History of Philosophy of

Education
GROUP 2:
NUR SHAZA DIANA BINTI ZULKIFLI
AUNI AFIFAH BINTI NOOR ZAIDI
AUNIE NAJIHAH BINTI MOHD NOOR
NAJAT AN-NUR NAQIYYAH BINTI HASMADI
Table of contents
01 03
Modern Western
Background:
philosophy of Education
● History of philosophy
● Progressivism
of education
● Reconstructivism
● Constructivism
02 ● Constructionism
Existentialism
Traditional Western ●

Philosophy of Education
● Perennialism
● Essentialism
 HISTORY OF
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
Philosophy of education is the branch of applied or practical philosophy
concerned with the nature and aims of education and the philosophical
problems arising from educational theory and practice.

Educational philosophies are made up of beliefs about the nature of

learning and teaching, the process by which students learn, and the
rationale for education in society.

The way a teacher instills knowledge also begins from a philosophy of

education. Every teacher abides by one or a few consolidated together.
There are many different types of philosophies in education.

Traditional Western Education Philosophy:

1. Perennialism
2. Essentialism the study of culture, traditions, and customs
through memorizing skills

Modern Western Education Philosophy:

1. Progressivism
2. Reconstructivism aim at meeting the individual needs, interests, and
abilities of individual students
3. Constructivism
4. Constructionism
5. Existentialism
 TRADITIONAL
WESTERN
EDUCATION
PHILOSOPHY OF
PERENNIALISM
 BACKGROUND
● Perennialism was originally religious in nature, developed
first by Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century in his
work De Magistro (The Teacher).
● Aquinas suggests :
1. One should teach those things deemed to be of everlasting
importance to all people everywhere (principles and reasoning) not
just facts.
2. One also should teach first about people, not machines or
techniques
● Prominent supporters of this style include Maynard
Hutchins (develop Great Books program in 1963) and
Motimer Adler
 PERENNIALISM
● A subject-centered philosophy, values knowledge that transcends time
which our intellect, human nature, is constant and changeless

“The perennialist will say that it is intellect that distinguishes man from
beast, that our ability to think is what gives us consciousness”
Dr Dwight Allen

● Perennialists look to metaphysics, especially to human nature, so they

see the purpose of education, the role of school, and the organization of
the curriculum as coming from humanity’s enduring and universal
characteristics” (Gutek, 281)
 PERENNIALISM

● Perennialists are primarily concerned with the importance of mastery of

the content and development of reasoning skills.
● Aim: personal development of students – it aims to help individuals to
think deeply and analytically.
● The Great Books approved by perennialists that center around ‘pursuit
the truth’ such as
○ Melville's Moby Dick
○ Shakespeare's Macbeth
○ Dante's Inferno
 EDUCATIONAL PERENNIALISM
METHODS
● Teacher-centered, the teachers
prepared effort to make these ideas
available to students and to guide
their thought processes toward
rationality thinking.
● A perennialist classroom tend to be
more authoritarian and conservative
setting
● Use first hands document to teach
and be taught in lecture teaching
style method
STUDENT’S ROLES
● There is no difference among
students and everyone learns the
same thing at the same speed.
● Student’s interests and experiences
is not important
● Engage in Socratic dialogues with
teacher
CURRICULUM
● The core of the curriculum is
essential knowledge and skills and
academic accuracy. Schooling
should be practical, preparing
students to become valuable
members of society. Schools should
not try to set or influence policies.
● Emphasize on humanities, less on
vocational and technical education
○ History, literature and religion
 TRADITIONAL
WESTERN
EDUCATION
PHILOSOPHY OF
ESSENTIALISM
 Background

● William Bagley introduced the philosophy of essentialism in

education in 1930s
● He was an American Philosophers
● The two origins of essentialim is from idealism and realism
 Essentialism

● Essentialism teaches the students with the most basic

knowledge, skills and character development
● Essentialists believe that students should be taught to be a
model citizen
● Essentialists believe that teachers should teach traditional
moral values and virtues
● Essentialist believe in mastery learning
 Purpose of schooling

