THE TEACHING PROFESSION

(Educ. 103)

Lesson 1
Socially Responsible Teachers Rich
with Philosophical Heritage
Course Intended Learning Outcome (CILO)
At the end of the course, the students
demonstrate knowledge, skills, competencies, and
values of professional, ethical, moral and global
teachers equipped with the 21st century skills for
diverse learners.
Section Intended Learning Outcome (SILO)
Develop a concept map of a socially
responsible teacher.
Intended Learning Outcome (ILO)
Formulate a personal educational philosophy
that would guide teachers in their exercise of the
teaching profession.
 INTRODUCTION

Teachers need to be guided by a sound

philosophy in the practice of their profession.
It is way of thinking about the meaning of
life and their profession.
It is a statement that outlines their view on
education and how it is supposed to be
delivered to learners.
 What is philosophy?

• It is a set of ideas that answer question about

the nature of reality and about the meaning of
life.
• Philosophy originated with the ancient Greek
word Philo which means love and Sophie
which means wisdom. Philosophy is therefore
the love of wisdom.
Greek thinkers divided philosophy into three
branches:
1. Metaphysics addresses reality. It is divided
into two categories
• Ontology examines issues related to nature,
existence or being
• Cosmology is related with the nature and
origin of the universe (the cosmos).
• In the educational parlance, it refers to the
knowledge of the curriculum which teachers
should impart to the learners.
In the educational parlance, METAPHYSICS refers to
the knowledge of the curriculum which teachers
should impart to the learners.
2. Epistemology is concerned with the nature
of knowledge
• how we come to know about things, or how
we acquire knowledge. We acquire knowledge
through our senses, intuition, observation and
logic, and use of scientific method.
• In the educational parlance, it is concerned
with the methods of teaching or how teaching
and learning are implemented or delivered
In the educational parlance, it is concerned with
the methods of teaching or how teaching and
learning are implemented or delivered
3. Axiology and its corollaries relate to value.
• Ethics relate to issues in morality and conduct
• Aesthetics is concerned with beauty.

• In the educational parlance, it relates to

behavior, civility, appreciation, and
expressions.
 What is philosophy of education?

• Philosophy of education is a set of related

beliefs that influence what and how students
are taught.
• Teachers’ philosophy of education guides their
behaviour or performance in the classroom.
• The philosophy statement reflects their
personality and values.
Questions that you may consider in framing your
philosophical statement:
• What is the purpose of education?
• What content and skills should schools
develop?
• How should schools teach the content of the
curriculum?
• What are the roles of the students and
teachers in the teaching learning process?
• How should learning be assessed?
 Philosophical Roots of Education
• Philosophies present generalized view of reality.
There are 3 major classification of philosophies:

2.Realism

3. Pragmatism
1. Idealism
Idealism
• Contends that reality lies in our consciousness or
our intellect.
• Idealists believe that perfect knowledge of the
ideal resided outside humans as an Absolute or
as God.
• They believe that the spiritual essence or soul is
the permanent element of human nature that
gives them power to think and feel.
• They believe that the ideas that make-up reality
have already existed in the mind of the Absolute
or God so that when we know something, it
means we have reached our conscious
understanding of these ideas.
• Idealism envisions schools that are intellectual
centers of teaching and learning, where
teachers guide the students to realize their
intellectual potential and appreciate the finest
and enduring achievements of culture.
 Idealist Teachers:

• Believe that the schools are the repositories of

eternal truth which have organized the
hierarchical curriculum in education.
• Believe that on top of this hierarchy are the most
important subjects that cultivate abstract
thinking – Philosophy, Theology and Mathematics
• Believe in the use of Socratic method – asking
probing questions to stimulate consciousness of
students in discovering knowledge
• Believe that thinking and learning are the
processes of bringing latent ideas to
consciousness and logic is encouraged in
organizing their lessons
• Believe that teachers should lead exemplary
lives and be models for students to imitate
• Believe that the Internet can make the great
book accessible to all, but they insist that
technology should be the means rather than
the end in transmitting knowledge.
 Activity
Think-Pair-Square
As you prepare yourself to develop your own
philosophy of education, consider these
questions:
a. What elements of idealism do you agree
with?
b. Which of three elements would you
incorporate into your own philosophy?
 2. Realism
• Realism advocates that reality is
outside of our minds.
• They are not internal to our minds.
• Realists believe that the objects
we perceive exist independently of
the mind; that whether or not we
perceive these objects, they really
exist in the world.

