HISTORICAL DIMENSION OF

EDUCATION
Part 1
Lectured by:
Sophia Ampuan Sharief, Ph. D.
• HISTORICAL DIMENSION OF EDUCATION
Education is as old as life itself.
2 opposing school of thoughts when it comes to origin of education.

1. Evolutionist – education started from

primitive people.
2. Creationist – education started from Adam
and Eve.
• Modern day education owes much of its
system to the institutions established by
the ancient civilizations of China, India,
Israel, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Ancient Period Education as a social process
1. (Primitive Education) Education for
Conformity “Compliance/ requirement”
2. (Oriental Education)Education for Social
Stability “Stableness/constancy.”
3. ( Sumerian Education)Education for Business
Development
4. ( Early Egyptian Education) Education for
Public Administration.
5. ( Jewish Education) Education for Discipline
Aims of primitive education for
“Conformity”
• The main goal was merely for survival and to
conformity. Children learned through
observation and imitation; telling and
demonstration of how things are done or
trying out activities.
• Another aim of primitive education was
preservation and transmission of tradition.
• Aims of oriental education for
“Social Stability”
• Aimed to recapitulate the past in
order that the individual may not
vary from it or advance beyond it.
(ex: preserve ancestral tradition,
India-caste system, Egypt- religious
tradition, Persia- strengthen military
tradition.
• Sumerian Education Business Development
• Aims is to trained the scribes to do
ecclesiastical work in the temples that were
mostly writing. The Sumerian were
commercial people and they needed
bookkeepers to record transaction.
• The system of writing was cuneiform.
• Their king was called patesi was also
spiritual leader.
• Egyptian Education for Public Administration
• Egypt was the cradle/birthplace of one of the world
first civilization.
• Nile River was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt.
• Egyptians were polytheist people (worshippers of
many gods).
• Pharaohs were considered their god and king.
• Priest and scribes were teachers of noble class.
• Education was highly practical and empirical.
• Provided the modern world with the basic
foundation of education, art, music, literature,
mathematics, engineering, architecture, astronomy,
geography, geology, medicine etc.
• Effect and contribution of the Egyptian Education
• Ancient Egyptian made outstanding contribution to
the development of civilization.
• They created the world’s first national government,
basic forms of arithmetic and the 365-day calendar.
• Development of geometrical measurement and
surveying.
• Invented a form of picture writing Hieroglyphics
• Invented papyrus, a paper-like writing materials
made from the stem of papyrus plants.
• Developed the first religion to emphasize life after
death.
• Built pyramid as tombs for their rulers.
• Jewish Education- Education for Discipline
• The aim of education was ethical and religious.
Education was based on the bible, specifically
the old testament.
• Parents were obligated to educate their
children.
• The method of instruction was oral and
learning by practice/doing, corporal
punishment was regarded as an essential
element in training.
• Instruction was individualized and
memorization was emphasized
• The goal of Jewish education was to prepare
man to know God and to live peacefully
among his fellow.
Ancient Civilizations of Education
1. Ancient Chinese Education
1. Early Hindu Education
2. Early Hebrew Education
2. Early GREEK Education
1. Spartan Education
2. Athenian Education
1. Protagoras
3. Ancient Roman Education
4. Later Roman Education
5. Early Christian and Muslim Education
6. Medieval education- (4 movement)
1. Monasticism ,
2. Scholasticism
3. Chivalry and
4. Guild
7. Renaissance
• Chinese Education
• Ancient China was known for its isolation. They have no
intention to conquer but fear for invasion had built their
Great wall as protection for invaders .
• Their education was concern with memorization of the
work of Confucius.
• Confucius was the first wise teacher in China, a religious
leader/prophet and finally as god. He gave the Chinese
people rules for right living.
• He wanted to prove his teaching by practice. Virtue is
learned by careful observance of ceremony and by
practice of the golden rule, which Confucius phrase
• “ What you do not like when done to yourself, do not
do to others.”
• Aimed at selecting and training people for public service.
• Through this system, the civil service examination was
originated.
