CURRICULUM FORUM

How did the foundations of curriculum shape and blend our present curriculum? Write

your response here.  Write it directly, not as an attachment (downloading takes the
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CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONS: PAVING THE WAY

Gordon B. Hinckley once said, you could not build a great building on a weak
foundation. Just as the same with, we cannot hone a competitive holistic learner without
a solid foundation and flexible curriculum. The curriculum reflects the society and
culture of a country and this is the desire of a society that their children should learn the
habits, ideas, attitudes and skills of the adult society and culture and educational
institutional are the proper way to impart these skill. 
The history of one’s country can affect its educational system and the kind of
curriculum it has. Just as curriculum can be defined in a variety of ways, one can
approach the evaluation and creation of curriculum through more than one foundational
lens: philosophical, historical, psychological, and sociological. All four of these hold
importance in influencing curriculum and instruction. However, it is the philosophical
foundation, which holds the greatest importance because it is through one’s
philosophical perspectives that the historical, sociological, and psychological
foundations are both perceived and applied.  How did these curriculum foundations
shape and blend our present curriculum?
In our present curriculum, knowledge is being applied in practical situations,
which is the application of pragmatism. Pragmatic curriculum deals with the integration
of subjects and activities. Pragmatists want to construct flexible, dynamic and
integrated curriculum, which aids the developing child and the changing society more,
and more as the needs, demands and situation require. That is why our n ew core
curriculum calls for students to take only those subjects, activities and experiences,
which are useful to the present needs of the child and also meet the future expectations
of adult life as well. Secondary and Tertiary schools are more on the core subjects and
take less elective subjects because many students were graduating by taking so many
of these types of filler courses (Ornstein, Levine & Gutek, 2011). Thus, children should
be so trained that they may be able to solve their present-day problems efficiency and
to adjust themselves to their social environment. The present curriculum allow them to
be creative and effective members of the society. Their outlook should be so dynamic
that they can change with the changing situations. As John Dewey believes, all
education is “learning by doing”. So it must be based on the child’s experiences as well
as occupations and activities. In other word, pragmatism is the philosophy that
encourages us to seek out the processes and do things that work best to help us
achieve desirable ends (Ozmon and Craver, 2008). On the other hand, psychological
foundations really contributed a lot in today’s curriculum as it helps to develop the whole
individual as they concentrate on the self-actualization of the whole child. They
concentrate education around experiences. Within this theory, teachers do not lecture
or demonstrate the role of a superior entity but rather are more as guides for students
through the process of self-direction.
Furthermore, the present curriculum with the combination of both its
philosophical and psychological aspects will help the institution define the purpose of
the school, the important subjects to be taught, the kind of learning students must have
and how they can acquire them, the instructional materials, methods and strategies to
be used, and how students will be evaluated. Likewise, philosophy offers solutions to
problems by helping the administrators, curriculum planners, and teachers make sound
decisions. A person’s philosophy reflects his/her life experiences, social and economic
background, common beliefs, and education. John Goodland (2012) stated “philosophy
is the beginning point in curriculum decision making and is the basis for all subsequent
decisions regarding curriculum.” 
In conclusion, exploring the historical foundations of curriculum can promote a
sense of freedom and encourage educational reform. Reviewing the history of
education allows us to step outside of the here and now, gaining a bigger picture and
seeing ourselves within it, realizing that the field of education must remain dynamic in
order to be effective. When John Dewey proposed that “education is a way of life”, his
philosophy is realized when put into practice. Now, particularly in the Philippines,
Dewey’s philosophy served as anchor to the country’s educational system.

REFERENCES:
Ornstein, A., & Hunkins, F. (2009) Curriculum Design. In Curriculum: Foundations,
Principles and Issues (5th Ed.), pp. 181-206. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Retrieved from: https://talkcurriculum.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/ornstein-a-hunkins-f-
2009-curriculum-design1.pdf

Tracy Harrington-Atkinson (2017). Curriculum Foundations.

https://tracyharringtonatkinson.com/curriculum-foundations/#google_vignette

Huggett, K., Smith, N., & Conrad, C. (2012). Higher education curriculum: traditional
and contemporary perspectives. Retrieved January 9, 2012
from www.answers.com/topic/higher-education-curriculum-traditional-and-
contemporary-perspectives