Essentialism

(Theories of Education)
 Table of contents

What is Essentialism and its:


01 Essentialism
?

03 ● Aims to Education

● Curriculum

● Methods of
02 Essentialist
s Beliefs

Teaching

● Classroom
Management

● Role of Teacher



 Essentialism
- necessary/
 - distinctive
important
 practice, a
- something that system, or a
is basic
 philosophy

 “ ESSENTIALISM”

—

It is the view that objects have
a set of attributes that are
necessary to their identity.
-Wikipedia
“EDUCATIONAL ESSENTIALISM”

—

It is an educational philosophy
whose adherents believe that
children should learn the
traditional subjects thoroughly.
-Wikipedia
“EDUCATIONAL ESSENTIALISM”

An educational philosophy that
strives to ensure that students
acquire a common core of knowledge
in a systematic disciplined way.


— RESEARCHGATE.NET
 William Bagley
(1874-1946)

- He introduced the
philosophy of
essentialism in
education in the
1930’s.

- He was an American
philosopher

Essentialists hope that when students
leave school, they will possess not only
basic skills and an extensive body of
knowledge, but also disciplined, practical
minds, capable of applying schoolhouse
lessons in the real world.
-William Bagley

Essentialism was not always a
philosophy, but the idea of what
schooling should be always
existed.
-William Bagley

 ¿?
Essentialists Beliefs:

01 Essentialism tries to instill all students with the most

basic knowledge, skills, and character development.

Essentialists believe that students should be taught to be a

02
model citizen.
 ¿?
Essentialists Beliefs:

Essentialists believe that teachers should teach traditional

03
moral values and virtues.

04 Essentialist believes in mastery learning.

 Goal
Aims of Education: s

-to equip individual

-to promote the -to transmit with the fundamental,
intellectual growth cultural heritage essential and universal
of an individual knowledge, skills and
attitudes
Aim = stability
 ¿?
Curriculum

01 Focuses on formal discipline

Strong emphasis on basic skills in elementary

02
schools and disciplined knowledge and scholastic
achievement in secondary schools
 ¿?
Curriculum

03 There should be a common core curriculum that

is taught to all students
 Goal
Methods of Teaching s

-Traditional methods -Reading, lecture, -Teachers usually

such as direct memorization, give homework
instruction and repetition,
Socratic method are examinations
used
 Classroom Management

● The student is to sit, listen, learn

passively, and be respectful while
the teacher instructs
 Classroom Management

● Textbooks are frequently used

● Students’ desks are typically in rows
 Classroom Management

● There is an emphasis on standards and

testing
● Lessons involve thinking and reasoning
rather than hands-on activities
 Role of Teachers
-Teach the basic
- Instill traditional or foundational
classroom morals subjects

to the students


-Provide an
-Promote
environment that is
character
teacher-oriented and
development by
allows for the
encouraging
practice of
valued
essentialism to be
characteristics to
implemented

be put to use





 “If you take one thing away from this
book, I hope you will remember this:
whatever decision or challenge or
crossroads you face in your life, simply ask
yourself, ‘What is essential?’ Eliminate
everything else. “

-Greg McKeown
References:
https://www.theedadvocate.org/edupedia/content/what-is-essentialism/

https://cer.jhu.edu/files_ta/4_Major_Educational_Philosophies.pdf

https://www.k12academics.com/educational-philosophy/educational-essentialism

https://spu.edu/online/essentialism_in_ed.htm

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED593579

https://www.britannica.com/topic/essentialism-philosophy

https://www.theedadvocate.org/edupedia/content/what-is-essentialism/





Thank You!