education and naturalism

1. BISNA NARIKKODAN
DEPT. OF MALAYALAM
P.K.M COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ,
MADAMPAM

2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHIEF EXPONENTS
AIMS OF EDUCATION
BASIC PRINCIPLES
CURRICULUM
METHODN OF TEACHING
ROLE OF TEACHER
MERITS AND DEMERITS
RELEVANCE OF NATURALISM
CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
* Naturalism is oldest philosophy.
* Naturalism as a philosophy of
education was developed in the 18
century .
* Naturalism is philosophical
belief that everything arises from
nature.
⁕ It is based on the assumption
that nature represent the
wholeness of reality.
⁕ Naturalism is a concept that
firmly believes that ultimate
reality lies in the nature of the
matter.
⁕ The whole universe is
governed by laws of nature and
they are channgeable.s

5. Chief exponents
Herbert spencer
English philosopherbiologist,anthropologist,sociologist ,and
prominent classical liberal political theorist.
Jean Jacques rousseau
Geneven philosopher , writer ,and composer ,leader of the naturalistic
movement ,French revolution ,development of modern political and
educational thought.
Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher, scientist, and historian, one of the
founders of modern political philosophy and political science.

6. Principles of naturalsm
Unchanging loss of nature explains all the events and
occurrences of the world.
Education in accordance with the nature of the
child.
Man is the highest creature or animal according to the
nature . So the essence of the life is animal instinct and
does not spirituality
Stress on physical environment .

7. Cont………..
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.

8. Some Basic Principles of Naturalism:
1. Nature is the final reality. All things originated from matter, all are
ultimately to be reduced to matter. Matter takes different forms.
2. Mind is the brain functioning and brain is matter.
3. All types of mental activities – imagination, thinking, reasoning etc. are the
functions of the brain.
4. The entire universe is governed by the laws of nature which are
unchangeable Science reveals the mysteries of nature; hence only that
knowledge is true that is derived from science.
5. There is no God or Spirit. Therefore, there is no religion. There are no
higher or eternal values. There is no spiritual goal or ideal of human life.
Man himself creates values in interaction with the environment in which he
is placed.

9. Aims and objectives
Self expression: Self expression ,not self realization is an important aim of
naturalistic education.
Self-preservation: Education should help the child in self preservation . It
includes self health along with healthy environment.
Fullest development: Naturalism believes that the chief aim of education is the
fulest development of the child.
Survival of the individual : Naturalism believes that the fittest alone should
survive . Education must equip the child to struggle to exist.

10. Curriculum …….
 No rigid curriculum.
 It believes in science subjects.
 Study of past experience.
 Should contain games , sports, physical culture, bilogy , nature study,
language etc.
 Moral education .
 No place for traditional subject.
 Drawing.

11. Method of teaching
 It is a results against the old, traditional, bookish system of education –
direct experience with the nature.
 child teaching methods are supported.
 Learning takes place by doing.
 Teaching methods are chosen according to age and intelligence of students.
 Education through senses.
 Play way method
 Education according to the nature of the child.

12. Role of teacher
An observer
Able to understand nature of the child
Stage setter

13. MERITS OF NATURALISM
It gives the child a very
important place in the
educational process. It treats a
child as child and not as an
adult . the child is good and
pure at the terms of birth.
It considers nature as the
best teacher in whose
company the child learns
better .
It consider individual
interests, aptitude,
inclination, needs and
capacities while structuring
the curriculum.
It prepares and encourages
the child to engage in
experimentation,
discoveries and inventions
It motivates the child to
acquire more knowledge in
the natural movement.

14. Demerits of naturalism
Nature centered
study makes the
child become
unsocial with no
feeling of social
service
Naturalism
ignores the
spiritual world
and considers
the material
world only
Naturalism lays
stress on solutions
for only the
present needs and
problems of an
individual and
neglects his future
needs and
problems. It has
failed to prepare
the child for the
future life.
Naturalism
advocates
unrestricted
freedom for the
child to develop
himself naturally.
This is
undesirable and
harmful to the
child.
It minimizes the
role of the teacher
in the educative
process. A teacher
is an observer, a
sympathetic guide
and helper in
structuring
experiences for
the child

15. Relevance of naturalism
 Shifting of subject centered curriculum to an experience centered curriculum.
 Modern life need various experience to be given to the child through co-curricular activities . So that
he would be educated and trained to face life squarely and solve all its problems successfully.
 The child used to be punished severely and kept under the control of the teacher . This strict discipline
was discarded because of the influence of naturalism. As a result , now the child enjoys full freedom
to learn and do whatever he likes. Thus freedom for the child is the chief contribution of naturalism to
modern education.
 New types of educational institutions have come up in recent years .
 Institutions like the summer school of AS Neli,Viswabharathi, of Rabindra Nath Tagore Kinder
garden school of Froebel, Montessori schools have come into existence as result of the influence of
naturalism in education.