This document summarizes four educational philosophies - perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and reconstructivism - and how they influence curriculum development. It describes the key aspects of each philosophy, including their aims of education, the role of teachers, curriculum focus, and trends. Additionally, it discusses how theories from philosophers like Piaget, Vygotsky, and influences from Reggio Emilia shape the curriculum at a child development center to be developmentally appropriate, child-centered, and focused on active learning through exploration and social interaction. Philosophy guides the overall goals and approaches to education, while curriculum implements these philosophically-driven ideas into specific learning experiences.

1. Curriculum
Development
Assignment#1
Joerigene Odette C. Neri
Education 14
Liceo de Cagayan University

2. Perennialism Essentialism Progressivism Reconstructivism
Aim of Education Educate the rational
person; to cultivate
the intellect.
Promote intellectual
growth of the individual
and educate a
competent person.
Promote democratic and
social living.
Education for change,
improve and reconstruct
society.
Describe the educational philosophies related to curriculum.

3. Describe the educational philosophies related to curriculum.
Perennialism Essentialism Progressivism Reconstructivism
Role of Education Teacher helps think
with reason; based
on Socratic
methods; explicit or
deliberate teaching
of values.
The teacher is the sole
authority in his or her
field of specialization
Knowledge leads to
growth and development
of lifelong learners who
actively learn by doing.
Teachers act as agent of change
and reform various educational
projects including research.

4. Describe the educational philosophies related to curriculum.
Perennialism Essentialism Progressivism Reconstructivism
Focus in the
Curriculum
Classical subjects,
literacy analysis and
curriculum is
constant
Essential skill of 3 R’s
and essential subjects
of English, Science,
History, Math and
Foreign Language
Subjects are
interdisciplinary,
integrative and
interactive. Focus on
students’ interest,
human problems and
affairs.
Present and future trends and
issues of national and
international interest.

5. Describe the educational philosophies related to curriculum.
Perennialism Essentialism Progressivism Reconstructivism
Curriculum Trends Use of great books
and return to liberal
arts.
Excellence in education,
back to basics and
cultural literacy.
School reforms, relevant,
and contextualized
curriculum, humanistic
education
Equality of educational
opportunities in education,
access to global education.

6. How does philosophy influence curriculum
 Philosophy
 "It is important that we learn, because we learn things and it makes us know a lot.
 It is good to know things because people are counting on us.”
~ child, 4 years
 The overarching philosophy of the Mentor Graphics Child Development Center is to provide a developmentally
appropriate program for young children that fosters the development of emotionally healthy children and
stimulates children’s natural interest in, and enjoyment of, learning. Our program philosophy and practice has
roots in a social constructivist theory of learning.
 Our broad, long-term program goals include helping children:
 • To become creative, independent thinkers
• To feel competent and productive, with good self-esteem and a sense of self-worth
• To develop a sense of responsibility for their own mental and physical health
• To understand that they are a part of a diverse, multicultural global community and that their actions
influence the quality of that community
• To recognize the riches human differences bring to our world
• To understand the various kinds of intelligences – linguistic, logical/mathematical, musical, physical, spatial
and personal -- that are valuable and important to our communities
• To develop higher moral reasoning and to develop into adults with an internalized code of ethics and
principles

7. How does philosophy influence curriculum
 Curriculum
 “All children have preparedness, potential, curiosity and interest in constructing their learning;
 negotiating with everything their environment brings to them.”
 ~Lella Gandini
 The curriculum in each classroom is negotiated as a conversation between children, teachers, and parents
and is further supported by the design of the environment. There have been many theoretical influences on
our curriculum work that have helped us to continue to learn and develop best practice.
 Some of the best known contributors to our work are Piaget, Vygotsky, Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophy and the
municipal preschools and infant-toddler centers of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Piaget’s work reminds us that open
ended activities and questions support the cognitive development of children because they ask the child to
do their own thinking. Through this type of learning teachers support inquiry and finding out what the
possibilities are in any given experience rather than strictly teaching correct or incorrect fact based
information. Vygotsky’s theories support teachers being keen observers so that they can provide supportive
information to help children to get to the next step in their learning process. Vygotsky referred to this
support as “scaffolding”. His work contributed to an increased understanding in field about how social and
cognitive growth influence one another.

8. How does philosophy influence curriculum
 Our work is strongly influenced by our developing understandings of the municipal preschools in
Reggio Emilia, Italy. The infant/toddler and preschool programs of Reggio have been hailed as
exemplary models of early childhood education (Newsweek, 1991). The Reggio Emilia approach
to education is committed to the creation of conditions for learning that will enhance and
facilitate children's construction of "his or her own powers of thinking through the synthesis of
all the expressive, communicative and cognitive languages" (Edwards and Forman, 1993). As a
Center staff, we continuously research the ideas about excellence in education for young
children that the schools in Reggio offer to improve our practices within the classroom.
 In the CDC infant and toddler rooms, our methods of care giving are strongly impacted by the
RIE philosophy. RIE stands for Resources for Infant Educators. As taught by RIE founder
Magda Gerber, this approach models and promotes mutually respectful relationships between
infants and their caregivers. Infants and Toddlers are seen as unique individuals with a
surprising capacity to participate in relationships and in their own learning.
 To offer an overview of the RIE Philosophy the cornerstones of the practice are:
• Respecting the child
• Fostering his/her independence
• Allowing for natural gross motor development
• Developing a reciprocal trusting relationship

9. How does philosophy influence curriculum
 In summary curriculum is a plan for learning that is:
 • Developmentally and individually based
• Concerned with process, and having the child be an active participant in learning- a constructivist approach
supported by Jean Piaget’s theories
• Sensitive to the child, each child's ability to set his/her own learning pace
• Based on the child’s interests and abilities
• Designed to help the child solve problems, question, experiment and hypothesize- based on Vygotsky’s work that
demonstrates the importance of a social community
• Culturally relevant to children and their families
 Philosophical bases of curriculum: Philosophy is the end and education is the means to achieve that end. Philosophy
determines the goal of life and education tries to achieve the goal Curriculum is positively correlated with the needs
and requirements of the society. The contents of curriculum change to suit the prevalent ideologies and social ways of
thinking Philosophy provides curriculum specialists with a framework for broad issues and tasks, in general what
experiences and activities to stress in schools and classrooms. Relationship between Education and Philosophy in the
modern world. The basic relationship between philosophy and education. It is philosophy, that provides the purpose or
the aim and it is education which makes it practical. Philosophy shows the way and education moves on in that
direction. Education is the modification of behavior, the direction in which, modification to be carried out is
determined by philosophy. Education is a laboratory where philosophic theories and speculations are tested and made
concrete. Education may, therefore, be rightly called applied philosophy. Philosophy is wisdom; education transmits
that wisdom from one generation to the other. Philosophy is in reality the theory of education. Philosophy formulates
the method, education its process.

10. References:
http://www.slideshare.net/jheancarolle/four-educational-
philisophiesanditsrelationtocurriculumdevelopment?qid=e63a2112-466c-467c-
a7aa-dcd37c0ec1a3&v=qf1&b=&from_search=1
http://www.slideshare.net/valarpink/bases-of-curriculum?qid=f2b13826-a59a-
4f9b-912a-19cbb57f10c7&v=default&b=&from_search=11
http://cdc.mentor.com/philosophy-and-curriculum