REALISM AND

ESSENTIALISM
Group 3:
Joan O. Abuhan
Lyke Therese S. Bagsac
Genaly J. Estomata
REALISM
• comes from a Greek word “res” which
means “real.”
• Represents the theory that particular things
exist independently of our perception.
• Concerns with actualities of life - real
PROPONENTS
• St. Thomas Aquinas
• Francis Bacon
• Alfred North Whitehead
• Bertrand Russell
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
• an Italian Dominican friar
• Catholic priest
• Doctor of the church
• An influential philosopher, theologian,
and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism
• Known as the Doctor Angelicus, the Doctor Communis, and
the Doctor Universalis
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
He believed that the existence of God could be proven in five
ways, mainly by:
1. Observing movement in the world as proof of God – the
“Immovable Mover”;
2. Observing cause and effect and identifying God as the cause of
everything;
3. Concluding that the impermanent nature of beings proves the
existence of a necessary being, God, who originates only from
within Himself;
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
4. Noticing varying levels of human perfection and
determining that supreme, perfect being must
therefore exist; and
5. Knowing that natural beings could not have
intelligence without it being granted to them by
God.
FRANCIS BACON
• Known as Lord Verulam
• Was an English philosopher and
statesman who served as Attorney
General and as Lord Chancellor of England.
• His works are seen as developing scientific method and
remained influential through the scientific revolution.
ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD
• Was an English mathematician
and philosopher.
• He is best known as the defining
figure of the philosophical school.
BERTRAND RUSSELL
• Bertrand Arthur William Russell was a
British polymath and writer.
• He worked in philosophy, mathematics,
and logic.
 The realists posit that knowledge is gained through
reason and experience. (Knowledge comes through the
senses – are the gateway of knowledge)
The function of schools is to train and prepare
professionals and technicians in a society where
professionalism and technical skills are highly prized
(Ozmon & Craver, 2003).
 The curriculum is systematic, organized, and classified
under different subject-matter disciplines such as
languages, mathematics, and science. While the pupils at
the elementary level should learn the basic skills of
reading, writing, arithmetic, and moral values. Higher
ability students should be given liberal education in the
arts and sciences while weaker students should be
channelled to vocational training.
 The Realists see teachers as experts in the various
disciplines such as a teacher knows the subject thoroughly,
is skillful in explaining the content to the students and in
assessing the students’ understanding.
A teacher does not teach what the students are
interested in, but what is essential to develop their
reasoning powers so that they can gain knowledge of the
world of nature.
 Materials should be presented in an orderly and
organized manner, and content is based on facts,
reason and practical use.
ROLE OF STUDENTS:
• To observe the world around them.
• To find out and discover new things.
• Learning by doing with self experience.
Do you consider yourself as a realist
teacher? Why, or why not?
Realism and Aims of Education
• Preparing the child for a happy and successful life
• Preparing the child for a real life
• Developing the physical and mental powers of the child
• Developing and training of senses
• Acquainting the child with nature and social environment
• Imparting vocational education
Realism and Curriculum
• Developed according to utility and needs
• Subjects concerning day to day activities
• Main subjects are Natural Science, Physical Science,
Health Culture, Physical Exercise, Mathematics,
Geography, History, Astronomy
Methods of Teaching
• Scientific and objective Method
• Informal Method
• Self experience and Research
• Experimental Method
• Correlation Method
Teacher
• Supreme – brings the child in touch with external
realities of life
• Imparts scientific knowledge in an easy and effective
way
• Gets testing results that can help prove that the
students are learning the material
Discipline
Emphasizes a synthetic form of impressionistic and
emancipatory discipline according to natural and social
procedures
School
• Socially well planned institution
• Mirror of the society
Realism in the Classroom
• Focuses on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
• Classroom environment is highly structured and organized.
• Utilization of standardized testing.
• Education should be fun and interesting for the student.
• Education should prepare students for life in the real world.
Advantages of Realism
• Practical and Utilitarian
• Related to needs of individual and demand of society
• Revolutionary changes in Method of teaching
• Importance to Science
• Impressionistic and Emancipatory Discipline
• Changed the Organizational Pattern of Schools
 Disadvantages of Realism
• Great stress upon physical world.
• Realism accepts real needs and real feelings only. It doesn’t
believe in imagination and sentiments.
• Realism emphasizes on scientific subjects and neglects art
and literature. This creates imbalanced curriculum.
• Doesn’t give any importance to ideals and values.
• Fails to answer illusion and faulty knowledge.
“ A teacher affects eternity; he can never
tell where his influence stops.”

- Henry Brooks Adams

Thank you!
-Lyke and Gen