Louisiana State University the Role Philosophy Plays in Influencing Curriculum Essay

Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
www.iiste.org
Philosophy as a Key Instrument in Establishing Curriculum,
Educational Policy, Objectives, Goals of Education, Vision and
Mission of Education.
Dr. Eric Thomas Ogwora. Department of Philosophy and Religious studies, Kisii University
Rev. Dr Gerishon kuria. Department of philosophy. Kisii University
Dr. Evans Nyamwaka. Department of History. Kisii University
Mrs Beatrice Nyakan. Department of Education. Kisii University
Abstract
This research is about the contribution of philosophy to education. Philosophy is the foundation of knowledge
and it is the theory about education. Education is the practical component of this theory. Because of this
relationship philosophy is foundational in all aspects of education. This research will expose a strong link
between philosophy and education which has all along been watered down. While philosophy has a critical
component, education has been underscored in this research as the continuous revitalization of learning about
life. Intellectually, education means the formation of understanding as a response to the calling of being which is
the end of our knowing. In other words, to know is to comprehend being in its totality. The researcher goes
ahead and demonstrates that in order for us to comprehend various issues in education; we need to embrace
philosophy for it is the foundation of all knowledge. Secondly, philosophy underpins education as it is its critical
and theoretical component. All the problems and dimensions of education can only be understood properly
through philosophy and they are of philosophical nature.
Introduction
The term philosophy is derived from the Greek word Philein meaning to love, to strive after or search
for and from the word Sophia which means wisdom. Therefore, Philosophy is the search for wisdom by
philosophers. Philosophy is the foundation, the mother and engine of all other disciplines. It is wide since it
involves all other studies. Philosophy is a systematic, vigorous, critical objective study of the reality. Philosophy
recognizes three kinds of realities namely God, Universe and Man. Education borrows from philosophy and puts
that knowledge into practice. In this regard, philosophy is the theory about knowledge while education is the
practice of the said knowledge. Philosophy is closely related to education. For example, all educational programs
are generally philosophical in nature hence any educational theory is related to philosophy.
1.0 Philosophy as a Foundation of Educational Curriculum
Philosophy refers to the beliefs that make up the society and constitute the meaning of educational
philosophy. It points out to the society what they aspire to be achieved through education. Education is an act or
experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. It is also the
process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one
generation to another through institution.
The term curriculum is from a Latin word for ?race-course? referring to the course of deeds and
experiences through which children grow to become mature. Curriculum is all the selected activities done in the
society which are used in the learning process. It is a race experience, planned learning and instruction which
requires a learner to know things taught in class producing and understanding language used, solving problems
and making their own decisions.
According to John Franklin Bobbit (1918), a curriculum constitutes various deeds and experiences
which are intentioned and directed or otherwise that a child undergoes as he develops to an adult in a society. For
him, curriculum is a social engineering arena. He realized that curricular formation must have two important
notable features. First, the curriculum must be tailored in such away that it constitutes deed- experiences that a
student ought to have to become the adult he or she ought to become. Second, those who design the curriculum
must have knowledge of the desirable qualities in an adult society. This knowledge of the good in the society is
rightly estimated by philosophy. This makes curriculum to have intimate relation with philosophy. It is
philosophy that discovers and unfolds the good that all men should aspire and project in all their purposeful
education.
