THE TEACHING AND THE

PROFESSION
DR. REGIDOR T. CARALE
PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS OF EDUCATION

Philosophies present general views of reality.

Three major philosophies are presented in this
chapter to help you evaluate your own philosophy.
Compare the elements or features of each
philosophy and align each philosophy to your own
as you establish and strengthen your educational
philosophy.
 IDEALISM

Idealism contends that reality lies in our consciousness or our

intellect.
Perfect knowledge of the ideal resided outside humansas an
absolute or as God.
The spiritual essence or soul is the permanent element of human
nature that gives them the power to think and feel.
Ideas that make-up the reality have already existed in the moind
of the Absolute or God so that when we know something, it means
we have reach our concious understanding of these ideas.
 IDEALISM

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.
 Idealist Teachers

• 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 No. 2
Reflect:
As you prepare to develop your own philosophy of education, consider
these questions:

What elements of idealism do you agree with?

Which of these elements would you incorporate into your own
philosophy?
Align your own philosophy to these elements and exhaustively explain
its alignment in consonants to the idealism standards.
 REALISM

• Realism advocates that reality is outside of our minds. They are

not internal to our minds as idealists claim.
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.
 REALISM

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 TEACHER

Believe that teachers should be equipped with a

wide repertoire of methods in teaching to achieve
their goals.
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 realiable means to discover
knowledge.
 REALIST TEACHER

Believe that 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.
 Activity No. 3
Reflect:
As you prepare to develop your own philosophy of education, consider
these questions:

What elements of realism do you agree with?

Which of these elements would you incorporate into your own
philosophy?
Align your own philosophy to these elements and exhaustively explain
its alignment in consonants to the realism standards.
 JOHN DEWEY

A pragmatist, related education in 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

1. Believe that education is an experimental process- a

method of solving problems that challenges people as
they interact with the world.
2. Believe that children should learn how to make difficult
decisions by considering the consequences of their
actions on others.
3. Believe that education should focus in real-life problems
to be prepared to live fully and effectively in the
society.
 PRAGMATIST TEACHERS

4. Believe that students should learn the process of

problem-solving rather than by being passive learners
as knowledge is being transmitted to them.
5. Believe in collaborative learning where students
share their interest and problems.
6. Believe that interdisciplinary education is better
departmentalized curriculum in education.
 PRAGMATIST TEACHERS

7. Believe in takignrisk in education to achieve

their goal.
8. Believe in values-clarification rather than
blindly accepting inherited values.
9. Believe that communication technologies such
as e-mail and internet provide opportunities to
share ideas, insights, and experiences.
 Activity No. 4
Reflect:
As you prepare to develop your own philosophy of education, consider
these questions:

What elements of pragmatism do you agree with?

Which of these elements would you incorporate into your own
philosophy?
Align your own philosophy to these elements and exhaustively explain
its alignment in consonants to the pragmatism standards.