• Realists assert that the human mind can know

about the real world and that knowledge is a
reliable guide to our behaviour.
• For the realists, the purpose of education is to
teach students about the world in which they live.
• That the most accurate and efficient way of
learning is through the curriculum of organized
and classified subject-matter discipline.
• Realist Teachers :
• Believe that their primary responsibility is to
bring students’ ideas about the world into reality
• Believe that deductive and inductive logic, and
the scientific method are reliable means to
discover knowledge
• Believe that the inclusion of non-academic
activities interfere with the school’s primary
purpose as a center of disciplined academic
inquiry
• Believe in the use of technology as an aid in
learning; they recommend computer program to
be as “realistic” and effective as possible.
• Believe that teachers should be equipped with a
wide repertoire of methods of teaching to
achieve their goals.
 Activity

Think-Pair-Square
As you prepare to create your own philosophy of
education, consider these questions:
a. What elements of realism do you agree with?
b. Which of these elements would you
incorporate in your own philosophy?
 3. PRAGMATISM

• Pragmatism evaluates the truth and meaning

of ideas according to their physical
consequences and practical value.
• It emphasizes the need to test the validity of
these ideas by acting on them.
• The best way to validate ideas empirically is by
using the scientific method.
• For pragmatist, if something works, it is true.
John Dewey, a pragmatist, related education as preparation for life.

• He believed that the function of education was to enhance human

potential to be able to adapt to a constantly changing world.
• Students should be trained to construct knowledge as they interact
in the world.
• Pragmatists believe that students should be encouraged to do
researches and apply them to the solution of a problem
 Pragmatist Teachers:
• Believe that education is an experimental process – a
method of solving problems that challenges people as they
interact with the world
• Believe that children should learn how to make difficult
decisions by considering the consequences of their actions
on others.
• Believe that education should focus in real-life problems to
be prepared to live fully and effectively in society
• Believe that students should learn the process of problem-
solving rather than by being passive learners as knowledge
is being transmitted to them.
• Believe in collaborative learning where students share their
interests and problems.
• Believe that interdisciplinary education is
better than departmentalized curriculum in
education
• Believe in taking risk in education to achieve
their goal
• Believe in values-clarification rather than
blindly accepting inherited values
• Believe that communication technologies such
as e-mail and internet provide opportunities
to share ideas, insights, and experiences.
 Activity
Think-Pair-Square
As you prepare yourself to develop your
own philosophy of education, consider these
questions:
a. What elements of pragmatism do you agree
with?
b. Which of these elements would you
incorporate into your own philosophy?
 Other Philosophies and Theories
Related to Education

• Educational theories are rooted from

philosophies. They examine the roles and
functioning of schools, curriculum, teaching
and learning.
• Five educational theories are presented here
for you to analyze and consider in developing
your own philosophy.
 1. PERENNIALISM
• the primary purpose of education is to bring
students in contact with truth by cultivating
their intellect and sense of rationality or
reasoning power.
• there are principles that students need to
learn like the universality of truth, the
importance of rationality and the power of
aesthetics.
• propose the study of religion to encourage
ethical behavior.
• students read the Great Books to develop
their understanding of concepts about human
knowledge .
• they oppose the inclusion of non-academic
subjects in the curriculum because they defeat
the primary purpose of the school which is to
develop students intellectually.
• Endorse subject-matter curriculum loaded
with cognitive subjects that develop
rationality and morality.
Perennialist Teachers:

• Believe that teachers are

the intellectual mentors
and models for their
students
• Believe that fundamental
skills such as reading,
writing, computation and
research be developed
starting the elementary
grades to prepare them
for lifelong learning
Perennialist Teachers ………
• Believe that subjects with human
concern like history, literature,
drama and art should be included
in the secondary school curriculum
• Believe that their role is to sharpen
the students’ intellectual powers
and enhance their moral qualities.
• Believe that electronic version of
great books and other classics
maybe viewed by larger audience
but this could not be a substitute
for reading the classics.
 2. ESSENTIALISM

• It is teacher-centered philosophy that adheres

to the belief that the basic skills of literacy
(reading and writing) and numeracy
(arithmetic) as well as subject-matter
knowledge should be developed in schools.
• History, mathematics, science, languages, and
literature are essential for secondary schools.
• These basic essential subject-matter need to
be mastered by students to effectively
function in society.
Essentialism …….

