Two Philosophies of Education

Historical Perspectives

Plato – Education is aimed at the Plato – Education is aimed at the good of good of societysociety

Historical Perspectives

Plato –Believed that individuals Plato –Believed that individuals were born with different were born with different temperaments, capacities, and temperaments, capacities, and intellectual endowments. All were intellectual endowments. All were to work toward the to work toward the well-ordered, well-ordered, well-balanced societywell-balanced society

Historical Perspectives

Rousseau – believed education was Rousseau – believed education was for the good of the for the good of the individualindividual

Historical Perspectives

Rousseau – Basic tenet is that the Rousseau – Basic tenet is that the young child should learn freely and young child should learn freely and naturallynaturally

Rousseau’s vision was the unique worth Rousseau’s vision was the unique worth of each individual and the need for of each individual and the need for freedom in education to achieve freedom in education to achieve individuality and personhoodindividuality and personhood

So Major Question – Is education to promote society or the individual?

Historical Perspectives

Dewey – believed that both aims Dewey – believed that both aims were achievablewere achievable

Historical Perspectives

Dewey – At the heart of his view Dewey – At the heart of his view was the idea of learning from was the idea of learning from experienceexperience

Historical Perspectives

Dewey – believed that we learn:Dewey – believed that we learn: By doing and from experiences By doing and from experiences This became the slogan of This became the slogan of

progressive educatorsprogressive educators

Two Views of Education

ProgressivesTraditionalists

Traditionalists

Look at the school as society’s Look at the school as society’s agency for guiding individuals agency for guiding individuals from unsocial modes f behaviorfrom unsocial modes f behavior

Believes in the importance of basic Believes in the importance of basic subjects – language arts, math, subjects – language arts, math, science, historyscience, history

Traditionalists

Civilization is a social productCivilization is a social product Traditionalists are suspicious of Traditionalists are suspicious of

change as our knowledge and change as our knowledge and culture are too precious to changeculture are too precious to change

Traditionalists

The traditionalists see the adult as The traditionalists see the adult as the mature and wise judge of what the mature and wise judge of what the young should learn.the young should learn.

Traditionalists

Traditionalists emphasize Traditionalists emphasize academic standardsacademic standards

The classroom should be teacher-The classroom should be teacher-centeredcentered

The curriculum is content basedThe curriculum is content based

Traditionalists

Emphasize structure and disciplineEmphasize structure and discipline Rely on grading, tracking, and Rely on grading, tracking, and

grouping children by abilitygrouping children by ability

Traditionalists

See value of rote memorization and See value of rote memorization and drilldrill

See purpose of education is to pass See purpose of education is to pass on a body of knowledge (factual on a body of knowledge (factual and cultural)and cultural)

Traditionalists

Must learn basic skills before they can Must learn basic skills before they can solve problemssolve problems

The teacher’s role is to transmit The teacher’s role is to transmit meanings and truthsmeanings and truths

Traditionalists

See knowledge systems that See knowledge systems that contain meanings and truths contain meanings and truths independent of what individuals independent of what individuals thinkthink

Traditionalists

Subject MatterSubject MatterReadingReading. Reliance on a phonics . Reliance on a phonics approach.approach.

MathematicsMathematics. Reliance on direct . Reliance on direct instruction; drill, computation instruction; drill, computation skills.skills.

Traditionalists

Subject MatterSubject MatterSocial studiesSocial studies focus on civics, focus on civics, history, geography, the history, geography, the American heritage, and cross-American heritage, and cross-cultural studies.cultural studies.

Traditionalists

GradesGrades are assigned by are assigned by comparing performance with comparing performance with age/grade peers.age/grade peers.

Progressives

Progressive education began to Progressive education began to take shape in 1875 and formally take shape in 1875 and formally ended in the 1950’sended in the 1950’s

Progressives

However, progressive movements However, progressive movements still are exists – today the most still are exists – today the most obvious is constructivistsobvious is constructivists

Progressives

Oppose rote memorization, drill, Oppose rote memorization, drill, stern discipline, and the learning of stern discipline, and the learning of fixed subject matter defined in fixed subject matter defined in adult terms with little relation to adult terms with little relation to the child.the child.

Progressives

Real life-experiences is the most Real life-experiences is the most valuable teachingvaluable teaching

Progressives

Progressives favor changeProgressives favor change Progressives see history as Progressives see history as

dynamic – changingdynamic – changing

Progressives

Experimentation is the test of any Experimentation is the test of any idea or actionidea or action

The goal is that students learn to The goal is that students learn to think for themselvesthink for themselves

Progressives

Promotes developmentally Promotes developmentally appropriate practicesappropriate practices

Focus on problem solvingFocus on problem solving

Progressives

Use context cues to learn to readUse context cues to learn to read The teachers role is to help The teachers role is to help

students construct meaning and students construct meaning and truthstruths

Progressives

Subject MatterSubject MatterReading. Reading. Reliance on a Reliance on a

whole-word approach.whole-word approach. MathematicsMathematics. Reliance on . Reliance on

discovery and student-discovery and student-initiated learning.initiated learning.

Progressives

Subject MatterSubject MatterSocial studiesSocial studies focus is on focus is on

diversity, multiculturalism, diversity, multiculturalism, social concerns and social social concerns and social responsibilities.responsibilities.

Progressives

GradesGrades are downplayed in favor are downplayed in favor of teacher comments on of teacher comments on progress.progress.

Every decision made in education is made based from a traditionalist or progressivist point of view.