Name: _____________________________________ Course: _______________ Date: _____________

School: ____________________________________ Class Schedule: ___________________________

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY - ESSENTIALISM

Readings:
Aim of Education – To promote the intellectual growth of the individual and educate a competent person.

Role of Education – The teacher is the sole authority in his or her subject area or field of specialization.

Focus in the Curriculum – Essential skills of the 3Rs and essential subjects of English, Science, History, Math and Foreign
Language.

Curriculum Trends – Excellence in education, back in basics and cultural literacy.

Essentialists believe that there is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic,
disciplined way. The emphasis in this conservative perspective is on intellectual and moral standards that schools should
teach. The core of the curriculum is essential knowledge and skills and academic rigor. Although this educational philosophy
is similar in some ways to Perennialism, Essentialists accept the idea that this core curriculum may change. Schooling should
be practical, preparing students to become valuable members of society. It should focus on facts-the objective reality out
there--and "the basics," training students to read, write, speak, and compute clearly and logically. Schools should not try to
set or influence policies. Students should be taught hard work, respect for authority, and discipline. Teachers are to help
students keep their non-productive instincts in check, such as aggression or mindlessness.

My Reflection:
Reflect on the philosophy of education – perennialism . On the spaces provided, write your reflection on the philosophy which
provides educators, teachers, and curriculum makers with framework for planning, implementing and evaluating curriculum
in schools. It helps in answering what schools are for, what subjects are important, how students should learn and what
materials and methods should be used.

Criteria Above Expectations
(4)
Reflective The reflection explains the student’s
Thinking own thinking and learning processes,
as well as implications for future
learning.
Analysis The reflection is an in-depth analysis
of the learning experience, the value of
the derived learning to self or others,
and the enhancement of the student’s
appreciation for the discipline.
Making The reflection articulates multiple
Connections connections between this learning
experience and content from other
courses, past learning, life
experiences and/or future goals.
Meet Expectations
(3)
The reflection explains the
student’s thinking about
his/her own learning
processes.
The reflection is an analysis of
the learning experience and
the value of the derived
learning to self or others.
The reflection articulates
connections between this
learning experience and
content from other courses,
past learning experiences,
and/or future goals.
Approaching Expectations Below Expectations Score
(2) (1)
The reflection attempts to The reflection does
demonstrate thinking about not address the
learning but is vague and/or student’s thinking
unclear about the personal and/or learning.
learning process..
The reflection attempts to analyze The reflection does
the learning experience but the not move beyond a
value of the learning to the student description of the
or others is vague and/or unclear. learning experience.
The reflection attempts to The reflection does
articulate connections between not articulate any
this learning experience and connection to other
content from other courses, past learning or
learning experiences, or personal experiences.
goals, but the connection is vague
and/or unclear.

Name: _____________________________________ Course: _______________ Date: _____________

 School: ____________________________________ Class Schedule: ___________________________

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY - ESSENTIALISM

Readings:
Aim of Education – To promote the intellectual growth of the individual and educate a competent person.

Role of Education – The teacher is the sole authority in his or her subject area or field of specialization.

Focus in the Curriculum – Essential skills of the 3Rs and essential subjects of English, Science, History, Math and Foreign
Language.

Curriculum Trends – Excellence in education, back in basics and cultural literacy.

Essentialists believe that there is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic,
disciplined way. The emphasis in this conservative perspective is on intellectual and moral standards that schools should

My Reflection:
Reflect on the philosophy of education – perennialism . On the spaces provided, write your reflection on the philosophy which
provides educators, teachers, and curriculum makers with framework for planning, implementing and evaluating curriculum
in schools. It helps in answering what schools are for, what subjects are important, how students should learn and what
materials and methods should be used.

Perennialism for me is a philosophy that believes “education” is constant were Students are taught through
structured lessons and drills in most traditional way. A perennial’s education is a preparation for life, and students should be
taught the world’s dependently through structured study. Perennialist’s hold that subject matter should be the center of the
curriculum. They feel that greater educational opportunities have lowered standards in the schools. They are particularly
critical of the progressives who have placed emphasis on the interests of the child and teaching through activity and
freedom. Education should introduce the pupil to the universal concerns of mankind thorough the study of the great works
of literature, philosophy, history, and science. Such works represent man’s finest insights into his own nature. The insights
presented in these works are eternal. They do not change; they are never dated. In this way, she learns truths that are more
important than any she could find by by pursing his own interests. In the learning process, the teacher plays a secondary
role . It is pupils who play a primary role. Since the child has natural capacity, he should learn by himself. Therefore, self-
learning, self-activity and self-discovery methods are suggested by perennialists. If we will As a future educator I believe that
Focusing on the past at the cost of present is not at all desirable because the present is the valuable that guide us to the
future.

Criteria Above Expectations Meet Expectations Approaching Expectations Below Expectations Score
(4) (3) (2) (1)
Reflective The reflection explains the student’s The reflection explains the The reflection attempts to The reflection does
Thinking own thinking and learning processes, student’s thinking about demonstrate thinking about not address the
as well as implications for future his/her own learning learning but is vague and/or student’s thinking
learning. processes. unclear about the personal and/or learning.
learning process..
Analysis The reflection is an in-depth analysis The reflection is an analysis of The reflection attempts to analyze The reflection does
of the learning experience, the value of the learning experience and the learning experience but the not move beyond a
the derived learning to self or others, the value of the derived value of the learning to the student description of the
and the enhancement of the student’s learning to self or others. or others is vague and/or unclear. learning experience.
appreciation for the discipline.
Making The reflection articulates multiple The reflection articulates The reflection attempts to The reflection does
Connections connections between this learning
experience and content from other
courses, past learning, life
experiences and/or future goals.
connections between this
learning experience and
content from other courses,
past learning experiences,
and/or future goals.
articulate connections between not articulate any
this learning experience and connection to other
content from other courses, past learning or
learning experiences, or personal experiences.
goals, but the connection is vague
and/or unclear.