• Aim is ideological and ethical moral learning. Emphasis
on moulding a person’s character and moral values.
• Confucius Doctrine of submission are the relationship
between ; sovereign and subject; Father and son;
husband and wife; older brother to younger brother;
older friend and younger friend
• Methods of instruction.
1. The Confucius method. Teaching was not confined in
the classroom. Outdoor teaching was prevalent.
2. Direct and exact imitation
3. Memorization.
• Analects – the most revered Chinese classical literature
which contains the sayings of Confucius.
• Chinese are descendants from the rivers banks of Huang Ho
and Yangtze River.
 Early Hindu Education
• 6 school of philosophy
1. Nyaya- deals with logic
2. Vaisheshika- concerns the nature of the world
3. Samkhaya-examine the origin and evaluation of
the universe
4. Yoga- is a set of mental and physical exercise
designed to free the body so that the soul can
unite with Brahman.
5. Purva-mimamsa- interprets the Vedas
6. Vedanta- interpret the vedas
• Literature for the Brahmans. Vedas is the oldest Hindus
scripture and the oldest sacred writing of any major
religion. Veda means knowledge.
• Aims of Education Early Hindu Education
1. Dharma (religious and social Duties/ value system)
2. Artha( livelihood thru honest means
3. Kama (Good Life/ moderation)
4. Moksa- leading the soul toward God
• The Indian leader and teacher Mahtma Gandhi
named the “untouchables” Harijana
( children of God) but they prefer to call
themselves dalit (depressed)
• Decimal system of arithmetic notation,
particularly the use of the symbol “O” the
become contribution of the Hindus education.
• Early Hebrew Education
• The group escaped from slavery from Egypt through
the leadership of Moses and stayed in Sinai Desert,
now Negev.
• This is now Palestine where the Hebrew
developed a flourishing culture, which reached
its peak under King David and his son, Solomon
about 1000 BC
• Humanity is primary indebted to the Jews.
1. Monotheism, the concept of one and only one
God.
2. The Ten Commandments, the general guide to
ethical conduct.
3. The Bible, that fountainhead of so much
western tradition and literature.
• GREEK Education
• Ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western
civilization.
• Education was characterized by creative activity and
logical thinking. The Greeks gave us culture and the
first greatest sportsmen.
• Ancient Greece was divided into several Poleis (small
city-states), were independent and often quarrelled
• Citizens of a city –state were strongly patriotic
• Greeks were mixture of Germanic and Aryan stock
(strong race)
• Sparta and Athens were the two more popular poleis
• Constant struggle between Sparta and Athens resulted
in Peloponnesian War which lasted for 27 years
• Spartan Education
• Sparta was the largest polis and Purely military city-
state.
• Sparta, also called Lacedaemon , the capital of Laconia
• Spartan Education was designed to make Spartans
good citizens ( that is soldier) to serve the state.
• The aims of education for the Spartan are military and
discipline.
• Ideal Spartan citizens who was capable of enduring
hunger, thirst tortured, even death flinching.
• The contribution is the development of patriotism,
discipline and military education.
• Spartan training was characterized by the ff:
1. Mothers reared the newborn until 7 years old.
2. At age 7- 18 years old, were turned over to
Paidonomos – a military commander who cared
for boys until age 18 for the preparation for the
military training.
3. At 20 get assigned for actual combat training
(war)
4. At 30 he become a full –pledge citizens and was
ready to marry
5. Girls’ education was limited to the instruction
given by their mothers.
6. Because of their system, there was no famous
Spartan.
• Athenian Education
• First state in the history of the world that allowed the
full development of man’s capacities
• The Olympic games and the free development of all
human capacities were the outstanding contribution
of Athens to education.
