Sem. Paul Vincent D.

Rubio
Philosophy of Education
Final Paper

1) What philosophy/ Philosophies of education will you adopt/adapt?

The greatest of all treasure to unlock is the potential hidden in each one. One way to
unlock this is to find, if necessary, make a key that fits it. Analogously, in philosophy of
education, there is a philosophy, namely progressivism, where one is focused on unlocking the
fullest potential and enriching the skill of a student by making the key by themselves, nurtured
and guided by the teachers in so far as the activities they do and the knowledge they learn are
appropriate and helpful. However, it is important to note that for it to proceed on that point, it
should be founded on something that which is basic, something foundational that engender the
arising of this kind of philosophy that is, progressivism. The pillars of education which is
pertained to is essentialism and perennialism. In this paper, three philosophies of education shall
be briefly discussed namely, progressivism, essentialism, and perennialism.

It is very timely and “remarkably, the Philippines' education system, both former and
current, is significantly influenced by Dr. John Dewey's philosophical perspective” 1—
progressivism. Progressivism is the most suitable, relevant, and effective philosophy of
education that can be applied for aiding the students’ learning in the context of the Philippine
setting. It is a student-centered philosophy. As a student-centered philosophy of education, this is
not a passive way of doing education. Instead, it is an active one where students really engage in
education in which the latter is a “problem solver and thinker who makes meaning through his or
her individual experiences in the physical and cultural context.” 2 With this philosophy, students
will be able to enrich themselves through their own, as long as teachers aid them on what they
do. “Individuality, progress, and change are fundamental to one’s education.”3 It holds that the
essential learnings of a student should be for one’s betterment that shall help him on his day-to-
day living. This theory enriches one’s life by teaching the students the “process-how one comes
to know.” It is focused on learning by doing so that students may learn from themselves given
that teachers aid them on what they do. This theory wants to place knowledge on students first
1
https://mitchelafrica.com/2017/07/06/deweys-influence-to-philippine-educational-system/
2
https://web.augsburg.edu/~erickson/edc490/downloads/comparison_edu_philo.pdf
3
https://cer.jhu.edu/files_ta/4_Major_Educational_Philosophies.pdf
hand, i.e., enabling students to experience the freshness of the knowledge and savor it by
themselves, and thereupon, unlocking their potentials so as to do what they have learned.

Once more, it is important to note that for a student be able to proceed on enriching his
skill or unlocking his potential, it is important that he/she is founded on something, especially in
education. Hence, essentialism and perennialism are significant philosophies that will serve as
the foundational basis of the educational growth of a student. Perennialism is a philosophy that
values knowledge that are timeless by which he/she can bring for a lifetime. It values knowledge
that transcends time. The goal of a perennialist educator is to teach students to think rationally
and develop minds that can think critically—something that which is very important to a person
since it is by nature that man is rational thus, he must develop his mind. “Perennialists think it is
important that individuals think deeply, analytically, flexibly, and imaginatively. They
emphasize that students should not be taught information that may soon be outdated or found to
be incorrect.” Man values dearly the truth; the truth is something we hold on to. Thus,
perennialist is indeed significant on the educational development of each one since, not only it
shall mold a person be critical, it teaches man to adhere to the truth, thus enabling him to develop
as a person with integrity.

Another foundational philosophy of education is essentialism. Essentialism is the

educational theory whose primary goal is to teach students the basics. It is a philosophy that aims
to instill to students the most important things not only academically but also morally such as
“traditional moral values and virtues along with these are the respect for authority, perseverance,
fidelity to duty, consideration for others, and practicality and intellectual knowledge that students
need to become model citizens.”4 A person who knows the essentials is already a sufficient
knowledge. One need not to know everything. He only needs to know what’s important in life.
Hence in this philosophy, it suggests to teach morals and values since it is something proper to
man to be moral as a consequence of having rationality. Essentialism teaches a person to be
human. How ironic that something what is proper to a person is something that needs to be
taught to himself. The reason of this irony is because men are susceptible to mistakes. Hence, he
must be guided and taught. Essentialism offers those kinds of knowledge so we must subscribe to
this philosophy.

