Philosophical Foundations of Curriculum (With Critique)

Philosophical Foundations of Curriculum

Each of these philosophies of curriculum has roots in one or more of the four major philosophical
traditions mentioned.
Perennialism- oldest and most conservative educational philosophy, rooted in realism. Perennialism
relies on the past; especially the past asserted by universal knowledge and cherished values of society. It is
a plea for the permanency of knowledge that has stood the test of time and for values that have moral,
spiritual, and/or physical constancies of existence.
1. Aim of education
1. to educate the rational person; to cultivate the intellect
2. Education is preparation for life, and the students should be taught of the worlds
permanencies through structured studies.
3. Truths are constant and universal.
4. Students must acquire knowledge of unchanging principles
2. Methods of education
1. Planned activities based upon fundamental subjects, social values, norms and practices
2. attaining cultural literacy, stressing students growth in enduring disciplines
3. Use of Great Books
4. Literary analysis, philosophical essays and debates
5. Use of computers and other instructional tools
3. Role of the teacher
1. Teachers help students think with reason; Coaching
2. Exercising (speech, listening), problem solving
3. Allowing Supervised practice
4. Implication to the curriculum
1. Permanent Studies.
1. use of great books reading works of great thinkers which in turn, should discipline the
mind and cultivate the intellect. (Shakespeare, St. Augustine, works of Aristotle, Plato,
Erasmus)
2. Classical subjects, teaching knowledge that endures
2. Padeia Proposal (Mortimer Adler)
1. Acquisition of organized knowledge to be taught by didactic instruction (teachercentered instruction)
2. Development of basic learning skills by coaching
3. Ideas and values to be taught by the Socratic method (art of questioning)

4. Broad liberal education for all students, emphasis on 3Rs, use of best books.
3. Returning to the Liberal Arts (Allan Bloom)
1. Accordingly, education has not been consistent with universal standards and subjects,
eroding the quality of education resulting to youth without depth and indifference to
critical thought.
2. Bloom and Hutchins seeks to re-establish the idea of an educated person along the great
books and great thinkers line
4. Critique of Perennialism
1. Strengths of Perennialism
1. Giving importance and learning from the past
2. Cultivation of the intellect
2. Weaknesses of Perennialism
1. A common education for all may not be effective to some, as some educators
stress that one size does not fit all
Essentialism- another traditional and conservative philosophy. School curriculum should be geared to
the fundamentals or essentials: the three Rs for elementary school, and five essential subjects at the
secondary school (English, math, science, history, and foreign language). Essentialists believe that there is
a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic, disciplined way
1. Aim of education
1. To promote the intellectual growth of the individual and educate a complete person. Mastery
of basic skills and moral knowledge. Develop individual to perform justly, skillfully and
magnanimously.
2. Provide sound training of the fundamental skills.
2. Methods of Education
1. Deductive method
2. Drill method
3. Recitation
4. Memorization
1. Back to Basics Curriculum
1. Emphasis on essential skills (3 Rs, 5 essential subjects)
2. Emphasis on hard sciences and vocational courses.
2. Emphasizing Content, De-emphasizing Process- the importance of knowing the facts in
helping the students to think and comprehend
3. Excellence in education

4. Cultural Literacy
1. The teacher is the sole authority in his/her subject area or field of specialization
2. Base the lesson to the book.
5. Critique of Essentialism
Strengths of Essentialism
1. Schooling should be practical, preparing students to become valuable members of
society
2. Seeking to develop the whole person
3. Excellency not adequacy
Weaknesses of Essentialism
1. Teacher-centered instruction
2. Learning is relatively static, since there is only one way to understand the world that is
already written in the book (textbook approach to learning).
Progressivism- From pragmatic philosophy, a protest against perennialist thinking. The skills and tools
of learning include problem-solving methods and scientific inquiry; in addition, learning experiences
should include cooperative behaviours and self-discipline, both of which are important for democratic
living.
1. Aim of Education:
1. To promote democratic and social living
1. Students should be involved by real problems so that they gain ownership to the problem and
how to solve it
2. Students as creative and critical thinkers
3. Subjects are inter-disciplinary, integrative and interactive. Curriculum is focused on Students
interest, human problems and affairs.
4. Knowledge should lead to growth and development
5. Cooperative learning strategies.
6. Reflective strategies
7. Problem solving strategies
1. Experiential- Experience-centered activies on life functions, relevant and contextualized
curriculum
2. Interdisciplinary- Invites students to see connections among the skills and content of different
disciplines
3. Project-Based- opportunities for explicit skills instruction and rehearsal