● Prepare students to be productive and contribute to the

members of society
● The aim of education is to teach the young people the
essentials they need to live better in the modern world
● Essentialists teach the basic subjects such as mathematics,
Natural Science, History and etc.
 Essentialism

ROLES OF TEACHER ROLES OF STUDENT CURRICULUM

Teacher is an expert for Students should be passive Focus on basic skills in

content knowledge and and be ready to learn what the elementary schools, disciplined
accountable for students’ teacher teaches to them knowledge and academic
learning achievement in secondary
schools
MODERN WESTERN
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
PROGRESSIVISM
 Background

● Key figure of Progressivism: John Dewey

● His philosophy based on pragmatism
● He was the father of educational psychology
● He introduce progressive method of teaching
● John Dewey believe that book learning was no substitute for
actually doing things
 Progressivism

● Progressivism is a theory of education that is concerned with

“learning by doing”
● Progressivists believe people learn best from what they consider
relevant to their lives
● Progressivists center curriculum on their needs, experience,
interest and abilities of the students.
 Characteristics of Progressivism

● Emphasis on learning by doing

● Hands-on projects
● Experiential learning
● Strongly focuses on problem solving and critical thinking
● Group work and development of social skills
 Educational Progressivism

● Educational progressivism: Education must be based on the

principle that humans are social animals who learn better in
real life activities with other people
● The skills and tools of learning include problem solving and
scientific inquiry
● Learning experience includes cooperative behaviors and
self-discipline
 Roles of Teacher

● The teacher has to meet the needs of pupils as good human

being
● As a facilitator
● Determine student interest
● Involve students in curriculum development
● Stimulate direct learning process
 Curriculum

● It should be based on the actual giving environment to the

child (reflect his daily life)
● Books and subject matter were part of the learning process
rather than sources of ultimate knowledge
● Based on student’s interest, involves the application of human
problems and affairs
 MODERN WESTERN
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
RECONSTRUCTIVISM
 BACKGROUND

● Theodore Brameld (1904-1987) : A philosopher

and visionary educator. The founder of
reconstructivism in 1950.
● Urged that school become a powerful force for
social and political change.
● Greater emphasis on society centered education
that addresses the needs of all social classes.
 RECONSTRUCTIVISM

What is reconstructivism?

● Known as social reconstructivism or critical theory

● Philosophy that emphasized on addressing the social questions
and a quest to create a better society and worldwide
democracy.
 RECONSTRUCTIVISM
● The social reconstructionist believe that system must be
changed to overcome oppression and improve human
condition.
● Paulo Freire was a brazilian whose experiences living in
poverty led him to champion in education and literacy as a
vehicle for social change.
- Human must learn to resist oppression and not become the
victim nor oppress other.
 RECONSTRUCTIVISM

● Purely social philosophy

● The reconstructionist educators focus on a curriculum that
highlight social reform as the aim of education.
● Reconstructivism encourages others to make a necessary
changes for the better future.
● Schooling has purpose to prepare the students to become the
agents for change.
 RECONSTRUCTIVISM
ROLES OF TEACHER ROLES OF STUDENT CURRICULUM

Focus in the active learning Students should learn how to Focus on student experience
and conduct activities outside make a society a better place. and taking social action on real
of school problems such as violence,
hunger, inflation and
inequality.
Teachers should give their Students are the critical Opportunity for students to
students ideas on how to make element to bring the social study real social problems and
world a better place to stay. changes. controversial issues.
MODERN WESTERN
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
CONSTRUCTIVISM
 CONSTRUCTIVISM
● Founder of Constructivisme : Jean Piaget
● Constructivism is a theory based on observation and
scientific study about how people learn.
● People construct their own understanding and knowledge
of the world through experiencing and reflecting on the
experiences.
● Piaget believed that learning occurs by an active
construction of meaning, rather than by receiving it
passively.
 THEORY OF CONSTRUCTIVISM

● Formalization of the theory of constructivism attributed to Jean

Piaget, who articulated mechanisms by which knowledge is
internalized by learners.
● Jean Piaget suggested that individual construct new knowledge from
their experience through the process of accommodation and
assimilation.
 THEORY OF CONSTRUCTIVISM
ASSIMILATION
● Process of matching external reality to an existing cognitive structure
● Adding new information or layering it on top of the old information

ACCOMODATION
● Reorganizing the thought when there is an inconsistency between the
learner’s cognitive structure
● A learner must change the previous learned information before the
placement of new information.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM
● The classroom environment is a student-centered.
● Students are empowered by a teacher who operates as a “guide on the
side”(facilitator).

