This document discusses different philosophies of education including idealism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism, postmodernism, perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and critical theory. For each philosophy, implications for today's classroom teachers are provided. The philosophies provide guidance on curriculum, teaching methods, the role of the teacher, and the purpose of education. The implications suggest how teachers can apply each philosophy in their classroom, such as encouraging critical thinking, problem solving, or empowering students.

1. ORNSTEIN
LEVINE
GUTEK
VOCKE
Philo-Social Foundations of
Education

2. What is Philosophy?
the science that seeks to organize and systemize all
fields of knowledge as a means of understanding and
interpreting the totality of reality.
The systematic and logical explanation of the nature,
existence, purpose and relationships of things,
including human beings in the universe

3. Main Branches of Philosophy
 1. Metaphysics – deals with the first principles,
the origin an essence of things, the causes and end of
things.
2. Epistemology – deals with knowledge and with
ways of knowing.

4. Main Branches of Philosophy
3. Axiology – deals with purposes and values.
4. Logic – deals with the correct way of thinking.

5. FUNCTIONS of the PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION
1. Provide guidelines in the formulation of the
educational policies and programs and in the
construction of curricula.
2. Provide direction toward which all educational
effort should be exerted.

6. FUNCTIONS of the PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION
3. Provide theories and hypothesis which may be
tested for their effectiveness and efficiency.
4. Provide norms or standards for evaluation
purposes.

7. IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION TO
THE TEACHER
1. Provides the teacher with basis for making his
decision concerning his work.
2. Help the teacher develop a wide range of interest,
attitudes, and values concomitant to his professional
life as teacher.

8. IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION TO
THE TEACHER
3. Makes a teacher more aware of his own life and
work, and makes him more dynamic, discriminating,
critical and mentally alert.
4. Philosophy of education saves time, money and
effort.

9. NEED OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION IN
MODERN TIMES
Every behaviour or action has its own principles.
The principles underlying all educational behaviour
are derived from philosophy of education.
It is only through a philosophy of education that one
determines the curriculum, the textbooks, the
methods of teaching, methods and standards of
evaluation, the methods of maintaining discipline,
etc.

12. Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher
Idealism
Seeks to create schools that are intellectual centers of teaching and
learning.
Teachers are vital agents in guiding students to realize the fullest
intellectual potential
Encourages teachers and students to experience and appreciate the
achievements of their culture.
Teachers introduce students to the classics-art, literature, music- so
they can experience and share in the time-tested cultural values of these
work
Recognize that the internet can make great books accessible
Idealists should insist that technology should be a means, instrument of
education rather than an end. Content matters most, not the apparatus.

13. Realism
Teachers bring students’ ideas about the world into
correspondence with reality by teaching skills ( reading,
writing, computation) and subjects (history, math, science,
etc.) that are based on authoritative and expert knowledge.
Focus on cognitive learning and subject matter mastery.
Realist oppose nonacademic activities that interfere with
school’s purpose as a center of disciplined academic inquiry.
Content mastery is important, and methodology is a
necessary but subordinate means to educate.
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

14. Pragmatism
If idealists and realists make teaching subject matter their primary
responsibility, pragmatists are more concerned with teaching students to
solve problems using interdisciplinary approach.
Rather than transmitting subjects to students, pragmatists facilitate
student research and activities, suggesting resources useful in problem
solving, such as those accessible through educational technology.
Teachers expect that students will learn to apply problem-solving
method to situations both in and out of school and thus connect the
school to society.
Social networking can create a global community with opportunities to
share insights and ideas
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

15. Existentialism
Teaching from existentialist perspective is always difficult
because curricula and standards are imposed on teachers
from external agencies.
Teachers cannot specify goals and objectives in advance
because students should be free to choose their own
educational purposes.
Teachers stimulate an intense awareness that students are
responsible for his own education and self-definition.
Teachers must encourage students to examine institutions,
forces, and conditions that limit freedom of choice
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

16. Postmodernism
Postmodernists argue that teachers must first
empower themselves as professional educators
Real empowerment means that as teachers proceed
from pre-service to practice, they take responsibility
for determining their own futures and encouraging
students to determine their own lives.
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

18. Perennialism
The school’s primary role is to develop students reasoning
powers.
Teachers need to have a solid academic foundation to act as
intellectual mentors and models.
Primary teachers- fundamental skills
Secondary teachers- great works of art, history, literature
and philosophy
Standards based on the classics
Technology can be used as an avenue to appreciate and
communicate about classics cognitively
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

19. Essentialism
Purpose of education is to transmit and maintain the
necessary fundamentals of human culture.
Schools have the mission to transmit skills and
subjects to the young to preserve and pass them on to
future generations
Essentialist use deductive logic to organize
instructions- basic concepts to facts to general.
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

20. Progressivism
Learners learn successfully if they explore their
environment and construct their own conception of reality
based on their direct experience.
Opposed authoritarian teachers, book-based instruction,
passive memorization, isolation of school from society.
Affirmed that the child should be free to develop naturally,
interest-motivated by his direct experience, needs
cooperation with school, home and community.
Ex. West Tennessee Holcaust Project- The Paper Clip
Project
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher

21. Critical Theory
Teachers must focus on issues of power and control
in school and society
Learn who their students are by exploring their own
self-identities
Collaborate with local people to improve school and
community
Join organizations to empower themselves
Participate in critical dialogues about politics, social,
economic, and educational issues
Implications for Today’s Classroom Teacher