4
https://www.siue.edu/~ptheodo/foundations/essentialism.html#:~:text=Essentialists%20believe%20that%20teachers%20should,need%20to%20become%20model%20citizens.
 Education indeed molds a person holistically—mind, something that which is related
with our reasoning and the capacity to reflect and understand what we have learned, heart,
something that which is related with our morals and values, body together with will, something
that which is related with our skills and capacity to do things that we can to the extent of our
limit as a person. It is obvious that the betterment of a child, by which through unlocking his
potential, is founded by basic learnings that served as the substratum of all other learnings.
Without foundation, there would not be a possibility for further learnings. Thus, learning
becomes stagnant. Because it is founded on something, it progressed. In progress entails
development. The development of a child enables him to be passionate and more engaging,
hence, be more active in all aspects, consequently making him a great contributor to nation
building. An unlocked potential is a constant gift to the self, to the community, and to God in so
far as this potential is leading to a proper end who is God himself. The progress which education
must aim for is an end which is timeless.

2) How will you apply this/these in terms of Vision, goals of education, principles, methods of
teaching, and learning environment?

As a philosophy of education, progressivism, essentialism, and perennialism are truly

relevant and effective since it inculcates to every child the basics, hence, he/she shall be able to
be really engaged in learning and eventually be able to unlock his potentials and nurture his/her
skills. Thus, with regards to vision, goal, principles, methods of teaching, and learning
environment, something that which is proper to the nature of the aforementioned philosophies of
education should also be practiced to enable and foster the effectivity of the said philosophies on
educating the students. In relation with the vision, goals of education, methods of teaching, and
learning environment, these are the enunciated propositions:

Vision

The Vision of education foresees a nation where students, by virtue of education, attain
knowledge that shall lead one toward self-betterment, self-mastery, and integral development in
order for that be the means for nation-building. The aforementioned shall greatly guide the
education system and navigate the educational growth of a student by inculcating to the latter the
foundations and hence, eventually paving students towards unlocking their potentials, thereby, be
a great contribution to nation building.

Goals of Education

The goal of education is the Vision be fulfilled—a vision where students, by virtue of
education, attain self betterment, self-mastery, and integral development, and thereby be the
means for nation-building in so far as the knowledge acquired are incorporated to life.

Principles of education

The end of education is to instill knowledge to students in so far as this knowledge

acquired shall lead them to their good and others’ good, towards their betterment and others’
betterment, towards nation building, and towards the knowledge of the ultimate end—God.

Suffice it to say, all should use what everyone has learned, integrate this new knowledge
into your life, and test it out in the real world in so far as this leads to self-betterment, nation
building, and knowledge of God.

The Manner of Teaching

The two foundational philosophies of education are taught in classrooms where teachers
inculcate knowledge to students by which he/she can bring for a lifetime. Progressivism, on the
other hand, should not be taught like that of the traditional and typical style of teaching. Since
this kind of learning focuses greatly on the capacity of each one, the manner of teaching should
be hands on.

Learning Environment

It must be an environment where freedom is fostered so as students, free from external

constraints, be able to fully express and disclose what they feel and think in order to pave one
towards unlocking his/her potentials and hidden skills.
 The goal of education is to nurture an individual holistically. Development must be
integral; it must not be focused only to one aspect e.g., intellect only. Integral development of a
student/person enables him to be equipped in life for life itself is integral. Education paves the
way towards integral learning thereby, the development of an integral life of a person.
Perennialism, essentialism, and progressivism, each with their own strengths as philosophies of
education, each having their own focus, and each having their own sought-for goal, shall suffice,
in so far as the foundations of education is concerned, in meeting the holistic needs of every
Filipino child.