On the same note, and in respect to philosophy, curriculum is prescriptive in that it gives the general
guidelines or specifies what kinds of courses or topics that must be covered so as to achieve a given level of
grade or standard. This is really to say that curriculum is normative in the sense in which philosophy is. This is
because its ultimate aim is to set the required standards, principles, values, knowledge and skills to be attained in
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Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
www.iiste.org
any particular field of study. Ideally speaking, curriculum is not a concrete reality but an ideal. It is not more on
the actual deeds or experiences that form people. It is designed to fit school set up. These are deeds and
experiences which are purposeful and intentional to help students master and gain a certain required standards
for a given grade (Bobbitt, 1918). Curriculum involves range of courses from which students choose what
subject matter to study. Further, it captures a specific learning program whereby it collectively describes the
teaching, learning and assessment material available for a given course of study (Bobbitt, 1918)
Curriculum in its entirety has a philosophical, historical, psychological and social foundation. The field
of curriculum has its set of principles and theories. For example, the term curriculum itself is a concept
describing very complex ideas. In learning, there are principles such as educational philosophy, curriculum goals
and learning objectives which are applied in developing school programs, colleges, training centers and
universities. This field has its own body of knowledge and skills e.g. in the selection of content making it rely on
the principles knowledge and skills from psychology, philosophy and sociology.
Curriculum planning involves the decision about the philosophy of education. Having decided on the
philosophical beliefs then curriculum goals and objectives are derived from there. These are later translated into
the classroom as desired learning outcomes. Philosophy probably has more influence on curriculum access and
development in that it provides educationists, teachers and curriculum makers with framework for planning
implementation and evaluating curriculum in school. It also helps in answering what schools are for what
subjects are important, how students should learn and what materials and methods should be used. Philosophy
provides the starting point and heuristic dynamism in decision making about education in its totality.
1.1 Educational Philosophies in Relation to Curriculum
Perennialism ? Here the focus in curriculum is classical subjects literary analysis and considered curriculum as
constant. The curriculum must emphasize enduring, long lasting, skills, values and knowledge.
Essentialism ? Here the essential skills of the 3 R?S and essential subjects of English, Science, History,
Mathematics and Foreign language is the focus of the curriculum.
Progressivism ? The curriculum is focused on students? interest human problems and affairs. The subjects are
interdisciplinary, integrative and interactive.
Re-constructionism ? Here the focus of the curriculum is on present and future trends and issues of national and
international interest.
Educational philosophy lays a strong foundation of any curriculum in that a curriculum specialist, implementer
of evaluator anchors their decision making process on a sound philosophy.
The following curriculum theorists contributed their views on curriculum:
Franklin Bobbit (1876-1956) presented curriculum as a science that emphasizes on students? need. It should be
tailored in such a way that it constitutes deeds and experiences the student ought to have to become the adult he
or she ought to become.
Werret Chaters (1875-1952) considered curriculum also as a science which is based on student?s need and the
role of the teachers plan the activities.
William Kilpatrick (1871-1965) viewed curriculum as purposeful activities which are child centred.
Harold Rugg (1886-1960) emphasized social studies in the curriculum and the teachers plan the lesson in
advance.
Hollis Caswell (1901-1989) sees curriculum as organized around social functions of themes and organized
knowledge and learners interests.
Robert M. Hutchins views curriculum as permanent studies where the rules of grammer, rhetorics and logic and
mathematics for basic education are emphasized. He advocated a theory that basic education must emphasize
3Rs while college education should be grounded on liberal education.
Aurther Bestor understood curriculum to be a tool to fulfill the mission of the school which he regarded as
intellectual training. He propagated essentialist theory of the curriculum where by he emphasized that curriculum
should focus on the fundamental intellectual disciplines of grammar literature and writing. It should also include
essential disciplines like maths, science, history and foreign language.
The philosophy of education has guided the development, management, organization and delivery of
education. Philosophy has philosophical schools of thoughts such as naturalism which is the basis of the
curriculum, idealism which on the nature of the learner and recommends the learning activity of the learner and
the positive influence of the teacher, realism which is important in forming curriculum that stresses the
acquisitions of information about culture and pragmatism which recommends the change of knowledge because
it is not permanent. This school of thought emphasizes on continuous construction and reconstruction of
curriculum.
1.2 Psychological Foundation of Curriculum
Psychology provides basis for the teaching and learning process in that it unities element of learning
process and some of the questions which can be addressed by psychological foundations. The following are
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Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
www.iiste.org
major groups of learning theories:
1.2.1 Behaviourist psychology
Considers that learning should be organized in order for the students to experiences success in the
subject matter hence method of teaching step by step with proper sequencing of task.