• These skills will prepare them to be

competent and skilled individuals for the
competitive global village.
• They argue that schools and teachers must be
committed to their primary academic function
– to teach students with knowledge and skills
that will prepare them to function effectively
and efficiently in a democratic society.
Essentialism……
• They are in favour of a subject-
matter curriculum which should be
cumulative and sequentially
arranged, starting with low order
thinking skills to more complex
higher order level.
• They are NOT in favour innovative
or process – learning approaches
like constructivism, which allows
students to construct knowledge
based on past
knowledge/experiences.
• They adhere more on teacher-
directed instruction because they
believe teachers are trained
professionals who should guide and
direct the learning of students.
Essentialist Teachers……….
1. Believe that teachers have
authority to discipline students
2. Believe that teachers should have
mastery of the knowledge and
skills they teach.
3. Believe in the use of deductive
method of teaching
4. Believe that students should learn
the “essentials”
5. Believe that only when the
students have mastered the
required competencies can they
be promoted to the higher level
6. Believe that test scores are the
basis for evaluating students’
progress.
 3. PROGRESSIVISM

• Belong to a reform movement that opposed

the traditional education. (essentialism)
They are against :
• Authoritarian teachers
• Book-based instruction
• Rote memorization
• Authoritarian classroom management
Progressivism……

• They contend that although knowledge may

come from varied sources, the best way to learn
is by actively exploring/ or by engaging in direct
experiences.
• They believe that the school should be a
laboratory for experimentation .
• They organize schools around the concerns,
curiosity and real-world experiences of the
learners
• They advocate using the project method and
problem-solving which promotes democratic
learning communities in the classroom.
Progressivist Teachers…..

1. Believe that teachers should

possess a repertoire of learning
activities to be used in the teaching-
learning process like problem-
solving, field trips, creative artistic
expression and projects.
2. Believe that the child should be free
to develop naturally.
3. Believe that interest motivated by
direct experience stimulates
learning
4. Believe that the teacher is a
facilitator of learning
5. Believe that there should be close
cooperation between the home and
the school
 4. SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTIONISM
• This theory is rooted on PROGRESSIVISM - socially-
oriented progressivists
• They sought to make schools the center of larger social
reforms
• They contend that schools need to investigate and
work to solve social, political and economic problems
and eventually create a new society.
• They believe that people are responsible for their
social conditions – they have the power to take control
of their lives, improve their human conditions, and
build a just and good society.
• To the progressivist, Education should prepare the
students to meet the demands of society.
Social Reconstructionist Teachers ………
• Believe that the school is the
ideal place to begin alleviating
social problems
• Believe in using project method
and problem-solving method in
teaching
• Believe that research is an
effective means in solving
problems of society
• Believe that the intellectual,
emotional, and personal needs of
the students should be
considered in the learning
process
• Believe that teachers must model
democratic principles
 5. EXISTENTIALISM

• It is a philosophy that emphasizes the subjectivity of

human experience.
• It is more a process of philosophizing than it is a
philosophy.
• Existentialism asserts the purpose of education is to
help students find meaning and direction in their lives.
• JEAN-PAUL SARTRE , the author of Existentialism,
quotes: “Existence precedes essence”, meaning, we
owe our existence to nature but we define ourselves
through our action. We create our own essence by
making our personal choices.
Existentialism …….

• When we are thrust into choice-making

situations, we are what we choose to be. We
must take responsibility for our choices
• They maintain that we create our own
definition and make our own essence by
making personal choices in our lives.
Existentialist Teachers ……

• Believe that the purpose of education is to

awaken our consciousness about our freedom to
choose and to create our own self-awareness
that contributes to our identity
• Believe that students should be trained to
philosophize , to question, and participate in
dialogues about the meaning of life (debate,
forum, panel discussion, etc.)
Existentialist Teachers ….

