Philosophical and Curricular Foundations
Romantic Naturalism
 Naturalism was an educational movement in
Europe during the 18th century in which the child
was to be educated in accordance with the
natural laws of human development, free from all
that was artificial.
 The main exponent of Naturalism was Jean
Jacques Rousseau.
A. Aims of Naturalism
1. Preservation of natural goodness and virtue.
2. Preservation of individual freedom.
3. Creation of a new society.
B. Methods of Instruction
1. Child-centered
 According to Rousseau, the order of nature is
(1) need, (2) activity, (3) experience and (4)
knowledge.
 By this method, Rousseau established 3
modern principles of teaching:
1. Principle of growth
2. Principle of pupil activity
3. Principle of individualization
2. Discipline
 According to Rousseau, discipline should not
be imposed upon the child but it is the result
of his own action that should discipline him.
Communism
 Marx defined communism as the “common
ownership of the means of production”, an ideal
system to be achieved by shifting control over
economic resources from the capitalists to the
proletariat.
 This transfer of property rights would bring the
permanent “abolition of private property”, with
public ownership of all means of production,
including the farms and factories, raw materials,
transportation and communication facilities, and
the like.
 Communistic Russian education became a
prototype of communistic education elsewhere in
the world.
A. Aims of Communistic Education
1. Promote the development of the harmonious
interests of all through the acquisition of communist
culture.
2. Foster knowledge which will make everyone a key
master in the economic organization.
B. Methods of Instruction
1. Indoctrination
2. Close connection between study and work.
Fascism
 A political philosophy, movement or regime that
exalts nation and often race above the individual
and that strands for a centralized autocratic
government headed by a dictatorial leader,
severe economic and social regimentation and
forcible suppression of opposition.
 Fascism is the label of a political movement
founded by Benito Mussolini in Italy.
 Fascism is an offshoot of idealism.
 Fascism has one goal: the welfare of the state, not
of the individual.
 States become powerful at the expense of the
individual and the control is by one or by an elite
group.
 Fascism is a protest against what it believes to be
weakness in the democratic philosophy of
education.
A. Aim of Fascism
The aim of fascist education is not to equalize educational
opportunities but rather to differentiate them.
B. Methods of Instruction
1. Indoctrination
2. Brain-washing
Rational Humanism
 Humanism is a school of thought that believes
human beings are different from other species
and possess capacities not found in animals.
 It was a way of life concerned with the fullest
realization of human development.
 The realization that an adult human being is
autonomous and capable of self-government.
A. Aim of Rational Humanism
1. The proper aim of education is not the imposition of
rules or dogma but the opening of each person to
knowledge from within his own genius, whether as an
independent mind, the expression of an inborn nature, or
as enlightenment.
The Ideas and Influence of Francis Parker

 Pioneer of the progressive school movement in

the United States.
 “Father of Progressive Education”
 He believed that education should include the
complete development of an individual - mental,
physical and moral.
 He worked to create curriculum that centered on
the whole child and a strong language
background.
 He helped to show that education was not just
about cramming information into students’ minds,
but about teaching students to think for
themselves and become independent people.
 He asserted that students benefit most from
reading works of high interest, thereby activating
background knowledge.

The Herbartian and Curriculum Integration

 Founder of pedagogy as an academic discipline

 His theory suggests observation as a mental
process that combines new ideas with the ideas
that are already in a person’s mind.
 According to Herbart, knowledge and learning are
not something that comes naturally.
 Herbart’s pedagogical method was divided into 5
formal steps:
1. Preparation
2. Presentation
3. Association
4. Generalization
5. Application
 Herbart drew a clear connection between the
development of individual character through
education and the resulting benefits to society:
The emergence of productive citizens.

Child Study

 A scientific study of children, undertaken for the

purpose of discovering the laws of development
of the body and the mind from birth to manhood.
Educational Theory

 Educational theory seeks to know, understand

and prescribe educational policy and practice.
 It includes many topics such as pedagogy,
andragogy, curriculum, learning and education
policy, organization and leadership.