Reconstructionism focuses on using education to promote social reform and the reconstruction of society. It is based on the premise that society needs constant change and reconstruction, which involves reconstructing education. Historically, reconstructionist ideas can be seen in the works of Plato, the Stoic philosophers, Karl Marx, and John Dewey. Reconstructionism advocates for steps to improve humanity using technology and aims to avoid war through social reconstruction. Modern reconstructionism is pragmatic and influenced by John Dewey's philosophy that views education as a tool for social reform.

1. What is recontructionism ?
Reconstructionism and Education
“Reconstructionist educators focus on a
curriculum that highlights social reform as
the aim of education.”

2. Reconstructionism and Education
Premises of Reconstructionism
Society is in need of constant
reconstruction or change
Such social change involves
a reconstruction of education
in reconstructing the society

3. Historical Background of
Reconstructionism
Plato with his design for a
future state called the
Republic.
The Stonic Philosophers
Marcus Aurelius
He maintained that
“He was a citizen of the world, Not a Rome.”

4. They were part of the industrial revolution,
but saw the use of technology not only for the
production of wealth, but for improving the lot of
humanity throughout the world.

5. Karl Marx
Karl Marx, decrying the harm done to
workers by the dehumanization of the industrial
system, who pictured a reconstructed world
based on international communism.

7. In his Principles of
Social Reconstruction,
listed steps that might
be taken to avoid the
holocaust of war.

8. B.F.Skinner
He advocates the
use of conditioning or
“behavioral engineering”
in his book Walden Two.
Traditiona
l sense
Technology of
behavior

10. Horace Mann
He is the father of
American public
education.
Education = A tool for
social reform.

11. Modern
Reconstructionist
Modern reconstructionism is basically pragmatic
and owes tremendous debt to Dewey.