Discussion
The reconstructionist view on curriculum is opposite to the authoritarian approach to education that supposes rigid control of the learning process. According to this perspective, educators should pay precise attention to students whose individual problems are not solved. This approach started to develop in the 1950s by Theodore Brameld when society understood that empathy is more effective than cruelty and it is the only way to educate free-thinking individuals (McGregor, 2019). This claim shows that the reconstructionist approach to curriculum values the individual and does not try to suppress the student’s personality (Merriman, 2018). It is especially critical in working with a diverse student population because it allows educators to preserve the individual approach to every person in the classroom. Students understand that their opinions are valuable, which helps them to develop proactive social and political positions.
Progressivist curriculum philosophy regards education as promoting liberal ideas, emphasizing the importance of acquiring practical skills and knowledge. John Dewey was the first theorist who started implementing this theory in education, opposite to the widely used authoritarian approach to learning. He thought education was the moving force in the community that could contribute to continuous social, economic, and political changes (Pérez-Ibáñez, 2018). Therefore, this theory has a liberal slant and promotes independent thinking among students.
William Chandler Bagley articulated the ideas of educational essentialism in the 1930s. According to this perspective, the teacher should be the leader and the authority among students to ensure discipline and effective learning (Churchill, Bernard, 2020). This curriculum philosophy is rather traditional, and it has been used in American schools since the beginning of the 20th century. It is the dominant approach to teaching that has changed authoritarian views, and it shows positive results. Universal rules allow educators to unify all students, promoting discipline and the absence of conflicts (RodrÃguez, Castro, Escobar, 2018). Essentialism is the working way to address diverse populations and unite students. At the same time, it is critical not to overuse disciplinary methods in teaching to give students opportunities for creative thinking.
Focus Philosophy or Model
Progressivist curriculum philosophy and the example of John Dewey apply to my curriculum change plan the most because it does not suppress students’ personalities. The critical detail is that the progressive curriculum theory empowers students, making the educational system more flexible and practically applicable (Churchill, Bernard, 2020). In other words, the progressivist approach to education is the way to promote independent thinking among students, which is the basis of informed citizenship and the formation of active political and social positions. It is vital to understand that intellectual development is a significant component of a student’s prolific work and successful integration into the community. In my opinion, Dewey’s perspective allows educators to achieve these goals.
Values and Hidden/Implied Curriculum
Various philosophical approaches to curriculum show that educators are responsible for choosing the optimal teaching strategy. Students form their personalities while studying, and educators should ensure they help students develop their potential. It is written in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (King James Version, 2017). Consequently, those students who learn how to think independently, participate in community life, and understand their place in society will have similar behavior after graduating. These skills directly connect with informed citizenship, participation in voting, and the political understanding of adults. It illustrates the importance of applying curriculum philosophical approaches in contemporary education, paying particular attention to their historical background and practical results. Progressivism and essentialism might be optimal theories for addressing my potential values in education. Primarily, they combine such strategies as empathy, discipline, and the thorough theoretical basis students need. These theories allow me to elaborate plans concerning the formation of the active political position of students regarding participation in voting, political understanding and informed citizenship.
References
Churchill, W. N., & Bernard, C. F. (2020). Disability and the ideology of ability: how might music educators respond?Philosophy of Music Education Review 28(1), 24-46. Web.
Kelly Vaughan. (2018). Progressive education and racial justice: examining the work of John Dewey. Education and Culture, 34(2), 39–68. Web.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible online. Web.
McGregor, S. (2019). Education for sustainable consumption: a social reconstructivism model. Canadian Journal of Education / Revue Canadienne de l’éducation, 42(3), 745–766. Web.
Merriman, T. (2018). Chapter 3: a brief history of the public school. Counterpoints, 507, 15–22. Web.
Pérez-Ibáñez, I. (2018). Dewey’s thought on education and social change. Journal of Thought, 52(3–4), 19–31. Web.
RodrÃguez, E. V., Castro, C. M. C., & Escobar, Z. R. B. (2018). Philosophy of education and curriculum. In An Informed and Reflective Approach to Language Teaching and Material Design (1st ed., pp. 39–60). Universidad Pedagógica Nacional. Web.