• Believe that self-expression, creativity, self-

awareness, and self-responsibility should be
developed in the students.
Existentialist Teachers…..

• Believe that open classrooms maximize freedom

of choice
• Believe in self-directed instruction
• Believe that students should decide what they
want to learn and when to learn it
 STUDENT OUTPUT – 2 Groups

Group 1
Based on the philosophies you have learned,
make a comparison of the philosophies guided by
the categories provided in the matrix below. Follow
the format and present to the class. Print the matrix
and insert in your Portfolio.
Group 2
By means of a Venn diagram, compare the
following philosophies
(Refer to your handouts)
 QUIZ - Write the letter of the correct answer

1. To enable the learners to respond to the

demands of the present world, which should
schools do?
A. Teach application-based, creative, critical,
and innovative thinking
B. Teach information and concepts
C. Offer a fixed curriculum
D. Prepare students for the present
2. What philosophy supports the teacher’s practice
of giving lectures and making the students
memorize rules and regulations after the
lecture?
A. Realism B. Idealism
C. Existentialism D. Perennialism
3. What is the existentialist’s point of view relative
to the aim of education?
A. To develop cognitive and power
B. To acquire productive skills
C. To re-engineer society
D. To know themselves and their place in society
4. Which of the following demonstrates teacher’s
effective use of technology-aired instruction?
A. Teacher allows the use of Facebook for the
students to comment on the project of their
classmates
B. Teacher transfers lesson from the books into
PowerPoint presentation to make it interesting
to learners
C. Teacher uses courseware or websites for
additional input of the lesson
D. Teacher allows students to bring gadgets in
school
5. When a teacher tells a student to sit down
quietly and to put his hands on his lap while
discussion is going on, what step in
implementing sanction is being applied?
A. Identifying the unwarranted behaviour
B. Stating why the behaviour is unacceptable
C. Stating the sanction warranted by the
behaviour
D. Giving instruction that will implement the
sanction
6. Which branch of philosophy is referred to when
the teacher implements the appropriate
strategy to suit her objective/learning outcome?
A. Metaphysics B. Cosmetology
C. Epistemology D. Axiology
7. If a teacher implements the curriculum and
assesses it after every end of the teaching
episode, she/he advocates which philosophy?
A. Metaphysics B. Constructivism
C. Epistemology D. Axiology
8. Who of the theorists below popularized the
concept “Learning by Doing”
A. John Flavell B. John Dewey
C. Jean Piaget D. Sigmund Freud
9. It is a philosophy that evaluates the truth and
meaning of ideas according to their physical
consequences and practical value.
A. Idealism B. Realism
C. Existentialism D. Pragmatism
10.What is the prime duty of a teacher as a
second parent?
A. Allow students to get enough rest and
relaxation
B. Make sure that students undergo rigid
training in school
C. See to it that students are motivated to learn
D. See to it that the rights of students are
respected and their duties and obligations
are complied with
 KEY ANSWERS

