PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

The National Center for Teacher Education

College of Flexible Learning and ePNU
Taft Avenue cor. Ayala Blvd., Ermita, Manila
cflex@pnu.edu.ph317-1768 local 776
The FUTURE is NOW.

HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

Ancient Period

I. Education for Conformity / Primitive Education

Features Descriptions
Aims 1. To survive
2. To conform to the tribe to which they belong
Types 1. Practical Education – work activities necessary to stay alive a.k.a
vocational education and domestic training
2. Theoretical Education – spiritual and worship activities, social
knowledge on customs, rites of his social groups a.k.a. intellectual
education and religious training
Contents • Ritualistic and prescriptive
Agencies 1. The family was the center for practical training.
2. Father taught the boys duties of securing life.
3. Mother instructed the girls the duties of household management.
Organization • No levels of instruction
Methods 1. Tell me and show me (observation and imitation)
2. Organic
3. Trial and error
4. Enculturation
5. Indoctrination
Effects 1. Culture was passed on and preserved for generation.
2. People were able to adjust and adapt to political and social life.
3. Tribes were able to meet their economic needs and were able to
survive.
Proponent • Primitives

II. Education for the Preservation of Social Stability / Oriental Education

Aims • To impress traditional ideas and customs in order to maintain and
perpetuate the long established social order (based on the theories of
recapitulation and complacency)
China: To preserve and perpetuate ancestral tradition
India: To preserve the caste system
Egypt: To preserve religious tradition
Persia: To strengthen military tradition

Prepared for E-EDUC1 CTP ONLINE Students_Term1_SY 2021-2022

 PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
The National Center for Teacher Education
College of Flexible Learning and ePNU
Taft Avenue cor. Ayala Blvd., Ermita, Manila
cflex@pnu.edu.ph317-1768 local 776
The FUTURE is NOW.

Types 1. Moral Training – training in customs, duties and polite behavior

(ethical aspect of discipline)
2. Theoretical Training – language and literature
Contents • Reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion
Agencies 1. Home as center for most ethical and social training.
2. Others are pagoda, temple, covered sheds
Organization • Elementary and high school levels
Methods • imitation, memorization
Effects 1. Development of static and highly formal educational system.
2. Learning is mechanical.
3. Individual development becomes impossible
4. Produced individuals who are patient, obedient, gentle, polite,
submissive and respectful but lacking in ambition, self-confidence,
responsibility, initiativeness and resourcefulness.
5. Ideal for those who oppose change.
6. Traditions were perpetuated.
7. Citizens were easily integrated to social life.
Proponents • Orientals

III. Education for the Development of Individuality / Greek Education

Aims • To promote individual success and welfare through the harmonious
development of the various aspects of human personality
Spartan: To develop a good soldier in each citizen
Athenian: To perfect man (body and mind) for individual excellence
needed for public usefulness
Greek educational theorists: Socrates – truth
Plato – justice
Aristotle – happiness
Types 1. Spartan - Military and physical training
2. Athenian - Liberal education
Contents 1. Spartan - Military activities and practices
2. Athenian - Music, lyre, and flute playing; physical education; military
exercises
Agencies State
Organization A. Spartan
Birth to 7 yrs old – training at home
7 to 18 yrs old – military training

Prepared for E-EDUC1 CTP ONLINE Students_Term1_SY 2021-2022

 PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY
The National Center for Teacher Education
College of Flexible Learning and ePNU
Taft Avenue cor. Ayala Blvd., Ermita, Manila
cflex@pnu.edu.ph317-1768 local 776
The FUTURE is NOW.

18 to 20 yrs old – warfare training; receives oath of allegiance

30 yrs old –becomes full-fledged citizen; is required to marry
B. Athenian
1.Home (G); Private schools (B)
2. State
Methods 1. Spartan - Competition and rivalry
2. Athenian - Principle of individuality
Effect • Emphasized the complimentary development of the human
personality for his cultural improvement and for social
transformation of the State
Proponents • Greeks

IV. Education for Utilitarianism / Roman Education

Aims • To educate the Roman youth for realizing national ideals
Early Romans: Vir bonus (good soldier, good worker, good citizen)
Later Romans: Linguistic facility (oratory)
Types • Physical training (martial arts, use of war weapons)
Contents 1. Cultural – liberal arts, rhetoric, dialectic, geometry, music
2. Professional – law, medicine, architecture
Agency • Military camps (emphasizes courage, bravery, manliness, honesty,
reverence,
obedience)
Organization/Methods 1. Elementary – memorization, imitation
2. Secondary – literary exercises, intensive drill on speech, grammar
Effects 1. Introduced the concept of educational ladder
2. Produced a nation of doers
Proponents • Romans

Prepared for E-EDUC1 CTP ONLINE Students_Term1_SY 2021-2022