• Athenian education ultimate aimed to produce
young men and women who would be charming in
person with manners (this is the Men sana en
copore sano” (Sound mind sound body)
• Democratic form of living, democracy is the lasting
legacy of Athens to the world
1. Athens preserved the family
2. All schools were private
3. Boys were separated from girls
• Continuation Athenian Education
– From 0-7 years old, boys stayed at home received
training form Paidagogus (an educated slave)
– Palaestra – a public gymnasium were boys had
their physical training under a Paedotribe
– Pentathlon (running, jumping, discus, javelin and
wrestling)
– Kitharistes – music teacher, teaches poetry like
Iliad and Odyssey
• Grammarian – Writing teacher
• At 18 if Athenian boy finished his training he
will be called an Ephebos (novice citizen), after
The Sophist (New Class of Teachers)
• Sophists were well travelled men who were
mostly non-citizen of Athens, they offered
new perspective in learning through
declamation and oration, grammar, rhetoric,
critical and reflective thinking.
• Protagoras – Chief of the Sophist
• The 3 Great Greek Educational Theorists
1. Socrates – believed that the ultimate goal of
education is truth.
2. Plato – expresses the ultimate goal of
education is justice.
3. Aristotle – noted that the ultimate goal of
education happiness.
• Greek University
• Rhetorical Schools (founded by Sophists)
• Philosophical Schools
a) Academy – founded by Plato
b) Lyceum – founded by Aristotle
c) School of Stoics – by Zeno
d) Epicurean – by Epicurus
• Combined Rhetorical and Philosophical School
a) University of Athens – most teachers were Sophists
supported by Athenian Government but disappeared
when Constantine declared Christianity as official religion
• School Outside Greece – University of Alexandria
(Egypt) Built in honor of Alexander the Great
– Famous Alumni – Euclid (Geometry), Eratosthenes
(Geography and Astronomy), Archimedes (physics)
• Ancient Roman Education
• Rome was founded in 753 B.C. It controlled most
of the Italian Peninsula( covered about half of
Europe, much of middle east, and north cost of
Africa.
• Hellenized Roman Education – started when
Rome’s contract with Greek Civilization, then finally
conquering Greece.
• The aim of Roman education was utilitarian, not
theory but application, not learning but practice
• Pragmatic Education – strived to find practical
application of the knowledge they acquired and
activities they pursued
• Early Roman Education
(home based education)
• 3 level/ Stages of Roman Education ladder:
• Elementary/ lowest level (7-10) = the Roman
school is ludus or Litterator and the teacher is
ludimajister Focus on 3’R
• Secondary (10-16) = Grammaticus grammar
taught literature and the liberal arts and the art
of speaking
• Higher Education (16 up) = Rhetorical training (
rhetor) in language and literature , declamation
and debate.
 Later Roman Education
• Rome is the capital of Italy and one of the world great
historic cities.
• The chief aim of Roman education is oratorical. The vir
bonus (morally virtuous), gifted in oratory was the
ideal educated man.
Types of Education
1. Speech training
2. Civic Training
3. Literacy education
4. Vocational education
• One of the contribution of the Roman to education and
civilization was their method of organization,
management, and administration. Education ladder.
• Another was the Roman’s organized body of civil law
• Christianity Education
• Christianity is the religion based on the life and teaching of
Jesus Christ. ( Roman Catholic, Protestant, or eastern Orthodox)
• The primary aim of early Christian education was the moral
regeneration of the individual.
• Salvation is another aim to spread good news of salvation.
• Church become the chief educational agency.
• Cathedral / Bishop school were establish for education under
the bishop and scholasticas.
• Monastery- founded by St. Benedict
• Monastic is school who want to be monks.
• Catechestical school for those preparing to be church leader.
• Parable method a brief story to covey moral truths lesson.
• The ideal humanitarianism of Christ/ Universal Brotherhood.
• Muslim Education
• Muslim are people who practice the religion
of Islam preached by Mohammad. This means
one who submit (to God) Allah is the name of
God of Islam.
• Qur’an is the Holy Scripture.
• Mosque is early educational setting and based
on Qur’an
• Kuttaba teaching method.
• Moslem is variety and sometimes called
Saracena which mean Easterneans.
