression and
projects
Believe that the child should be free to develop naturally
Believe that interest motivated by direct experience stimulates learning
Believe that the teacher is a facilitator of learning
Believe that there should be close cooperation between the home and the school
Believe that students’ need, interest, and readiness should be considered in constructing the
curriculum
Reflect:
As you reflect on creating your own philosophy, are there elements of progressivism that you
would like to include in your philosophy of education? What are these?
Social Reconstructionism
This is theory rooted on progressivism. In fact, social reconstructionists were considered as the
more socially-oriented progressivists. They sought to make schools the center of larger social reforms.
Reflect:
As you reflect on creating your own philosophy, are there elements of social
reconstructionism that you would like to include in your philosophy of education?
What are these?
Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the subjectivity of human experiences. It is more
a process of philosophizing than it is a philosophy. Existentialism asserts that the purpose of education
is to help students find meaning and directions in their lives.
Existentialist author, Jean-Paul Sarte often quoted the phrase “Existence Precedes essence,’
meaning, we owe our existence to nature but we define ourselves through our action. W create our
own essence by making our personal choices. When we are thrust in choice-making situations, we are
what we choose to be. We must take responsibility for our choices.
Existentialists maintain that we create our own definition and make our own essence by making
personal choices in our lives.
Existentialists Teachers:
Believe that the purpose of education is to awaken our consciousness about our freedom to
choose and to create our own self-awareness that contributes to our identity
Believe that students should be trained to philosophize, to question, and to participate in
dialogues about the meaning of life
Believe that self-expression, creativity and self-responsibility should be developed in the
students
Believe that open classrooms maximize freedom of choice
Believe in self – directed instruction
Believe that students should decide what they want to learn and when to learn it
Reflect:
As you reflect on creating your own philosophy, are there elements of social
reconstructionism that you would like to include in your philosophy of education?
What are these?
Compare your Venn diagrams with the diagrams on the feedback sheet.
(See appendix B.)
How Alike?
How Different?
Now that you have analyzed the important philosophies on education, develop
your own philosophies of education starting what you think the purpose of
schooling/education is; how subjects should be taught; what do you need about students
to be able to teach them. Include your idea of a good teacher. Formulate one which you
think will be your guiding light in your future career.
I learned that
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References:
Bilbao, Purita P, Corpus, Brenda B., Llagas, Avelina T., Salandanan, Gloria G. ( 2018) The Teaching
Profession. Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Pawelin, Greg T. (2016) The Teaching Profession Passion and Mission. Rex Book Store
Lim, Lourdes S., Caubic, Rosalina A., Casihan, Luvimi L. (2014). The Teaching Profession. Adriana
Publishing Co., Inc.