1.2.2 Cognitive psychology
Focus their attention on how individuals process information and how to monitor and manage thinking.
Here learning constitutes a logical method for organizing and interpreting learning. Learning in this group is
rooted in the tradition of subject matter where teachers use a lot of problem and thinking skills in teaching and
learning. These are exemplified by practices like reflective thinking, creative thinking, intuitive thinking,
discovery learning among others.
1.2.3 Humanistic psychology
Concerned with how learners can develop their human potential based on Gesalt psychology where
learning can be explained in term if the wholeness of the problem and where the environment is changing
making the learner continuously recognized his/her perceptions.
Schools exist within the social context societal culture affects and shapes schools and their curricula. The
relationship of curriculum and society is mutual and encompassing. Hence to be relevant the curricula should
reflect and preserve the culture of the society and it?s aspirations equally society should take in the changes
brought about by the formal institution called schools.
2.0 How Philosophy has influenced the Establishment of Educational Policy
Education policy refers to the collection of laws and rules that govern the operation of education
systems. Education occurs in many forms and for many purposes through many institutions, that is, early
childhood education, kindergarten, primary level, secondary level, college and adult education. Education policy
therefore can affect directly that is, the education that people are engaged in at all ages. The policy can address
or debate on the size of the school, class number of learners, the teacher?s profession and their pay, teaching
methods applied among others. Education policy analysis is the scholarly study of education which seeks
answers from philosophical thinking.
The education policy also looks into the purpose of education, the objectives and goals to be achieved,
the research to be carried out in order to come out with the best system and all this requires philosophical
thought. Philosophy which is a discipline that is concerned with the aims and goals of education provides
techniques required for setting proper rules and laws that are suitable in a given situation. In so doing it
contributes a lot to the deeper study of the educational policies that are relevant in a given educational set up. It
also looks into forms, methods or results of the process of educating or being educated.
Philosophy addresses stressful questions facing educational policy by creating a smooth ground
(atmosphere) of getting solutions in a more logical way. It also contributes a lot in the upbringing of education as
a whole. It practices the limits and legitimization of education as an academic discipline and relationship
between educational theory and practice.
Philosophy unifies pedagogy, curriculum, learning theories and the purpose of education and this is
grounded in a specific metaphysical epistemology and axiological assumptions upon which educational policy is
formulated. Philosopher by name Plato contributed a lot on the structure of educational policy whereby he
advocated for the children to be separated from their mothers care and raising them in a separate place. He also
contributed on talent building which is included in educational policy. The educational curriculum allows sports
in institutions which require students to involve themselves in promoting talents.
Philosophy projects that higher education helps the soul to search for truth. This will make a person to
think critically and respond to issues and such will lead to the formulation of ideas such as policy in education.
Through philosophy, elementally education is introduced and strengthened and it may become an important
aspect in education policy. Educational policy spells out the duration each curriculum takes which is clearly
borrowed from philosophy. This is well supported by setting curriculum that suits all ages of people.
Different philosophers focus on education differently but in a more logical way for example Kant?s
view is based in education different from training and thinking. He also supported learning by doing which is
one of the set rules and laws of education. Learners acquire more by doing and touching rather than listening
from the teachers. Aristotle on his part supports educational policy by considering human nature, habit and
reason to be so important forces that should be cultivated in education.
3.0 Philosophy as key in Establishing Educational Objectives
Educational Objectives are targets that are intended to be achieved at the end of the course. They are
operational statements that describe the desired outcomes of the program. The objectives are derived from the
goal statements and are the action statements used to translate the goals into a working educational program. The
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Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
www.iiste.org
core of curriculum development is an educational philosophy that aids in answering the values-laden questions
and thereby establishing curricular choices. The philosophy is essential in order to give meaning to any
curriculum development effort. Curriculum planners are forced to consider their values as pertaining to
education. The decisions that affect the scope of curriculum will have an important impact on the structure and
content of school programs. The curriculum developers must therefore be aware of their own beliefs about
education learning and teaching in order to make better decisions.