• Contribution of Muslim Education:
1.Replacing Roman numerals with figures
barrowed from Hindu using zero and
the decimal system that gave digits the
value of position
2.Algebra and trigonometry in the field
of mathematics
3.Placing importance in the library as a
center of learning.
• Medieval Education
• The fall of Rome 476 AD is considered as the end of
ancient times and the start of medieval history.
• Christianity was declared as the official religion of the
state by Constantine the Great, therefore Catholics grew
in number and power
• Hierarchy of Church in Middle ages:
1. Pope – leader of the church @ held office in Rome
2. Cardinal
3. Archbishop
4. Bishop
5. Priest/Clergy
• The four movement:
• Monasticism , Scholasticism, Chivalry and Guild.
Monasticism and Religious Discipline
• St. Patrik- founded the 1st monasticism monasteries
• St. Anthony- founded the Christian monasticism
• The word comes from the Greek words “monos”, meaning
alone. Monachism literally “ dwelling alone.
• Men adopt Monastic life are called monk and live in a convent.
• Monasteries and Monastic school were only the agencies for
education during middle age aside the parish and cathedral
school.
• contribution:
1. Dignity of labor
2. Monasteries oppose the vices and corruption of the medieval world
3. Preserving and spreading of the learning and culture by the Christian
monasteries.
Scholasticism “Education as an intellectual discipline”
Scholastic was divided with 2 camp.
1. St. Anselm = Father of Scholasticism “realist”
2. Peter Abelard = “Conceptualist” believed that ideas
and concept or universal becomes real only when
express or represent by the corresponding objects.
• St. Thomas Aquinas = wrote “Summa Theologiae”
(official doctrine of Catholic Church) reconcile the 2 camp
• John Duns Scotus and William Ockham rejected
Aquinas emphasis on reason . They believed that God
action and purposes are unpredictable and must be
learned through revelation.
• Contribution is the organization of the university
started by the pope or holy Roman Emperor. University is
independent.
• Set of Medieval University
• The term of universitas means charter company and the
complete was Universitas Magistrorum et Scholarium.
1. Studium Generale (entire students Body)
2. Nation (students and teachers who came
from same place of origin)
3. Councilor (leader of Nation/ term of 1 year)
4. Facultas (teachers who teacher the same
subjects)
5. Dean (leader of facultas)
6. Rector (chosen by councillors and facultas/
chief executive officers for one year)
• Degree Offered by Medieval University
• At 13 to 14, a boy may enter a university and study Liberal
Arts
• At 21 teach younger boys
• At 25 write thesis
• If the student pass the thesis defense he will receive
Licentia Docendi
– Renaissance Period (the peak of Arts and Sciences) =
Renaissance is considered the start of modern period
– Reformation Period = Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses
containing the abuses of the church to the door post of his
church
– Counter Reformation = to win back protestants, the pope
assigned 3 congregations to head counter-reformation
1. Brothers of Christian School (founded by St. La Salle)
2. Society of Jesus ( founded by St Francis of Loyola)
3. Jansenites (founded by St Cyrene)
• Chivalry and the age of Feudalism
• Feudalism is the general term used to described the
political and military system of Europe during middle age.
• Feudalism was a system of land tenure on service to
noble man or lord called fief and the subordinate was
called vassal.
• The word chivalry comes from the old French chevalerie,
meaning horse soldiery. But the term came to means the
code of behavior and ethics that knight were expected to
follow.
• The training was in preparation for knighthood. ( warfare)
• The Page (7), the Square (14) and the Knight (At age 21)
• Contribution is the use of vernacular as a tool of Teaching.
• The Guild System of Education
• In the middle age Guilds were association of people who
has common interest, people performed charitable
religious and social guild. Member paid money into
common funds and used relief known as alms.
• Merchant Guilds were independent ,have regulation and
controlled trade and impose a toll (tax)
• Craft Guilds- the same occupation and manufacturing
craft. 3 ways of membership:
1. By Patrimony ( succeeding the parents)
2. By Redemption ( buying membership)
3. By Apprenticeship ( serving a term of training in craft)
Apprentice spent 5 to 12 yrs./ journeymen / Master
• Aims of education was Business Interest and preparation for
commercial and industry life. Vocational Preparation
• Contribution to education was Apprenticeship.
