Chapter 10 of Foundations of American Education

Essentialism – There is a common core of material everyone needs to be successful in society. This can change with the needs of the society at the time. The students learn, the teacher teachers and the school system itself stresses discipline and structure.

Behaviorism – One’s behavior is determined by environment. Students can be molded into successful people because teachers can control the stimulus in the classroom. Emphasis on behavior reinforcement.

Positivism – Through observation and measurement students can learn facts. Logic based and systematic. The teacher tells students what they need to learn and students learn it through repetition and focused study.

Progressivism – Learning encourages experimentation and questioning. School is a social institution and improves society by producing quality citizens. Teacher and student work together to form appropriate curriculum.

Humanism – Believes that the goodness in humans can be enhanced as long as they are not victims of institution. Very much about the individual and not the individual’s relationship to the world around him/her. Students should be self-motivated and make their own choices.

Constructivism – Advocates hands-on learning, problem solving and the student’s own development of self. Teachers act as guides and encourage but do not direct. They are responsible for creating maturity-appropriate curriculum for students to use as a starting point.

The last three theories lean more towards my own personal philosophy. I want learning in my classroom to be student-centered. I want an open classroom and I want students to be self-motivated. I want to connect my curriculum to other subjects and let students discover how, what they learn in English class, impacts their understanding of the world around them. I think that school should help produce good citizens, but I do not believe that is our only focus. I believe that, through developing a well-rounded, confident individual, we create a better society.

EDIT: Perennialism: Focus on humans. Humans stay the same. Facts change. Focus on personal development to be better for society. Curriculum = essential nature of human beings. Very teacher centered. Science and logic based.

Reconstructionism: Students are unique learners seeking their own version of truth. Teacher acts as guide/model. Collaboration. Dialogue. Hands on. Democratic values. Shapes the student for society. Work to improve human condition. Less focus on the individual and more focus on the society as a whole. Community based learning.