Five Educational Philosophies

Reality is a world within a person's mind.

Consistency of ideas.

Goodness is an ideal state, something to strive for.

Teachers model ideal behavior.

The school's function is to sharpen intellectual processes, to present the wisdom of ages, and present models of behavior that are desirable.

Change in the school program would be an intrusion on the process of educating.

Idealists are confident in their sources for learning.

The school's job is to teach students about the world as it is.

Goodness is found in the laws of nature and the order of the physical world.

Truth is the simple correspondence of observation.

Students should be taught factual information for mastery. Teachers impart knowledge on students. Students are passive participants in the study of things.

Classrooms are highly ordered and disciplined, like nature. Teachers are open to discussion, but the curriculum is largely predetermined.

Sees the world in terms of personal subjectivity.

Goodness, truth, and reality, are individually defined. Reality is a world of existing, truth is subjectively chosen, and goodness is a matter of freedom.

Schools assist students in knowing themselves and learning their place in society.

Subjects would be a matter of interpretation in subjects such as the arts, ethics, and philosophy.

Teacher-student interaction revolves around helping students through their learning journey.

Change in school environments is embraced as natural and necessary. Nonschooling and homeschooling are a possibility.

Most conservative, traditional, and structured.

Education should focus on developing rationality.

Education is a preparation for life. Students should learn through structured study.

Reality is a world of reason.

Teacher interprets information and gives it to students while students passively receive information.

Discipline of the mind through drills.

The world is an ever-changing place, and reality is what is experienced.

Goodness is what is accepted by public test.

Openly accepts change and continually seeks to discover new ways to expand and improve society.

Favors a school with a heavy emphasis on social subjects and experiences.

Learning occurs through a problem-solving or inquiry format.

Teachers would aid learners or consult with learners, who would be actively involved in discovering and experiencing the world in which they live.