• Early School During Middle Ages
• Catechumenal School – “catechumens” are new
converts, they held their classes in small churches
• Catechetical School – for in-depth training in
religion
• Episcopal/Cathedral School – organized by
bishops to train clergy ( missionary work)
• The Medieval University
• The most important contribution of the middle Ages
• The first universities focused on teaching
medicine
• University of Naples (the first organized
medieval university
• Renaissance Period
• Renaissance was a revival or rebirth of learning,
belief of dignity of human being, renewed spirit
of nationalism, an increase of trade among
courtiers, a period of exploration. Scientific
research was used to solve problem.
• Renaissance was also know as the revival of
“classical antiquity” or revival of learning.
• 3 movement
1. Humanism
2. Reformation
3. Catholic Counter-Reformation.
1. Humanism
• Humanism was the most significant intellectual
movement of renaissance.
• The humanist studied philology (the science of
the meaning and history of the world.
2. Reformation
• Reformation was a religious movement of the 1500’s
that led to Protestant( one who protest).
• The reformation began within the Catholic Church
itself. On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a monk and
professor of theology, protested against certain
practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Catholic Counter-Reformation
• Counter-Reformation is the name generally given to
the renewal movement. They prefers the term Catholic
Reformation or Catholic Revival to avoid the
implication the movement of Protestant Reformation.
• This movement corrected the abuses of the church.
Realizing that the Protestant used education to further
their ends, the Catholic used also education to win
back dissenters. Teaching orders and teaching
congregations were founded.
• Educational Method
• Jesuits (designated to train leader)
• Christian Brother ( designated to teach the poor)
• Jansenists (designated for spiritual salvation)
 Historical Education of Realism, Disciplinism,
Rationalism and Naturalism.
• Educational Realism refers to the philosophy which
holds that education should be concerned with the
actualities of life.
• Three groups of Realist in method and opinion:
1. Humanistic or Verbal Realism
2. Social Realist- direct contact with the people and
their social activities rather than book.
3. Sense Realism
• Humanistic or Verbal Realism aimed at a complete
knowledge and understanding as to fit the individual to
the environment which he live.
• Verbal realist point of views:
• Juan Lius Vives: “Education should developed
personality” Teacher study pupils individuality,
adapt schoolwork to the abilities and interest of
the child and assess pupils progress.
• Francois Rabelais: “aim of learning was the
development of the whole man.” teaching and
leaning facilitated through natural activities.
• John Milton: “education was to prepare for
actual living” reading for content and not syntax.
The academy was the idea of Milton.
Contribution to education is the Practical education
that enable man to adjust to his environment
Men in the modern Education Period
– 16th- 17th Centuries Education for this world
– 18th -19th Centuries Child-Center Education
– 19th-20th Centuries Democratization of Education
1. John Amos Comenius – ( 1592-1670) father of
modern education, he wrote the first picture book
“Orbis Sensualism Pictus” or the World of Sensible
Things Pictured which lead to the use of Visual aids in
the classroom.
2. John Locke – (1632-1704) father of English
Empiricism. Exponent of disciplinism. He also authored
the tabula rasa theory of education that mind of the
child is a blank sheet.
3. Francis Bacon – ( 1561-1626) He introduce the
inductive method of teaching in his book Novum
Organum. And he wrote “The New Atlantis” and
The Idols of the Mind. Inductive methods start
from sensible experience and moves via natural
history. (reaching conclusion based on observation)
4. Ricahrd Mulcaster – (1531-1611) he
recommended that teacher be required
to obtained university training developed
teacher training college. He emphasized
the importance of individual differences
in a children, the adjustment of the
curriculum to these differences, and the
use of readiness rather than age in
determining progress.
5. Francois Fenelon (1687) an activist
French educator who pioneered on the
education of women.
6. Wolfgang Ratke- ( 1571-1635) initiated
the teaching in accordance with the child’s
nature and the principle of repetition to
ensure mastery.