In absence of an educational philosophy and the direction it provides, a curriculum will include nearly
everything. A philosophy that accurately reflects the beliefs and values of the curriculum developer can
accomplish the following
? Provide the intent and purpose of existence of the program.
? Define the roles of the persons directly associated with the program and school.
? Clarify the objectives of the program.
? Clarify the learning activities in the program.
? Direct the selection of the learning strategies and tactic to be used in the classroom.
Philosophical beliefs and attitudes are important before attempting to work with other curriculum
planners, instructors and administrators. Common values that overlap individual beliefs form most fertile ground
for curricular collaboration and development of successful projects and programs (Wiles and Bondi 1993 p. 40).
The clarification of purpose involves identifying a philosophy, such as, perennialism, idealism, realism,
experimentalism, existentialism etc.
Philosophy provides a logical vigor, envisaging transcendence and disciplined imagination which helps
in the formulation of educational objectives. It also contributes a great deal to education in that it makes one
being critical and have self conscious reflection of the realities which education wants to display which plays a
key role in building educational objectives.
Philosophy assists the educators in formulating beliefs, arguments and assumptions and in making value
judgments. It also promotes advanced and interdisciplinary studies which provide a forum for creation
accumulation and utilization of knowledge. Philosophy develops a broad outlook flexible adaptability and
creativity and a rousing desire for self enlightenment and study hence getting the required abilities for doing
research and development.
4.0 Philosophy as a Tool in Establishing Educational Goals
Goals are statements pertaining to the outcomes of education. Goals are derived from the philosophical
viewpoints of the school departments and community. Goals like the statement of philosophy are a foundation of
curriculum planning. Goals range from broad statement to specific for example the mission statement of a
college which usually serves as the philosophical statement will be supported by the broad educational goals.
4.1 The Goals of Education
Expand early childhood care and education: – This goal calls for the support of young ones in the way they
should grow, that is, physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually. This is build from the philosophy of
Maria Montessor who is known for her philosophy and method of education of children from birth to adolescent.
Provision of free and compulsory primary education for all: – This was developed from philosophy of Jean
Jacque Rousseau. This was out to make the parents and learners to see the importance of gaining basic education.
Promotion of learning and life skills for young people and adult: – This places emphasis on learning and is
developed from the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner who build a philosophy of education known as Anthroposophy.
Increase adult literacy by 50%:- This calls for certain level of improvement of adult literacy by 2015. This came
from a philosophical theory of philosophy.
Achievement of gender parity by 2005 and gender equity by 2015:- This goal calls for an equal number of girls
and boys in education process.
Improve the quality of education: – This calls for improvement in the equality of education in all aspects. This
was developed from the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner.
5.0 Philosophy as Projection of the Vision and Mission of Education
Vision is what is intended to be achieved e.g. to have quality education and training for development.
Mission is the way to achieve the vision e.g. to work with other education stakeholders to provide, promote and
coordinate quality training and research for Kenyans sustainable development and responsible citizenly. The
vision and mission of education statement set towards realizing better results of education in given system. The
ideals values and beliefs are the beginning of powerful vision. Mission statement give education stronger
motivation and provides parents with clear picture of what school values are.
The mission and vision of education provide detailed expectations for administrators, teachers and other
stakeholders. They provide essential overview goals and what they want to be in the future. Philosophy provides
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Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
www.iiste.org
skills and knowledge of identifying and training and then developing educational vision and mission. It also
created logical ways of identifying the existing vision and mission viewing and determining their relevance and
accuracy to education. Philosophy provided skills to administration to ask probing question which will guide the
staff in developing and establishing (SMART) goals. It helps administrators to come up with a plan which will
involve the staff in revising the existing vision and mission statement or creating new ones.
