Naturalism philosophy of education. Principles, characteristics and aims of naturalism in education

1. Naturalism
Presenter:
Sagar Lamsal
Roll: 76127007
NOU

2. NATURALISM
• Naturalism is a concept that firmly believes that ultimate
reality lies in the nature of the matter.
• There is nothing behind, beyond or other than nature
• Naturalism is metaphysics which considers nature as the
whole of reality. It excludes what is supernatural or the other
world
• It emphasis on the nature in every field of education
• It does not believe in existence of God
• It gave importance to the matter and the physical world

3. Life and works of Philosophers
Protagonist of Naturalism
• JJ Rousseau – champion of naturalism
• Others – Aristotle, Comte, Bacon, Darwin,
Huxley, Spencer, Epicurus, Tagore
Rousseau says that . . .
• education aims at the inner faculties,
capacities and powers of the child
• aim of education is not preparation for life,
but participation in it
• Each stage through which a child passes has
a specific aim of education

4. • Sir Percy Nuun regards the development of individuality as the supreme goal of education.
• He opines that the proper goal of human life is perfection of the individual.
• Spencer belongs to the biological school of naturalism, which aims at achieving the present
and future happiness of the learner by the cultivation of restrain and sense of values.
• McDougall does not agree with Spencer.
• He regards that instincts of man are real guiding forces which forms the basis of all his
conduct.
• He feels that education should aim at the direction and sublimation of instincts for achieving
socially desirable ends.
• According to Darwin the aim of education is to equip the individual to struggle for existence
and thus ensure survival.
Lamarck agrees with Darwin, and adds that education should help the learner contrary to the
conventions of the society and in accordance with the universal spirit.

5. Principles of Naturalism
• Universe is a huge machine. Man is also a part of this machine.
• Reality can be truly analyzed by natural science.
• The present is the real life, man should try to make this life happy and
comfortable.
• “Follow nature” is the greatest slogan of naturalism in education
• The present is the real life, man should try to make this life happy and
comfortable
• The entire universe is governed by the laws of nature which is
unchangeable Science reveals the mysteries of nature; hence only that
knowledge is true that is derived from science.

6. Characteristics of Naturalism
• Back to nature
• Negative education (It is negative education when the child is left free to
develop his body and senses).
• It is against bookish knowledge and verbalism
• Naturalism gives central position to the child in the educational process
• Education prepares the child for his future adult life
• It gives emphasis on the training of senses as senses are the gateway of
knowledge
• Freedom of the child
• Material education
• Scientific education

7. Aims of Naturalism
• Attainment of present and future
happiness
• Struggle for existence
• Protection of human machine
• Adaptation to environment
• Autonomous development
• Education according to nature
• Develop the child emotionally
and morally according to the
child’s needs.

8. Naturalism in Education

9. Naturalism in Education
• Naturalism rejects all
authorities that interferes with
the spontaneous development
of children.
• It gives central position to the
child.
• It gives the maximum freedom
to children.

10. Naturalism and Curriculum
• The naturalist do not advocate a fixed curriculum.
• Every child is given the right to determine his won curriculum.
• The learner is expected to learn directly for nature through personal
experiences.
• The naturalist give prominence to subjects like nature study,
agriculture, gardening, art, craft, botany, zoology, geography and
astronomy.
• The subjects are correlated with play activities and with life around
the learner.
• Mathematics and languages are included as they are essential for
understanding science subjects.

11. Naturalism and Methods of Teaching
Learning by Doing
• Naturalist are not in favor of direct teaching through
lectures of textbooks.
• They emphasize on the value of concrete objects.
• Naturalism advocates direct experience of things and
believe in the principle of “learning by doing”.
• Heuristic method is emphasized, in place of “chalk-and-
talk” procedure.

12. Naturalism and Methods of Teaching
Play way method
• Naturalism advocates play way method to impart education.
• Its underlying principle is that all learning should take place
in the spirit and by the method of play-way.
• It is therefore regarded as the most outstanding method of
creative education.
• It creates the spirit of joyful, spontaneous and creative
activity.

13. Naturalism and Methods of Teaching
Observation and Experimentation
• The naturalist disfavor any type of rigidity in the daily time
schedule.
• Therefore they have devised schedules as the Dalton plan,
which gives freedom to pupils to choose their won schedule
of work.
• The learning is through observation and experimentation.

14. Naturalism and Methods of Teaching
Self government and Self effort
• The naturalist emphasize open-air-schools, self government
in schools and establishment of co-education in educational
settings.
• Self government provides direct experiences of social life
while co-education will develop right type of family and
community life.
• Thus the contribution of naturalism to the modern education
is most abiding.

15. Naturalism and Discipline
• Naturalism give utmost freedom to the learners.
• This school of thought does not advocate any sort of
punishment, except the child is allowed to face the natural
consequences of his action.
• External discipline is not desirable as it stands in the way of
the pupil’s natural development.
• In order to regulate the conduct of the learner the naturalist
have evolved the concept student self-government.

16. Naturalism and Child/Learner/Student
• Naturalism accepts the child as hero or star in the drama of education.
• Child is very valuable and essential in his education.
Rousseau said that….
“I hate books because they are curse to children”
Rousseau said that….
“Habits makes children slaves”
• A child should learn from the natural consequences of his actions
Rousseau said that….
“follow the reverse of the current scenario and you will almost do right.”
Rousseau said that….
“The nature of the child is good, the child should learn from the nature
and natural surroundings.”

17. Naturalism and Teacher
• According to naturalism the teacher’s role is behind the scene.
• He is a spectator or observer of the learner's development rather than
giver of information.
• The teacher is not allowed to interfere with the activities of the learner.
• The teacher is not allowed to duplicate to the pupil what they have to
do.
• The teacher’s role is t see that there is a free development of the pupil’s
interest and natural impulses as a result of the education imparted to
him.
• A teacher in naturalism is only a setter of the stage, a supplier of
materials, conditions conducive to the natural development of pupils.

18. Thank You