7. Martin Luther - (1483-1546) inaugurator
of the Protestant reformation insisted the
education for all sexes.( received corporal
punishment 15x in a day and he become a Ph,D.)
8. St John Baptist de la Salle – (1651-1719) he was
regarded as patron saint of teachers. He
founded the institute of Brethren of Christian
Schools ( La Salle Schools) that aims to teach
the poor and the underprivileged and
introduced practical teacher training program.
9. Johann Heinrich Pestallozzi – (1746-1827)
wrote Leonard and Gertrude , He emphasized
was on helping children to learn by experience
and observation, rather than by verbalism and
memorization. He argued, children should learn
through activity and through things.
10.Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel – (1782-
1852) Known as the father of kindergarten.
Encourage play @ developed the idea of Unity
• First Kindergarten was started by Ms. Carl
Schurz 1855
• First Institution was established by
Elizabeth Peabody in Boston 1860
• First Public Kindergarten was open by Susan
Blow in St. Louis 1873
• Later the spirit of kindergarten was
introduced in the infants school where the
theory of Maria Montessori and Italian
professor.
11. Jean Jacques Rousseau – (1712-1778) father of
modern democracy best known for his work
“Emile” and Social Contract (Education should
be in accordance with the nature of the child)
Principle “that man is naturally good”.
12. Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776-1841) He
authored the inductive Herbatian Method in
psychology. Advocated 5 formal steps in Teaching:
1. Preparation
2. Presentation
3. Association
4. Generalization and
5. Application.
13. Pedro Poveda (1874-1936) founded
the Teresian Association in 1911 group
of Christian committed to the
transformation of the world through
Gospel. Become Saint in the year May 3,
2003.
14. John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
wrote “The Idea of University” define the
function of a university as the training of
mind rather than the diffusion of
practical information. He was
“venerable” respected.
15. John Dewey – (1859-1952) wrote the
Democracy and Education and regarded
as the most popular educator of the 20th
century who established the “Laboratory
school.” Dewey’s philosophical
pragmatism concern with interaction,
reflection and experience, and interest in
community and democracy brought
together to form educative . Education is
not a preparation for life, it is life”
16. Maria Montessori – (1870-1952) She
introduced a new pedagogy for teaching
young children. Pioneering in Children to
learn through meaningful experiences. She
observed under 6 child has an extraordinary
power of mind that the ability to absorb
knowledge from the environment; the mind is
like sponges and called it as absorbent mind.
Advocated the hand- on approach to
learning. Advocated the child-centered
education and prepared environment.She
combined theory and practice and advocate
for mixed aged groups of three year span.
17. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) 1855 He
wrote the Principle of Psychology (1st
principle of his evolutionary theory of the
underlying principle of all domains of
reality which had acted as the
foundational beliefs of his previous work).
He attempted to compiled all knowledge in
his “Synthetic Philosophy.
• He advocated the theories concept of
“survival of the fittest”( describe the
changes of the society) and defined
education as a complete living.
18. Paulo Freire- (1921) wrote the
“pedagogy of the Oppressed” He
described the traditional education
as the banking concept of
education responsible for the
“culture of silence.” His pedagogy of
literacy education involves not
only reading the word but also
reading the world.
Other Notable Names in Education
1. Socrates – “know thy self”
2. Plato – wrote the “Republic”
3. Aristotle – Father of Modern Sciences
4. Cicero – Wrote the “Oratore”
5. Quintillian – Wrote “Institution
Oratoria” he was a famous
Grammaticus
6. St. Anselm – father of scholasticism
7. Peter Abelard – Spearheaded Conceptualism
“Realism by Representation”
8. St. Thomas Aquinas – wrote “Summa
Theologiae”(official doctrine of Catholic Church)
9. Erasmus – suggested that education be in
accordance with the needs of society, he
was a humanist who advocated the importance of
studying the character of the child
10. Ascham – wrote the “schoolmaster”
condemning brutal punishment in English
schools during his time