Five Philosophies of

Education
1. Essentialism
2. Progressivism
3. Perennialism
4. Existentialism
5. Behaviorism

Philosphy
Means love or the pursuit of wisdom
Comes from the greek words,
philo meaning love and
Sophos meaning wisdom

What is a philosophy of education, and why should it be

important to us?
behind every school and every teacher is a set of related beliefs--a
philosophy of education--that influences what and how students are taught. A
philosophy of education represents answers to questions about the purpose of
schooling, a teacher's role, and what should be taught and by what methods.

Essentialism
Why teach? this philosophy contends that
teachers teach for learners to acquire basic
knowledge, skills and values. Teachers teach not
to radically reshape society but rather to
transmit the traditional moral values and
intellectual knowledge that students need to
become model citizens.

What to teach - essentialist programs are academically

rigorous. The emphasis is on academic content for students to
learn the basic skills of the fundamental rs reading, riting,
rithmetic, right conduct - as these are essential to the
acquisition of higher or more complex skills needed in
preparation for adult life.
Curriculum includes the traditional disciplines such as math,
natural science, history, foreign language and literature.
The teachers and administrators decide what is most
important for the students to learn and place little emphasis
on students interest, particularly when they divert time and
attention from the academic curriculum.

How to teach essentialist teachers emphasize mastery

of the subject matter. They are expected to be intellectual
and moral models of their students. They are seen as
fountain of information and as paragon of virtue, if
ever there is such a person. To gain mastery of basic
skills, teachers have to observe core requirements,
longer school day, a longer academic year
Teachers rely heavily on the use of prescribed
textbooks, the drill method and other methods that will
enable them to cover as much academic content as
possible like the lecture method. There is a heavy stress

Progressivism
Why teach progressivist teachers teach to develop
learners into becoming enlightened and intelligent
citizens of a democratic society. This group of teachers
teach learners so they may live fully NOW not to
prepare them for adult life

What to teach the progressivist are identified with

need-based and relevant curriculum. This is a curriculum
that responds to students needs and that relates to
students personal lives and expiriences
Accepts the impermanence of life and the inevitability
of change. For the progressivist, everything else changes.
Change is the only thing that does not change.
Concerned with teaching the learners the skills to cope
with change. Instead of occupying themselves with
teaching facts or bits of information that are true today
but become obsolete tomorrow.

The subjects given emphasis in progressivist schools

are the natural and social sciences. Teachers expose
students to many new scientific, technological, and
social development, reflecting the progressivist notion
that progress and change are fundamental.
How to teach progressivist teachers employ
experiential methods. They believe that one learns by
doing.
Other hands-on-minds-on teaching methodology
that progressivist teachers use are fieldtrips during
which students interact with nature and society.

Perennialism
Why teach we are all rational animals. Schools
should, therefore, develop the students rational and
moral powers. According to Aristotle, if we neglect the
students reasoning skills, we deprive the of the ability
to use their higher faculties to control their passion and
appetites.

What to teach the perennialist curriculum is a

universal one on the view that all human beings
possess the same essential nature.
Less emphasis on vocational and technical education
Philosopher Adler claims that the Great Books of
ancient and medieval as well as modern times are
repository of knowledge and wisdom, a tradition of
culture which must initiate each generation. What
perennialist teachers teach are lifted from the Great
Books.

How to teach the perennialist classrooms

are centered around teachers. The teachers
do not allow the students interest or
experiences to substantially dictate what they
teach.
They
apply
whatever
creative
techniques and other tried and true methods
which are believed to be most conducive to
disciplining the students minds. Students
engage in Socratic dialogues, or mutual inquiry
sessions to develop an understanding of
historys most timeles sconcepts.

Existentialism
Why teach the main concern of the existentialists
is to help the students understand and appreciate
themselves as unique individuals who accept complete
responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Teachers role is to help students define their own
essence by exposing them to various paths they take in
life and by creating an environment in which they
freely choose their own preferred way.

What to teach students are given a wide variety of

options from which to choose. Students are afforded great
latitude in their choice of subject matter. the humanities,
however, are given tremendous emphasis to provide
students with the various experiences that will help
unleash their own creativity and self expression.
For ex., rather than emphasizing historical events,
existentialists focus upon the actions of historical
individuals, each of whom provides possible models for
the students own behaviour.

Vocational education is regarded more as a means of

teaching students about themselves and their potential
than of earning a livelihood. In teaching art,
existentialism encourages individual creativity and
imagination more than copying and imitating
established models.

How to teach existentialist methods focus on the

individual. It includes a great deal of individual
contact with the teacher, who relates to each student
openly and honestly. To help the students know
themselves and their place in society, teachers employ
values clarification strategy. In the use of such
strategy, teachers remain non-judgemental and take
care not to impose their values on their students since
values are personal.

Behaviorism
Why teach behaviourist schools are concerned
with the modification and shaping of students
behaviour by providing for a favorable environment,
since they believe that they are a product of their
environment. They are after students who exhibit
desirable behaviour in society.

What to teach because behaviourists look at

people and other animals as complex combination
of matter that act only in response to internally or
externally generated physical stimuli, behaviourist
teachers teach students to respond favourably to
various stimuli in the environment.

How to teach behaviourist teachers ought to

arrange environmental conditions so that the students
can make the response to stimuli. Physical variables
like light, temperature, arrangement of furniture's, size
and quantity od visual aids have to be controlled to get
the desired responses from the learners.
They ought to provide appropriate incentives to
reinforce positive responses and weaken or eliminate
negative ones