Philosophies of Education

Which do you favor?

• Perennialism
• Progressivism
• Essentialism
• Existentialism
• Reconstruction
Perennialism...
• Purpose - to help students understand our
connections to humanity throughout time
• Seeks to explore the human condition and answer
the question WHY?
• Classes read, discuss, & debate Great Books
• Learners explore the questions/values which
people have pondered throughout time.
• conservative - focus on Western literature and
culture
• liberal - explore literature and culture from all
civilizations
Supporters -- ED Hirsch Core Knowledge in Education
series “What your 1st Grader Needs to Know”...

Junior Great Books program --

Rumpelstiltskin (Brothers Grimm)
Chestnut Pudding (Iroquois folktale)
The Mermaid Who Lost Her Comb (Scottish folktale)
Mother of the Waters (Haitian folktale)
Anansi’s Fishing Expedition (West African)
The Terrible Leak (Japanese folktale)
How Coyote Stole the Sun (Native Am. folktale)

http://www.greatbooks.org/programs/junior/
Wishbone
 QuickTime™ and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

http://www.pbs.org/wishbone/

Furst Impressions
Attending the Oakdale school beach party
social has the kids in an uproar. Meanwhile,
Wishbone as Mr. Darcy learns a few things
about social graces in Jane Austen's Pride
and Prejudice.

(additional Wishbone titles -->)

sample Wishbone episodes...
Frankenbone
David's got trouble on his hands when he adds a little spark to his science fair
project. Meanwhile, Wishbone as Dr. Frankenstein unleashes a monster in
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Bone of Arc
Samantha becomes the heroine of the boys soccer team while Wishbone
becomes her ally. Meanwhile, Joan of Arc leads the men of the French Army
against the English in Mark Twain's Joan of Arc. Wishbone is her friend, Louis
de Conte.

Hunchdog of Notre Dame

Samantha stands up for Nathaniel when he has trouble making friends on the
roller hockey team. Meanwhile, Wishbone as Quasimodo befriends Esmerelda
as they search for safety in Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Existentialism...
• Seeks to answer who am I and
develop one’s special interests and
talents
• Learning is individualized with
students exploring their own
interests
• liberal - each student has own
curriculum, no time constraints
• conservative - standards are set,
student has latitude in when and
how standards will be met
Example (liberal):
What would you like to study today? Is
there any help I might offer?

Example (conservative):
You must develop a technology rich unit
- you select content area, grade level,
technology to include.

We are studying about Native Americans

-you may select the Nation to study and
the focus (housing, food, clothing,
migration patterns)
Reconstruction...
Seeks to change society to
make more fair for all
Learning focuses on solving
real societal problems

Examples:
• Water Pollution: how should the
Fox be cleaned up?
• Latch Key Children: what can be
done to provide quality after
school care for students?
• The Ducks: there is too much duck
poop in the park what shall be
done?
Essentialism...
Seeks to teach students the basics
Much drill and practice, learning
and following the rules

Conservative - sit still and do your

work by yourself

Liberal - use Math Facts Rap

cassette or Number Munchers
online program to learn math facts
Progressivism...
• Seeks to involve students in their learning
• Project based learning
• Conservative - teacher selects topic, student
has limited choice from list of options
• Example: We are studying Native Americans, select
which group you will be in (Housing, Food or Clothing)
make an example to go with your report
• Liberal - teacher and students together decide
on topic and choices
• Example: Class completes K and W sections of KWL
chart at beginning of unit, unit is developed around W
items
http://oakview.fcps.edu/
http://oakview.fcps.edu/~msav
A terrarium
Painting
Rain
lushForest
forest
by by
Projects
byScott -- Our
room is filled with great projects
a/96-97/Projects/Picture2.jpg
a/96-97/Projects/Picture1.jpg
~msava/96-
William
Kristen
showing the diversity, color
97/Projects/Picture4.jpg and richness of life in the Rain
Forest. You can see some of the projects here.
Which educational philosophy(ies) do you endorse?
• Perennialism
• Progressivism
• Essentialism
• Existentialism
• Reconstruction

How do they match with your professed goals of

education and more personalized classroom goals?
Is there a match???
How can we make them become reality?
Does one philosophy work for all?