PED 109 THE TEACHER AND THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOL CULTURE AND

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

LET’S EXPLORE !!!

ACTIVITY #1
A. Based on the philosophies you have examined, make a comparison of the
philosophies guided by the categories provided in the matrix below.

COMPARISON MATRIX OF MAJOR PHILOSOPHIES

PHILOSOPHIES

IDEALISM REALISM PRAGMATISM

AIMS OF EDUCATION > discover and >In realism, it prepares the >It believes that
develop people’s child for a happy and there can be no
abilities and full moral successful life. It fixed aims of
excellence so they can acquaints the child with education. Life is
better serve society. nature and social dynamic and
The aims of environment. It develops subject to constant
the physical and mental
education are as change, and hence
powers of the child. It
follows the aims of
develops and trains the
1. EXALTATION OF
senses of the child. It education are
HUMAN PERSONALITY.
prepares the child for real bound to be
2. UNIVERSAL
life. It provides the dynamic.
EDUCATION.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF understanding of the
INITIATIVE & CREATIVE material world through
POWER. inquiry. It is a study of
4. ACQUISITION AND science and the scientific
ENRICHMENT OF
CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT.
method. It transmits
5.DEVELOPMENT OF culture and develop
MORAL SENSE. human nature and there is
6. SELF REALIZATION. a need to know the world
in order to ensure survival
and good life.

ROLES OF TEACHERS >An idealist teacher >Realist educators >teachers should

focuses on the ideal encourage students to explicitly teach
act of the students draw their observations students group
and the ideas and conclusions from the work, cooperation
according to words of world around them, rather and negotiation
God . Idealist teacher than confining themselves skills. They should
in a classroom aims to to an analysis of their own then encourage
develop students’ ideas. Realist educators children to practice
spiritual, mental and are objective, believing in those skills
moral being. The a systematic approach to throughout their
teacher’s role is to be order and classified daily tasks. The
a skillful questioner knowledge, building on chief function of
who encourages previously learned pragmatic teacher
students to think and information. They are less is to suggest
ask more questions in likely to encourage their problems to his
an environment that students to seek the truth pupils and to
is suitable for learning. in literature and ideas, stimulate them to
 instead encouraging them find by themselves,
to seek the truth by the solutions, which
testing learned principles will work. The
on the world around them. teacher and pupils
attack a problem
jointly.
ROLES OF STUDENTS >Some of the Goals of > Realism calls >The students learn
an idealist in the self-discipline for the the technique of
classroom or the role learners by controlling managing their own
of the student is to their feelings, desires and responsibilities
share ideas, allow perform duties. Realism in which would
them to think outside education recognizes the prepare them to
the books or the importance of the child. face the different
teacher's words not The child is a real unit challenges of real
taking them as a which has real life. It makes a man
universal truth, existence. He has some socially efficient i.e.
knowing that their feelings, some desires he can determine
ideas are also equally and some powers. All his goals according
important and getting these cannot be to his needs and
involved in their overlooked. These powers interests.
learning process. of the child shall have to
be given due regarding at
the time of planning
education. Child can
reach near reality through
learning by reason. Child
has to be given as much
freedom as possible. The
child is to be enabled to
proceed on the basis of
facts; the child can learn
only when he follows the
laws of learning.”
CURRICULUM >The teacher has right >It was developed >Principle of Utility:
to choose suitable according to utility and According to this
content from the needs. It contains principle only those
available literature and subjects concerning day subjects, activities
to teach. The student to day activities. The main and experiences
is a passive receptor, subjects are natural should be included
science, physical
who has to gain the in the curriculum
science, health culture,
knowledge transferred which are useful to
physical exercise, math,
by the knowledge. The geography, history and the present needs
teacher certifies the astronomy. of the child and
disciple at the also meet the future
successful completion expectations of
of education as per adult life as well.
the above given age Principle of Interest:
levels (Singh). According to this
principle, only those
activities and
experiences where
the child takes
 interest are of four
varieties namely
(i) Interest in
conversation
(ii) Interest in
investigation
(iii) Interest in
construction and
(iv) Interest in
creative expression.

B. By means of a Venn diagram, compare the following philosophies:

Perennialism and Essentialism
Progressivism and Social Reconstructivism

Parennialism Essentialism
Perennialism is an educational
philosophy that states one
should teach the things that
are of “everlasting”
importance to all people
everywhere. Perennialists also
believe that one should teach
principles, not facts.

