Date : August 15, 2013

Course Requirement : Reaction Paper (Essentialism)

Submitted To : Dr. Alberto Valenzuela

Submitted by : Mrs. Fritzie A. Clemente

Course : Master in Educational Management

Essentialism as an education philosophy leans on the importance of teaching the students the
core knowledge or what can be referred to as the basic essentials of learning. It promotes the use of a
standardized or uniform curriculum, typical of the Philippine Educational System, where the Department
of Education, through its Curriculum Development Division, will develop a standard curriculum for each
levels in the pre-school or kinder, elementary levels and high school levels that will be used across the
country. Though the DepEd allows for private schools to add subjects or topics to the standard
curriculum, the standard curriculum will still be the basis for the minimum competence that will be
required of each student to master at each level before getting promoted to the next level.

Essentialism takes the traditional role of the teachers where the teacher tends to be the center
of the classroom setting; he or she is the expert who provides direct instructions to the students. in turn
the students are required to listen, learn, and trust that the teacher knows best.

In my personal view, essentialism as a philosophy provides for a standardized system where

minimum competencies required of every student can be defined, which is very ideal for state run
schools. However, the approach may be too subject centered with little consideration to the students
specific learning needs.

References:

Books

Zulueta, F & Maglaya, E 2009, Foundations of Education, National Book Store, Quezon City