ROLES OF TEACHER
● Observe and listen to the students and their experiences in the
classroom (discussion/small group work/presentation/brainstorming)
ROLES OF STUDENT
● Learners have the responsibility to learn through active learning.
MODERN WESTERN
HISTORY OF
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
CONSTRUCTIONISM
 BACKGROUND

● Constructionism is developed by Seymour Papert.

● He believed that children construct their new knowledge by constructing
physical and manipulative materials, like blocks, beads, and robotics kits.
 CONSTRUCTIONISM

● It is a learning philosophy in which knowledge is not regarded as an insight

into some objective reality, but rather constructed by humans partly
through social interactions.

● It is stated that knowledge is socially constructed and best achieved

through the act of making.
 CONSTRUCTIONISM

● It does not evaluate whether constructions are true or false but strive to
facilitate informed and sophisticated perspectives.

● The observations and findings result from the interaction between teachers
and students.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM VS
CONSTRUCTIONISM
● It is important to note that constructionism is a variant of the
constructivist approach developed by Jean Piaget.

● CONSTRUCTIVISM focused on COGNITIVE SKILL

● CONSTRUCTIONISM focused on PSYCHOMOTOR SKILL

 CONSTRUCTIONISM

● This learning philosophy believed that students do not simply get ideas
from teachers but actively create ideas.

● It can be facilitated through student’s involvement in the making of

external artifacts that can be reflected on in a collaborative environment.
MODERN WESTERN
HISTORY OF
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION
EXISTENTIALISM
 EXISTENTIALISM

● Existentialism is a philosophical movement formally

initiated by the Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard
during the second half of the 19th century

● It was developed and popularized by Jean-Paul Sartre

during the postwar period
● Existentialism on Epistemology
Knowing is to make personal choices. To choose or appropriate what we want to
know
● Existentialism on Axiology
Values should be freely chosen
 EXISTENTIALISM

● Existentialism is premised on the individual.

● Each person’s reality is based on themselves.
● There is no universal concept on what is real but instead there is unlimited
variations of personal perspectives of life.
● For example, what might be real to one person may not be real to another
person.
● Existentialist claimed that the difference between happy and sad are based on
the reality that each person creates for him/herself.
 EXISTENTIALISM

● It is aimed to help students understand themselves as unique individuals who

accept complete responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions.
● The teacher’s role is to;
- guide the students define their own essence
- expose the students to multiple options in life and create environment where
they can choose their own way
- relate with each student openly and honestly
 EXISTENTIALISM

● The learning process focuses on the individual.

● Teacher will guide the students as learning is self-directed depending on their

method of learning.

● For example, in teaching art, existentialism encourages student‘s creativity and

imagination instead of imitating established artworks.
 REFERENCES
Schools of Educational Philosophy, Chapter 9: What are the philosophical foundations of
American Education.

Suraksha , B. (2015, December). Perennialism. Perennialism – A Concept of Educational Philosophy.

Retrieved October 31, 2022, from http://www.ijesrr.org/publication/27/IJESRR%20V-2-6-13.pdf

Gutek, Gerlad L. Philosophical and Ideological Voices in Education. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2004

GSI Teaching and Resource Centre (2016). Teaching Guide for GSIs. Learning: Theory and Research .
Retrieved from http://gsi.berkeley.edu/media/Learning.pdf

McLeod, S. A. (2019, July). Constructivism as a theory for teaching and learning. Simply Psychology.
Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/constructivism.html
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