Essentialism is an educational philosophy that strives to ensure that

students acquire thorough understandings of the traditional basic subjects.
Therefore, the main goal of this educational philosophy is to instil students with
the basics of academic knowledge, endorsing a back to basics approach.
PED 109 THE TEACHER AND THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOL CULTURE AND
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

LET’S EXPLORE !!!

ACTIVITY #2

Reflecting on the different elements of these philosophies/ theories, specify the elements that
appeal to you most. List them on the column provided for. Indicate with a star the elements you
would include in your own philosophy.
IDEALISM REALISM ESSENTIALISM PROGRESSIVISM

B. Complete the analytical web below.

Analytical Web of Educational Theories
 INVENTORY OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

C. Read the following statements and views about the schools and teaching. Decide how strong
you agree and disagree with the statement. Use the scale below and write your responses on
the blank before each statement:
5 Agree 2 Disagree
4 Agree 1 Strongly Disagree
3 Neither agree nor disagree

__5___1. A school curriculum includes the essentials that the students should know.
__4___2. A school curriculum deals with time tested ideas.
__5___3. Field trips, internships, and practicum connect classroom theories to the real world.
__4___4. Schools should develop among the students the ability to solve social problems.
__3___5. The student should decide what he wants to learn and when to learn it.
__4___6. Students could be promoted to the higher level only. When they have mastered the
Key materials.
__5___7. Schools should develop students’ ability to think, analyze, and reason out.
__5___8. Teachers must emphasize to the students the relation of their learning to real world.
__5___9. School should teach students how to recognize problems in society and work for the
solutions to alleviate them.
__5___10. Students who do not what to study should not be forced to do so.
__5___11. Teachers should require students to work hard and master academic lessons taught
to merit grades.
__5___12. Learning should be appreciated for its own sake. It is not about solving problems and
memorizing facts.
__5___13. The experiences and needs of the students should be considered in preparing the
curriculum.
__5___14. Schools should development among the students respect for ethnic and racial
groups.
__5____15. The purpose of the school is to help students understand themselves and find their
own place in the world.
__4____16. To be able to compete in the global village, schools must raise standards for
academic requirements to produce competent graduates.
__4____17. Teachers must prescribe the use of Great Books because they contain insights to
the issues at present.
__4____18. Schools should include opportunities for social interaction in the curriculum.
__4____19. Schools should develop political literacy among the students so they can use it to
improve the quality of life.
__5____20. The primary function of the school is to provide students options and choices to
decide for themselves.
__4____21. Schools must encourage students to memorize basic facts about people and events
that shaped history.
__5____22. The teacher’s main objective is to help students unlock the insights gained over
time, so they can learn from the great thinkers of the past.
__5____23. Students should be active participants in the learning process.
__5____24. Teaching means identifying a new list of Great Books relevant to the present times
which would prepare students to create a better society than their ancestors.
__5____25. Teachers should assist the students in discovering themselves and developing thir
own personal values, even those values conflict with other values.

Interpreting your response:

Now that you have responded to the items, write the number of your response to each
statement in the spaces below. Add the numbers in each column to determine your attitude
towards the educational philosophies. The highest possible score in any column is 25, and the
lowest is 5. Scores in the 20’s indicate strong agreement and scores below 10 indicate
disagreement with the tenets of a particular philosophy.

Compare your 5 scores. What is your highest ? What is your lowest? To what philosophy
do you strongly adhere to? You may notice that the your philosophical learning, as identified by
your responses, reflect your general outlook or philosophy. You may now start working on your
philosophical statement.
A. Essentialism B. Perrenialism C. Progressivism D. Social E. Existentialism
Constructivism
1.________. 2. ________ 3. __________. 4.___________ 5. ___________
6_________. 7. ________. 8. __________. 9. ___________ 10. __________
11.________. 12. _______. 13. _________. 14. __________. 15. __________
16. ________. 17. ________. 18. _________ 19. __________ 20. __________
21. ________. 22. ________. 23. _________. 24. __________. 25. __________

SCORES:
____________. _____________. ______________ ______________ ____________

ASSESS YOUR SELF

Now that you have analyzed the important philosophies and theories on education,
develop your own philosophies of education stating what you think the purpose of schooling
education is; how subjects be taught; what do you need to now about students to be able to
teach them. Include your idea of a good teacher. Formulate one which you think will be your
guiding light in your future career.

MY OWN PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATION