Realism and Education

Rhoa P. Bustos
Joanne Beatriz C. Martirez
 Objectives
1. Define and describe realism and its nature.
2. Illustrate the implications of realism in the field
of education, specifically on:
2.1. Curriculum
2.2. Teachers
2.3. Teaching Methodology
3. Identify the different forms of realism.
 Introduction
Broadly speaking, each discipline have their own
guiding principles, a philosophy of their own, and
theoretical frameworks. Education is no exception for
this. Different philosophical views have existed from
naturalism to idealism; idealism to REALISM – with
the aim to challenge the idea presented by the other.

3
REALISM, being put into the
limelight, is often contrasted
with the previous school of
philosophy, idealism which
can be traced back to the
great philosophers Plato (an
idealist) and his student,
Aristotle (a realist).
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 If a tree falls down
without no one there to
witness it, will it create
a sound?
What is Realism?
Realism is the Realism is a view that
viewpoint which Realism is a view that
entities of a certain
accords to things a “reality” of material
type have an objective
which are known or objects, and possibly
reality that is
perceived an existence abstract concepts,
completely
or nature which is exists in an external
independent of our
independent of world independent of
conceptual schemes,
whether anyone is our minds and
linguistic practices,
thinking about or perceptions.
beliefs, etc.
perceiving them.
Realism and its Nature
✢ REALISM attempts to portray life as it is.

✢ Realists start with a thing and end up with

the idea – “being” before “thought.”

✢ Realists believe that “knowledge” is

derived through sense experience but
sense experience alone cannot account
for knowledge. 9
Implications
 “The purpose of education
in this philosophy is to
provide man with the
essential knowledge he
needs to survive in nature.”
(Iral, et. al., 2012)
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 Aims of Education
 To address itself immediately to the realities of life.

 To provide adequate training for practical living to meet

successfully the vicissitudes of life.

 To transmit culture, develop human nature, and provide

basic education for man’s survival.

1
 Realism and the Curriculum
 Developed according to utility and needs.

 Subjects are concerned with daily activities.

 Main subjects: natural science, physical science,

health culture, physical exercise, math, geography,
history, astronomy

1
 Realism and the teacher
 Realist teachers believe that the minds of the students
are tabula rasa or in blank slate. Therefore, teachers
should fill this hole with knowledge.

 He should bring the child in touch with the external

realities of life.
 He imparts scientific knowledge with precision and
accuracy.

1
 Realism and the teacher
 He should be educated and well-versed with the
customs, beliefs, rights, and duties of people, and
the trends.

 He must fully master the knowledge of the present life.

 He must co-relate utility in daily life and education.

1
 Realism and the teaching methodology
 Emphasis is on critical reasoning through observation.

 Supports accountability and performance-based

teaching.
 Scientific research and development.
 Mastery of facts through recitation, experimentation,
demonstration, drills, exercises

1
 Realism and the teaching methodology
 Education should proceed from simple to complex
and from concrete to abstract.
 Enhance learning through field trips, lectures, films,
TV, audio-visual aids, computer, and library.
 Learning based on facts – analysis – questioning.
 Vernacular is the medium of expression.

1
Forms of Realism
 Scholastic Realism
✢This started when medieval thinkers wanted to
bring a relation between faith (Christian theology)
and reason (Classical Philosophy).

✢St. Thomas Aquinas, a known realist, wrote

Summa Theologica and used Philosophy to help
explain the doctrine and mysteries of the church.

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 Scholastic Realism
✢ Scholastic Schools have two methods of
teaching:
1. Lectio – teacher reads a simple text; no
questions are permitted;
2. Disputatio – questions to be disputed are
announced beforehand

Education is a process to lift oneself up to the eternal.

 Humanistic Realism
✢ This started after the renaissance.
✢It studies the present solution to each problem of life.

✢Aimed to secure a knowledge of human society

and its institutions of nature and man’s reactions to
nature, chiefly through the content and not the form
of classics.
 Social Realism
✢This started as a reaction to a type of education
which aimed to produce scholars rather than men
of affairs.