Philosophy supported innovations, striving to address the training needs for high quality services and
seek ways to achieve the stated goals that will lead to the attainment of the mission and vision. It also prepared
the administrators in developing skills which guide them in carrying out proper research in the required vision
and mission of a given educational institution. It is philosophy that points out to the society of what they aspire.
This is critical in the curriculum development process.
6.0 Philosophy Underpins All Educational Ideals
All of us are familiar with the extrapolated debate on how philosophy is related to education. My
familiarity with the debate is that it is carried out by people who have leant how to memorize and state various
positions and theories word by word. For them to be educated is to state theories which have so far been
constructed in their realm or discipline. To us as philosophers, this doesn?t amount to what we call education.
This conclusion needs to be strongly defended. Let us start by stating basic facts about philosophy and education.
Essentially, education and philosophy, are two disciplines, however they are two sides of the same coin.
This reason behind this assertion is not far from what we have already considered. Education is the dynamic side
of philosophy. Philosophy and Education are the two flowers of one stem, the two sides of one coin. One can
never be thought of without the other. The presence of one is incomplete without the other. The art of education
cannot be completed without philosophy and philosophy cannot convert others to its aims and values without
education. There is a close interaction between the two; one without the other is unserviceable.
Philosophy is a discipline whose method is pedagogical (Lonergan, 1957 :398) Because of this, there is
virtually no issue in education which is more fundamental than philosophy of education. The importance of
philosophy to education cannot be denigrated in any open discussion. Philosophy is what has given education its
vision and direction, without which education loses its social significance. For this simple reason that philosophy
endeavors to inculcate in us, through a habit of committed thinking, to discover our being in ourselves, one can
competently say that philosophy is heuristically and metaphysically pedagogical (methodical). In a general sense,
though not totally exclusive, education is the lifelong process of coming to know the truth of who we are. This
reminds us of the greatest maxim which has been cherished since antiquity; Socratic maxim ?know thy self?.
This captures the complex meaning and mission of education to man. To be educated is to know thyself, that is,
being able to reach a responsible self awareness where responsible self awareness suggests the ethical injunction:
be thyself in truth, freedom, and goodness.
Philosophy is a way of life. In a wider sense philosophy is a way of looking at life, nature and truth. It
sets up the ideals for an individual to achieve them in his life time. Education on the other hand is the dynamic
side of philosophy. It is the active aspect and the practical means of realising the ideals of life. Education is a
sacred necessity of life, both from the biological and sociological point of view.
Perhaps, each one of use is familiar with the simple science in our secondary school where it was said
that catalyst speeds up a given process. Similarly, it is true that education works like a catalyst for a better life, a
social desirable life. As a pot is made out of clay and a finished product comes out of raw material, so also from
the immature child comes out the civilized man through education. From a technical sense, education renews and
re-builds the social structure in the pattern of philosophical ideals. A human being, who is born and grows up
with inherited propensities, determines the basic trails of man, but education paves a long way for his success in
life.
The weight of this imperative, which we have identified to be central to education basically lies in its
transformative character to effect a radical change in the way we see ourselves, others and the world. This is
what has been captured by the title of this book, which is that authentic education is characterized by conversion,
intellectually, morally, and religiously. This is to say that the purpose of education is really to bring about
integral transformation of the human situation through habituation of critical reflection. In his Lectures on
Education in Cincinnati, Lonergan says:
Philosophy is a reflection on the human situation at an ultimate level. It is a fundamental
thinking about the human situation. And education is the great means for transforming the
human situation. It changes people?s minds and wills. Consequently, philosophy and education
are interdependent (Lonergan, 1997:4).
