Realism and

Education
Rhoa P. Bustos
Joanne Beatriz C.
 Objectives
1. Define and describe realism and its
nature.
2. Identify the different forms of realism.
3. Recognize the aims of education under
realism.
4. Illustrate the implications of realism in
education, specifically on:
4.1. Curriculum
 Introduction
Broadly speaking, each discipline have their
own guiding principles, a philosophy of their
own, and theoretical frameworks. Education is
no exception for this. Different philosophical
views have existed from naturalism to
idealism; idealism to REALISM – with the aim to
challenge the idea presented by the other.

3
 REALISM, being put into
the limelight, is often
contrasted with the
previous school of
philosophy, idealism
which can be traced back
to the great philosophers
Plato (an idealist) and his
student, Aristotle (a 6
 If a tree falls
down without
no one there to
witness it, will
it create a
sound?
Realism?
Realism is the Realism is a view Realism is a
viewpoint which that entities of a view that a
accords to certain type “reality” of
things which are have an material
known or objective reality objects, and
perceived an that is possibly
existence or completely abstract
nature which is independent of concepts, exists
independent of our conceptual in an external
whether anyone schemes, world
is thinking about linguistic independent of
or perceiving practices, our minds and
them. beliefs, etc. perceptions.
Realism and its
Nature
✢ REALISM attempts to portray life as
it is.
✢ Realists start with a thing and end
up with the idea – “being” before
“thought.”
✢ Realists believe that “knowledge” is
derived through sense experience
but sense experience alone cannot
account for knowledge.
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Forms of
Realism
 Scholastic
Realism
✢This started when medieval thinkers
wanted to bring a relation between faith
(Christian theology) and reason (Classical
Philosophy).
✢St. Thomas Aquinas, a known realist,
wrote Summa Theologica and used
Philosophy to help explain the doctrine
and mysteries of the church.

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 Scholastic
Realism
✢ Scholastic Schools have two methods of
teaching:
1. Lectio – teacher reads a simple text;
no questions are permitted;
2. Disputatio – questions to be disputed
are announced beforehand

Education is a process to lift

 Humanistic
Realism
✢This started after the renaissance.
✢It studies the present solution to each problem
of life.
✢Aimed to secure a knowledge of human
society and its institutions of nature and
man’s reactions to nature, chiefly through
the content and not the form of classics.
Social Realism
✢This started as a reaction to a type of
education which aimed to produce scholars
rather than men of affairs.
✢Aimed to train “gentlemen” for active
participation in social life and social
judgment and to prepare practical man of
the world.

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 Social Realism
✢Social realists follow the “travel of journey
method.”

Education equips learners for a

happy and successful life as a
man of the world.
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Sense Realism
✢The sense realism in education
emphasizes the training of the senses as
they are the gateways of knowledge and
learning.
✢Nature is the treasure house of all
knowledge which can only be obtained
through the training of senses.

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Sense Realism
✢Sense realism give more importance to the
study of natural science and contemporary
social life.

✢Sense realists believe that through

education, man can still know laws of nature
and thereby, control nature.

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Sense Realism
✢ Sense realists emphasize three things:
1. Application of the inductive method
2. Replacement of Latin instructions to
vernacular instructions.
3. To replace studies in language and
literature by new scientific and social
studies.
Realism in
Education
 REALISM IN EDUCATION

• Against the traditional education.

• Has given emphasis to liberal education.
• Supported by Science.
• According to Milton, “I call a generous and complete
education that which fits a man to perform justly,
skillfully and magnanimously all the offices both
private and public, at peace and war.”

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 REALISTIC SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

1. Preparing the Child for a Happy and Successful Life

2. Preparing the Child for a Real Life
3. Developing the Physical and Mental Powers of Child
4. Developing and Training of Senses
5. Acquitting the Child with Nature and Social Environment
6. Imparting Vocational Education

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 REALISM AND CURRICULUM

• They give primary importance to nature study, physical

sciences and vocational training.
• All those things which are useful to the child in his life, the
knowledge of these things must be given to the child.
• Give importance to the mother tongue and vocational
subjects to be successful in life.

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 REALISM & METHODS OF TEACHING

• Give more emphasis to sense training.

• Milton emphasized the importance of travelling in education
• Locke emphasized the importance of observation and
experimentation
• Inductive - Deductive method is also advocated by Milton
and Locke

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 REALISM AND TEACHER

• The teacher must have knowledge on the nature of the

child. They must know their needs.
• The teacher must also be conversant with the scientific
and psychological methods and techniques of teaching.

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 REALISM AND DISCIPLINE

• Does not favor expressionistic type of discipline.

• It gives importance in discipline based on love and
sympathy.
• Realism believes in “discipline through natural
consequences”

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 MERITS OF REALISM

• It lays emphasis on practical knowledge

• The aim of the development of a dynamic and adaptable
mind
• Due importance to science and technology
• Progressive methods of teaching
• Proper concept of discipline
• Emphasis on objectivity

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• Development of proper attitudes among the students
• Physical health
• Instructions are given on a uniform scientific method
• Emphasis on vocational education is in tune with the modern
conditions and aspirations of society

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 DEMERITS OF REALISM

• Emphasis on the immediate reality of the physical

• Realism ignores the importance of emotions.
• No place for intuition and meditation
• More importance only to scientific subjects
• No faith in eternal value and high ideals of life

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 Conclusion
Realism is a philosophy that concerns itself to the
realities of life. Put into the field of education, it
prepares the child to face the world and all its ups
and downs to survive.
Survival being put into consideration, a realist
curriculum will engage the teachers and learners to
real activities that will equip the learners about the
current happenings in their world. As a social being,
knowledge about science and contemporary social
studies will enable them to contribute and fulfill a
role in the society.
 References
1. Dash, S. N. R. (2015). Philosophical foundation of education.
Directorate of Distance & Continuing Education.
Bhubaneswar:-751007
2. Hale, B. (n.d.) Realism. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/realism-philosophy
3. Iral, F. et. al. (2012). Teaching Profession. Diliman, Quezon City:
St. Andrew Publishing House
4. Realism. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://www.informationphilosopher.com/knowledge/realism.ht
ml
 References
5. Realism. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_realism.html
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7.https://www.slideshare.net
/mobile/BhawanaJoshi2/realism-in-education
8.https://www.google.com/amps/philosophyterms.com
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