✢ Aimed to train “gentlemen” for active

participation in social life and social judgment and
to prepare practical man of the world.

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 Social Realism
✢Social realists follow the “travel of journey
method.”

Education equips learners for a happy and successful

life as a man of the world.

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 Sense Realism
✢ The sense realism in education emphasizes the
training of the senses as they are the gateways of
knowledge and learning.

Nature is the treasure house of all knowledge

✢

which can only be obtained through the training of

senses.

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 Sense Realism
Sense realism give more importance to the study
✢

of natural science and contemporary social life.

Sense realists believe that through education, man

✢

can still know laws of nature and thereby, control

nature.

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 Sense Realism
✢ Sense realists emphasize three things:
1. Application of the inductive method
2. Replacement of Latin instructions to
vernacular instructions.
3. To replace studies in language and literature
by new scientific and social studies.
 REALISM IN EDUCATION

• Against the traditional education.

• Has given emphasis to liberal education.
• Supported by Science.
• According to Milton, “I call a generous and
complete education that which fits a man to
perform justly, skillfully and magnanimously
all the offices both private and public, at
peace and war.”

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 REALISTIC SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

1. Preparing the Child for a Happy and Successful

Life
2. Preparing the Child for a Real Life
3. Developing the Physical and Mental Powers of
Child
4. Developing and Training of Senses
5. Acquitting the Child with Nature and Social
Environment
6. Imparting Vocational Education

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 REALISM AND CURRICULUM

• They give primary importance to nature study,

physical sciences and vocational training.
• All those things which are useful to the child in
his life, the knowledge of these things must be
given to the child.
• Give importance to the mother tongue and
vocational subjects to be successful in life.

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 REALISM & METHODS OF TEACHING

• Give more emphasis to sense training.

• Milton emphasized the importance of travelling in
education
• Locke emphasized the importance of observation and
experimentation
• Inductive - Deductive method is also advocated by
Milton and Locke

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 REALISM AND TEACHER

• The teacher must have knowledge on the nature of

the child. They must know their needs.
• The teacher must also be conversant with the
scientific and psychological methods and
techniques of teaching.

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 REALISM AND DISCIPLINE

• Does not favour expressionistic type of

discipline.
• It gives importance in discipline based on love
and sympathy.
• Realism believes in “discipline through natural
consequences”

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 MERITS OF REALISM

• It lays emphasis on practical knowledge

• The aim of the development of a dynamic and
adaptable mind
• Due importance to science and technology
• Progressive methods of teaching
• Proper concept of discipline
• Emphasis on objectivity

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• Development of proper attitudes among the students
• Physical health
• Instructions are given on a uniform scientific
method
• Emphasis on vocational education is in tune with
the modern conditions and aspirations of society

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 DEMERITS OF REALISM

• Emphasis on the immediate reality of the physical

• Realism ignores the importance of emotions.
• No place for intuition and meditation
• More importance only to scientific subjects
• No faith in eternal value and high ideals of life

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 Conclusion
Realism is a philosophy that concerns itself to the realities of life.
Put into the field of education, it prepares the child to face the world and
all its ups and downs to survive.
Survival being put into consideration, a realist curriculum will
engage the teachers and learners to real activities that will equip the
learners about the current happenings in their world. As a social being,
knowledge about science and contemporary social studies will enable
them to contribute and fulfill a role in the society.
 References
1. Dash, S. N. R. (2015). Philosophical foundation of education. Directorate
of Distance & Continuing Education. Bhubaneswar:-751007
2. Hale, B. (n.d.) Realism. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/realism-philosophy
3. Iral, F. et. al. (2012). Teaching Profession. Diliman, Quezon City: St.
Andrew Publishing House
4. Realism. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://www.informationphilosopher.com/knowledge/realism.html
 References
5. Realism. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_realism.html
6.https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/LilyRosemaryMasilang/realism-in-
education-61581418
7.https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/BhawanaJoshi2/realism-in-education
8.https://www.google.com/amps/philosophyterms.com/realism/amp/