1. To enable the learners to respond to the

demands of the present world, which should
schools do?
A. Teach application-based, creative, critical,
and innovative thinking
B. Teach information and concepts
C. Offer a fixed curriculum
D. Prepare students for the present
2. What philosophy supports the teacher’s practice
of giving lectures and making the students
memorize rules and regulations after the
lecture?
A. Realism B. Idealism
C. Existentialism D. Perennialism
3. What is the existentialist’s point of view relative
to the aim of education?
A. To develop cognitive and power
B. To acquire productive skills
C. To re-engineer society
D. To know themselves and their place in society
4. Which of the following demonstrates teacher’s
effective use of technology-aired instruction?
A. Teacher allows the use of Facebook for the
students to comment on the project of their
classmates
B. Teacher transfers lesson from the books into
PowerPoint presentation to make it interesting
to learners
C. Teacher uses courseware or websites for
additional input of the lesson
D. Teacher allows students to bring gadgets in
school
5. When a teacher tells a student to sit down
quietly and to put his hands on his lap while
discussion is going on, what step in
implementing sanction is being applied?
A. Identifying the unwarranted behaviour
B. Stating why the behaviour is unacceptable
C. Stating the sanction warranted by the
behaviour
D. Giving instruction that will implement the
sanction
6. Which branch of philosophy is referred to when
the teacher implements the appropriate
strategy to suit her objective/learning outcome?
A. Metaphysics B. Cosmetology
C. Epistemology D. Axiology
7. If a teacher implements the curriculum and
assesses it after every end of the teaching
episode, she/he advocates which philosophy?
A. Metaphysics B. Constructivism
C. Epistemology D. Axiology
8. Who of the theorists below popularized the
concept “Learning by Doing”
A. John Flavell B. John Dewey
C. Jean Piaget D. Sigmund Freud
9. It is a philosophy that evaluates the truth and
meaning of ideas according to their physical
consequences and practical value.
A. Idealism B. Realism
C. Existentialism D. Pragmatism
10.What is the prime duty of a teacher as a
second parent?
A. Allow students to get enough rest and
relaxation
B. Make sure that students undergo rigid
training in school
C. See to it that students are motivated to learn
D. See to it that the rights of students are
respected and their duties and obligations
are complied with
 QUIZ – Identify the Philosophy being described
below. Write the letters only
1. A school curriculum
includes the essentials A. Essentialism
that the students should
know. B. Perennialism
2. A school curriculum
deals with time-tested C. Progressivism
ideas.
3. Field trip, internships, D. Social
and practicum connect
classroom theories to Reconstructionism
the real world.
E. Existentialism
4. Schools should develop
among the students the A. Essentialism
ability to solve social
problems.
5. The student should B. Perennialism
decide what he wants to
learn and when to learn C. Progressivism
it.
6. Students could be
promoted to the higher D. Social
level only when they
have mastered the key Reconstructionism
materials (3 R’s –
reading,
‘riting,’rithmetic) E. Existentialism
7. Schools should develop
students’ ability to think, A. Essentialism
analyze, and reason out.
8. Teachers must B. Perennialism
emphasize to the
students the relation of C. Progressivism
their learning to real
world.
9. School should teach D. Social
students how to
recognize problems in Reconstructionism
society and work for the
solutions to alleviate E. Existentialism
them.
10. Students who do not
A. Essentialism
want to study should
not be forced to do so. B. Perennialism
11. Teachers should
require students to C. Progressivism
work hard and master
academic lessons D. Social
taught to merit grades.
Reconstructionism
12. Learning should be
appreciated for its own E. Existentialism
sake. It is not about
solving problems and
memorizing facts.
13. The experiences and
A. Essentialism
needs of the students
should be considered in B. Perennialism
preparing the
curriculum C. Progressivism
14. Schools should develop
among students respect D. Social
for ethnic and racial
groups. Reconstructionism
15. The purpose of school is E. Existentialism
to help students
understand themselves
and find their own place
in the world.
16. To be able to compete in
A. Essentialism
the global village,
schools must raise B. Perennialism
standards for academic
requirements to C. Progressivism
produce competent
graduates. D. Social
17. Teachers must prescribe Reconstructionism
the use of Great Books
because they contain E. Existentialism
insights related to the
issues at present.
18. Schools should include
A. Essentialism
opportunities for
social interaction in B. Perennialism
the curriculum.
19. Schools should C. Progressivism
develop political
literacy among the D. Social
students so they can Reconstructionism
use it to improve the
quality of life. E. Existentialism
20. The primary function of
the school is to provide A. Essentialism
students options and
choices to decide for
themselves. B. Perennialism
21. Schools must encourage
students to memorize C. Progressivism
basic facts about people
and events that shaped
history. D. Social
22. The teacher’s main
objective is to help Reconstructionism
students unlock the
insights gained over time, E. Existentialism
so they can learn from the
great thinkers of the past.
23. Students should be active
participants in the learning A. Essentialism
process
24. Teaching means B. Perennialism
identifying a new list of
Great Books relevant to C. Progressivism
the present times which
would prepare students to D. Social
create a better society
than their ancestors. Reconstructionism
25. Teachers should assist the
students in discovering E. Existentialism
themselves and
developing their own
personal values, even
when those values conflict
with the values of others.
 KEY ANSWERS
1. A school curriculum 3. Field trip, internships,
includes the essentials and practicum connect
that the students classroom theories to
should know. the real world.
A - Essentialism C - Progressivism
2. A school curriculum 4. Schools should
deals with time-tested develop among the
ideas. students the ability to
B - Perennialism solve social problems.
D – Social
Reconstructivism
5. The student should decide what he wants to
learn and when to learn it.
E - Existentialism
6. Students could be promoted to the higher
level only when they have mastered the key
materials (3 R’s – reading, ‘riting,’rithmetic)
A - Essentialism
7. Schools should develop students’ ability to
think, analyze, and reason out
B - Perennialism
8. Teachers must emphasize to the students the
relation of their learning to real world.
C - Progressivism
9. School should teach students how to
recognize problems in society and work for
the solutions to alleviate them.
D – Social Reconstructivism
10.Students who do not want to study should
not be forced to do so E - Existentialsim
11.Teachers should require students to work
hard and master academic lessons taught to
merit grades. A - Essentialsim
12.Learning should be appreciated for its own sake.
It is not about solving problems and memorizing
facts. B - Perennialism
13.The experiences and needs of the students
should be considered in preparing the
curriculum C - Progressivism
14.Schools should develop among students respect
for ethnic and racial groups.
D – Social Reconstructivism
15.The purpose of school is to help students
understand themselves and find their own place
in the world. E - Existentialism
16.To be able to compete in the global village,
schools must raise standards for academic
requirements to produce competent
graduates.
A - Essentialsim
17.Teachers must prescribe the use of Great
Books because they contain insights related
to the issues at present.
B - Perennialism
18.Schools should include opportunities for
social interaction in the curriculum.
C - Progressivism
19.Schools should develop political literacy among
the students so they can use it to improve the
quality of life.
D – Social Reconstructivism
20.The primary function of the school is to provide
students options and choices to decide for
themselves.
E - Existentialism
21.Schools must encourage students to memorize
basic facts about people and events that shaped
history.
A - Essentialism
22. The teacher’s main objective is to help students
unlock the insights gained over time, so they can
learn from the great thinkers of the past.
B - Perennialism
23. Students should be active participants in the learning
process C - Progressivism
24. Teaching means identifying a new list of Great Books
relevant to the present times which would prepare
students to create a better society than their
ancestors. D – Social Reconstructionism
25. Teachers should assist the students in discovering
themselves and developing their own personal values,
even when those values conflict with the values of
others. E - Existentialism
 CHECKLIST
Inventory of Philosophies of Education