They are interdependent on the sense that philosophy is the reflective component and education is the
active component, at the ultimate level of reflection and action in human life. Education is practical in nature and
philosophy is theory. It is not vague to say that theory and practical are identical. The educator, who has to deal
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Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.11, 2013
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with the real facts of life, is different from the arm chair theorist who is busy in speculation. But a close
observation of the various interpretations of philosophy will prove that these two are nothing but the one and
same thing seen from different angles. Philosophy is the study of the realities, the pursuit of wisdom.
Ideally speaking, philosophy guides education. It is the guide and the inspiration of education. It
clarifies and sets goals, trains the mind to think and to be critical, opens the mind to major concerns, thus
vindicating the desire to know. Education too does a great deal to philosophy. Education is the verification, that
is, the pragmatic justification of philosophy. Furthermore, another intrinsic relation that is exhibited by
philosophy is the concern with social action. It is a critical engagement in the practice of truthful living. It deals
with issues pertaining to man while living with others in the society and the meaning they make of all these
things.
Moreover, education is viewed as an integration of the theoretical and practical dimension of learning.
As such, education is an existential horizon and this can only have significance only within a horizon of
meaningful integration. This requires a philosophy which is methodical, critical and integral. Nyerere on
?Education; A Commentary? while emphasizing Education for Self Reliance held:
The education given to the young must be geared to making them an integral and more useful
part of the society in which they live and which they must serve?.. education is to be made an
instrument of liberation, and for it to have that quality it must strive to integrate the school
system (Nyerere, 2004: 5).
By methodical we mean that philosophy as the reflection of the ultimate level should attempt for the
viability of an intelligent course of action. Also, philosophy is described to be critical, in so far as it ascertains
the veracity of statement and is integral, insofar as philosophy proposes a unity of vision.
Education, is as we have noted, a process of learning to come to self-knowledge. This kind of learning
does not depend upon someone or something else other than ourselves. It is something that we do in ourselves
and for ourselves in conscious freedom.
Admittedly, the basic relationship between philosophy and education can be analyzed as follows. It is
philosophy, that provides the purpose or the aim and it is education which makes it practical. Philosophy shows
the way and education moves on in that direction. This to my honest estimation is why a course in philosophy of
education is not only important but essential and necessary to all students doing education, both arts and sciences.
When we define education as the modification or behaviour, the direction in which, modification to be carried
out is determined by philosophy. Thus philosophy deals with the end and education with the means. In fact, we
can observe that the great philosophers of all times have been also great educators. For example, Socrates and
Plato, the great philosophers, were also famous educators.
It is philosophically true to say that a teacher is not a teacher, in true sense of the term, if he/she is not
able to discover the relationship between philosophy and education. According to Thomson, every teacher
should realize the importance of philosophy in education. For instance, a good philosophy thus would, not only
conceive the philosophy which is authentic in the society, but also, the type of good life, good education, good
social and political life which is needed in the society. This is because the philosophy of the people determines
what their estimation is about the totality of life.
The choice of students? academic, social, moral, life must cater for the principles and purposes of
philosophy that he has been socialized to generally and technically. Choice of curriculum needs philosophers or
leaders of thought. With the change of time and circumstances, the curricula also changes and this change can be
brought out by philosophers alone.
In this regard, the learning process is an active way of doing things; hence the curriculum for the child
should concern itself with the realities of life. As far as the methods of teaching are concerned, it can be said that
the child is influenced; to give a particular shape to his life by the way he is taught. The philosophy of the
teacher is reflected in the child by his method of teaching. So the course of life of the child is definitely
influenced by philosophy. Here comes the utility of philosophy.
According to Alfred Weber, Philosophy is a search for comprehensive view of nature, an attempt at a
universal explanation of the nature of things a person who searches into the reason and nature of things, who
tries to arrive at a general principle, and who attempts to apply those principles to daily conduct of life, acts like
a true philosopher. According to John Dewey, philosophy is critical reviewing of just those familiar things.
Education is a laboratory where philosophical theories and speculations are tested and made concrete.
Education may, therefore, be ri