4. Assessment-Driven- Assessment should reflect the goals of the teaching
1. Facilitator
2. Observer
5. Critique of Progressivism
Strengths of Progressivism
1. Child-centered. Values-all children are worthy as individuals
2. Forward thinking standards
3. Culturally Inclusive- insist upon core values of respect, kindness, non-violence. Schools,
as small utopias, can model the future of the planet
Weaknesses of Progressivism
1. No outline for a uniform theory of the purpose of schooling
2. Some critics believe that it does not prepare children to become scientists and
mathematicians
3. Some critics also doubt the no-grade system, the teacher not being the main source of
knowledge, lack of corporal punishment and lack of standardized tests as not beneficial
for students learning
4. Too much emphasis on child-centered education that only serves the children of the
middle class, with its play theories and private schools.
Reconsructionism- based on early socialistic and utopian ideas. More emphasis was given on societycentered education that took into consideration the needs of society (not the individual) and all classes
(not only the middle class).
1. Aim of education
1. Based on the quest for better society
1. Strategies for dealing with controversial issues (particularly in social studies and literature),
inquiry, dialogue, and multiple perspectives are the focus.
2. Community-based learning and bringing the world into the classroom
3. Implication to the Curriculum
1. curriculum focuses on student experience and taking social action on real problems, such as
violence, hunger, international terrorism, inflation, and inequality (not only knowing, but
acting)
2. learning that enables the individual to live in a global milieu
3. focus on controversial national and international issues
4. emphasis on social sciences and social research method; examination of social, economic and
political problems
5. focused on present and future trends
1. Lead the learners in designing programs for social, educational, practical, and economical
change
2. Initiates lively discussions on controversial issues, political and educational
3. Enables the learners to critically examine their cultural heritage
4. Enlivens the students awareness of different societal problems
5. Critique of Reconstructionism
Strengths of Reconstructionism
1. Critically examines the cultural heritage of a society as well as the entire civilization
2. Is not afraid to examine cultural issues
3. Commit to bring about social and constructive change
4. Cultivate a future planning attitude that considers the realities of the world
5. Enlist students and teachers in a definite program to enhance cultural renewal and
inter-culturalism
Weaknesses of Reconstructionism
1. Questions have been raised concerning whether or not schools should become a tool for
re-making society.
2. Questions have also been raised as to whether students at any age have the intellectual
and social maturity to participate in social action.
3. Reconstructionists become precipitous in their recommendation for reform (all talk
with little effect).
4. Lack of popularity among mass of people and educators
5. No new program sand goals to capture the imagination of contemporary activists
Behaviorism- According to a pure behaviorist, human beings are shaped entirely by their external
environment. Alter a persons environment, and you will alter his or her thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Provide positive reinforcement whenever students perform a desired behavior, and soon they will learn to
perform the behavior on their own.
1. Aim of education
1. Change behaviour and point it in more desirable directions.
2. Reinforcing positive behaviour (punishment and reward)
1. Use of teaching machines or computers
2. Reward and punishment

3. Use of programmed learning written by competent people
1. Education is not only giving people information bt controlling influence over peoples lives. So
curriculum should include rewards for good behaviour, and punishment for bad behaviour.
1. To condition students through grades, their attitudes toward them, gestures, and other ways.
5. Critique of behaviourism
Strengths of Behaviorism
1. It is scientific and research based
2. Reinforcement is useful in controlling and directing children with motor and mental
disabilities
3. Positive and negative reinforcement are positive aids in the educational process
Weaknesses of Behaviorism
1. It belittles and limits humanity
2. Nature vs. nurture
3. Who controls and who are being controlled
Humanism1. Aim of Education
1. Individual potentiality, self-actualization
1. Facilitation
2. Self-direction
3. Teamwork
1. Any curriculum is a vehicle for meeting ones needs
1. Individualized instructional process
2. learning projects
3. sensitivity training
4. teacher effective training
5. active listening- letting students to express her/his feelings & then paraphrasing what
s/he has said. No advice is given during active listening
6. Conflict Resolution- the involved people talk how problems emerge and how they can
get rid of those problems/negative attitudes; problem solving & meaningful learning
strategies are used
7. invitational learning- communicating with the student by making her/him feel that s/he
is responsible, able and valuable
8. values clarification
9. moral education
10. multiethnic educational approaches
1. Facilitator
3. Critique of Humanism
1. Strengths of Humanism
1. Importance of individualism, self esteem
2. Weaknesses of Humanism
1. Important societal goals can be missed

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Philosophical Foundations of Curriculum

3. Project-Based- opportunities for explicit skills instruction and rehearsal

2. Reward and punishment

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