Read the following statement and views

about schools and teaching. Decide how
strongly you agree or disagree with the
statement. Use the scale in your handouts and
write your response on the blank before each
statement.
(fill up the form in your handouts and insert in
your portfolio)
 Interpreting your Response
Now that you have responded to the items,
Draw 4 columns in your checklist and write the
number of your response to each statement in
the spaces as shown in the next slide.
Follow this format:
 Interpreting your Response

Essentialism Perennialism Progressivism Social Existentialism

Reconstructivism
1. _________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________
6. _________ 7. __________ 8. _________ 9. _________ 10. _________
11. ________ 12. _________ 13. _________ 14. ________ 15. _________
16. ________ 17. _________ 18. _________ 19. ________ 20. _________
21. ________ 22. _________ 23. _________ 24. ________ 25. _________

Scores:

__________ ___________ __________ ___________ __________

• Compare your 5 scores. What is your highest?
What is your lowest? To what philosophy do
you strongly adhere to?
• You may notice that your philosophical
leaning, as identified by your responses,
reflect your general outlook or philosophy.
• You may now start working on your
philosophical statement.
 REFLECTION
Journal # _________ Date: __________
Develop your own philosophies of education
stating what you think the purpose of
schooling/education is; how subjects should be
taught; what do you need to know about
students to be able to teach them. Include your
idea of a good teacher. Formulate one which
you think will be your guiding light in your future
career.
My Own Philosophy of Education