Lesson 05: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION - 2:Short Questions
What is the primary role of a teacher under Idealism? To deal with abstract notions through the dialectic method, connecting analysis with action, and to be a role model.
What instructional method is particularly associated with Idealism? The dialectic approach (questioning and discussion).
What type of curriculum is associated with Idealism? A subject-matter curriculum with a back-to-basics approach, examining contemporary problems through great literature and classics.
What is the focus of the related philosophy Perennialism? To teach ideas that are everlasting and seek enduring truths through great literature, art, philosophy, and religion.
Name two key proponents of Perennialism. Robert Hutchins and Mortimer Adler.
What is the central focus of the philosophy of Realism? Reality exists independent of the human mind; the world of physical objects is ultimate reality.
Who is the originator of Realism? Aristotle.
What does ‘Tabula Rasa’ mean? Blank slate.
Explain how an Idealist teacher is ‘active’ in students’ learning. They actively pose questions, select materials, establish the learning environment, and use discussion to guide students toward discovering truths, rather than passively transmitting information.
How does the dialectic method align with Idealist goals? It involves questioning and discussion to refine ideas and search for truth, which is the core goal of Idealism, moving students from opinion to knowledge.
Why does Perennialism focus on great books and classics? Because they contain timeless, enduring truths and wisdom about the human condition that are relevant to every age.
Contrast the focus of Idealism and Realism. Idealism focuses on the mind and ideas as true reality. Realism focuses on the body and the physical, objective world as true reality.
Explain the Realist goal of education to ‘develop intellectual abilities’. It aims to train the mind to understand the objective world through reason, observation, and mastery of disciplined knowledge about reality.
How does the concept of ‘Tabula Rasa’ relate to Realism in education? It suggests the student’s mind is initially empty and must be filled with knowledge and information about the real world through experience and instruction.
Summarize the Idealist view of the teacher as a ‘role model’. Since truth is found in ideas and character, the teacher must personally embody the intellectual and moral ideals they are teaching for students to imitate and internalize.
Explain the ‘back-to-basics’ approach from an Idealist/Perennialist perspective. It emphasizes returning to the fundamental, timeless subjects (like classics, logic, rhetoric) that cultivate the intellect and wisdom, rather than trendy or vocational subjects.
How might a Realist critique an Idealist’s focus on abstract ideas? A Realist might argue that focusing on abstract ideas ignores the tangible, objective reality that can be studied empirically, and that education should be grounded in the physical world we live in.
Design an Idealist lesson plan for teaching the concept of ‘courage’. Read and analyze excerpts from classic texts (e.g., Plato’s dialogues, Shakespeare’s plays) depicting courage, then lead a dialectical discussion on its nature, whether it is a virtue, and its forms.
A school is deciding between purchasing new science lab equipment or a set of classic novels. Apply Perennialist philosophy to advise them. A Perennialist would advocate for the classic novels, arguing that they provide enduring wisdom and intellectual training that is more foundational than temporary scientific facts, though both have value.
How would a Realist teacher use ‘competency testing’ in their classroom? They would design objective, standardized tests and practical assessments to measure students’ mastery of specific skills and factual knowledge, ensuring learning outcomes are met and quantifiable.
Using the Realist perspective, justify the emphasis on mathematics and science in the curriculum. Mathematics and science study the objective, physical laws of the universe—ultimate reality. Mastering them equips students with the tools to understand and operate successfully in the real world.
An Idealist teacher wants students to learn about justice. Propose a method other than lecture. Use a Socratic seminar: present a case study of a historical or current event involving injustice, and through guided questioning, have students debate and derive principles of justice from their discussion.
Apply the concept of ‘teacher as role model’ (Idealism) to a situation where a teacher makes a mistake in class. The teacher should openly acknowledge the error, model intellectual humility and the process of correction, demonstrating that the search for truth involves admitting and learning from mistakes.
A student asks, “Why do we need to learn about ancient Greece?” Formulate a Perennialist response. “We study ancient Greece because thinkers like Plato and Aristotle grappled with fundamental questions about truth, justice, and the good life—questions that are still relevant today. Their ideas are the enduring foundations of Western thought.”
Contrast how an Idealist and a Realist would teach a lesson on ‘plants’. An Idealist might focus on the idea or ‘form’ of a plant, its place in the philosophical order of nature, and its symbolic meanings in literature. A Realist would focus on its physical parts, biological functions, classification, and hands-on dissection or gardening.
