3. ESSENTIALISM
AS A
PHILOSOPHY
Values the essence;
Set of attributes that make an object
what it fundamentally is.
*Plato, one of the first essentialists,
postulating the concept of ideal forms-
- an abstract entity of which individual
objects are mere facsimiles.
4. DIANA FUSS,
GAY/LESBIAN ADV
OCATE, SAID:
"Essentialism is most commonly understood as a
belief in the real, true essence of things, the
invariable and fixed properties which define the
'whatness' of a given entity".
5. ESSENTIALISM AS A PHILOSOPY OF
EDUCATION
• -is an educational
philosophy whose
adherents believe that
children should learn the
traditional basic subjects
thoroughly.
• -the aim is to install
students with the
"essentials" of academic
knowledge, enacting a
back-to-basics approach.
6. ESSENTIALISM AS A TEACHER-
CENTERED PHILOSOPHY
• teacher is the centre of the classroom - be rigid
and disciplinary
• teacher must interpret essentials of the
learning process, take the leadership position
and set the tone of the classroom
• an educator who is academically well-qualified
with an appreciation for learning and
development
7.
8.
9. ✓ United States in the year 1938
✓ " The Essentialist's Committee for the
Advancement of Education "
✓ An Introduction to the philosophy of Education ,
written by Michael John Demiashkevich.
✓ In 1938 Bagley and other educators met togteher
10. WILLIAN BAGLEY
(1874 - 1946)
• He completed his undergraduate
degree on 1895.
• Graduate studies at University
of Chicago and at Cornell
University
• Bagley acquired PH.d in the year
1900.
• In April 1938 , published the
Essentialist's Platform.
11. 3 MAJOR POINTS OF
ESSENTIALISM
• He described the right of students to a well
- educated and culturally knowledgeable
teacher.
• He discussed the importance of teaching
the ideas of community to each group of
students.
• Lastly , Bagley wrote of the importance of
accuracy , thoroughness and effort part of
the student in the classrom.
16. CRITICISM OF ESSENTIALISM
• Students are forced to learn a body of knowledge and are expected to meet up with the standards
set by the teacher.
• Minimal to no attention given to extracurricular activities, which places students who learn and excel
through extracurricular activities at a disadvantage.
• No freedom of choice to students.
• Students begin to take a more passive role in their education because they rely solely on teachers to
impart knowledge.
• Students trained under an essentialist point of view will lack creativity.
• Learners, also tend to lack adaptability in a fast-changing world since they were taught traditional
basic knowledge.
On the positive side...
• Since essentialism focus on basic instruction, it gives the learner stable and strong foundations of
knowledge needed in a more complex subject.
• Essentialism does not stress only in basic skills and knowledge, but most importantly, Character,
Discipline, and Nationalism.
