4 Educational Philosophies

"Good morning, class. Today, we will explore the four educational philosophies. We will start from the most traditional to the most contemporary."

Perennialism

-Idealism

"The first philosophy is perennialism, which focuses on ideas that are everlasting through literature, art, philosophy, or religion. It stems from idealism. Idealism is the general philosophy that ideas are the only true reality. Who can tell us how they were taught in this philosophy? Let's see... Yes, Martha?"

 "I have been taught in this philosophy because I had a religious upbringing. My grandmother is Christian, so every Sunday, she took me to church, where I learned about from the Bible, which I believe have those everlasting truths you mentioned."

Perennialism

-Idealism

-Bloom & Hutchins

Plato & Socrates

"Thank you for sharing your valuable experience with the class, Martha. Some prominent figures to remember are perennialism's key proponents: Allan Bloom and Robert Hutchins. 

The originators of idealism are Plato and Socrates. 

Essentialism

-Realism

"The next philosophy is essentialism, which focuses on the common core, 'the basics' of information and skills such as cultural heritage needed for citizenship. It stems from realism which is the philosophy that reality exists independent of human mind. Who can give me an example of being taught in this educational philosophy? Yes...Jason?"

"Well, I can relate because the middle school I'd attended was a STEM-based school, where students had the opportunity to learn the core curriculum of science, technology, engineering, and math. We learned in a teacher-centered approach by listening to lectures."

Essentialism

-Realism

-Bagley, Bestor, Sizer 

-Aristotle

"Thank you for sharing your valuable insight with the class, Jason. Some prominent figures to remember are the key pioneers of essentialism: William Bagley, Arthur Bestor, and Theodore Sizer. 

The originator of realism is Aristotle."

Progressivism 

-Pragmatism 

"The third philosophy is progressivism, which focuses on ideas that are tested by active experimentation, where learning is rooted in questions of learners in interaction with others. It stems from pragmatism. Pragmatism is the general philosophy that the universe is dynamic, evolving, and that truth is relative. Who can tell us how they were taught in this philosophy? Let's see... Yes, Andrew?"

"Well, Mr. Pierce, our US Civics teacher always let us have the opportunity to do group projects, where we find the modern problems and solutions to the everyday lives of citizens in the United States. This student-centered approach to learning really seems to embody progressivism."