Chapter 6 Philosophy and Aims of Education Presented by the NRVers

What is your Philosophy of Education?  Using the index card given, write down your personal philosophy of education

Getting to the Bull’s Eye: AIM ENDS PURPOSES FUNCTIONS UNIVERSAL GOALS

Let’s think about it…  What are the “aims” of education in the U.S. today?  How were these “aims” derived?  “Salad Bowl” vs. “Melting Pot” controversy

Bull’s Eye:  The aims of education are very broad, statements of the purposes of education. Aims are meant to give general direction to education throughout the country. Local State Federal

Truth? Declaration? or Implied Aim? Education is life, not preparation for life. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day: teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

Philosophies of Education “ Statements of aims of education are positions taken that are based on a set of beliefs-a philosophy of education.” “Philosophies of education stem from philosophies of life.” Our text examines four philosophies of education:

Reconstructionism  John Dewey  Heavy emphasis on controversial social issues  Huge desire to make the school a primary agency for social change

Perennialism  Plato and Aristotle  Education is disciplining of the mind, development of the ability to reason, and the pursuit of truth.  Education is preparation for life, but education is not life.  Looks backward for the answers to social problems.

Essentialism  William C. Bagley  Seek to preserve the society.  Goals are primarily cognitive and intellectual: the three R’s and the “hard” subjects form the core of the curriculum.  Tailors the child to the curriculum.  Perceives education as preparation for some future purpose.

Progressivism  John Dewey  Education is not a product to be learned, but a process that continues as long as one lives.  Child learns best by being an active participant in learning, “learning by doing” and “hands on.”

Can you guess?  Only two of these philosophies appear to have large followings in schools today.  Turn to your neighbor  Progressivism and Essentialism  Why do you think this is happening?

Summary:  Looking at your original thoughts on philosophy of education, which philosophy or philosophies do you tend to follow?  Keep in mind the development of aims of education and a school philosophy is seen as the first phase of a comprehensive model for curriculum development