Spark Your Interest
One thing asked of teacher applicants in the Department of Education is to write their
philosophy of education. This means that they have to write concept of the nature of the learner,
how that learner learns and how that learner ought to live in order to live life meaningfully. Based
on these philosophical concepts, the teacher applicants describe how they ought to relate to the
learner, what to teach and how to teach so that the learner learns and lives life happily and
meaningfully.
Target Your Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this Episode, I must be able to:
 Determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and Mission
statements, core values and mandate, the K to 12 Curriculum Framework and Guide and RA
10533;
 Cite teacher’s teaching behaviors and the philosophies of education on which these
behaviors are founded; and
 Articulate my philosophy of teaching.
Revisit the Learning Essentials
We are beneficiaries of a rich philosophical heritage passed on to us by great thinkers of the
past and of the present. The way teachers relate to learners and the way they teach are anchored
on philosophies of education.
Basic documents such as the vision and mission statements, core values and mandate of the
Department of Education and the features of the K to 12 Curriculum as contained in Section 3 of RA
10533 and the K to 12 Curriculum Guide are manifestation or expressions of the philosophies of
education of the country. They state the standards and the outcomes of education towards which
all curricular activities and teaching-learning should be directed.
OBSERVE, ANALYZE, REFLECT
Activity 16.1 Analyzing DepEd’s Philosophy of Education
Resource Teacher: ___________ Teacher’s Signature: __________School: ________
Grade/Year Level: ____________ Subject Area: ________________Date: _________
OBSERVE





Determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and Mission
statements, core values and mandate and on the K to 12 Curriculum Framework and
Guide.
Study the DepEd Vision and Mission statements, Core Values and Mandate.
Read the features of the K to 12 Curriculum based on the K to 12 Curriculum Framework
and Guide and Sec 5 of RA 10533.
Accomplish the Table below by answering this question: Which philosophies are
expressed?
Cite relevant statements to back up an identified philosophy of education. You are given
an example.
Philosophies of Education
1. Essentialism – teach
mastery of the basics;
curriculum is prescribed;
subject matter – centered
there are universal, objective
values; inculcate values in
subject matter
2. Perennialism – teach those
that last, the classics; there
are universal values; inculcate
these universal objective
values
3. Progressivism – very childcentered; teach those that
interest the child; one learns
by experience; learners learn
by doing so teacher teacher’s
teaching is experiential;
values are subjective; no
inculcation of values since
they are subjective; instead
teachers help students clarify
their values
4. Reconstructionism – school
is agent of change; schooling
is preparing students for the
social changes; teaching is
involving the students in
discussions of moral dilemmas
5. Existentialism – Teachers
teach learners to make a
choice, to make decisions and
not merely to follow the
crowd; one who does make a
choice and so simply follow
others do not leave
meaningful life
6. Pragmatism – That which is
useful, that which is practical
and that which works is what
is good; that which is efficient
and effective is what which is
good. e.g. showing a video
clip on mitosis is more
efficient and more effective
and therefore more practical
than teacher coming up with
a visual aid by drawing mitosis
on a cartolina or illustration
board
7. Rationalism – emphasizes
the development of the
Which philosophies are
expressed in the DepEd
Vision, Mission Statements,
Core Values, and Mandates?
Give proof.
Essentialism – The core values
of maka-Diyos, maka-tao,
maka-kalikasan and makabansa show that DepEd is
essentialist. DepEd believes in
unchanging values that need
to be inculcated.
Any proof of perennialism?
Any proof of progressivism?
Any proof of
reconstructionism?
Any proof existentialism?
Any proof of pragmatism?
Any proof of rationalism?
Which philosophies are
expressed in the K to 12
Curriculum Framework and
Guide and Sec 5 of RA 10533?
Give proof.
Essentialism – List of
standards and competencies
that learners are expected to
attain is the subject matter
that students are expected to
learn.
 Essentialist
teachers’ reasoning powers;
knowledge comes through
reason; teacher must develop
the reasoning power of the
learner
8. Utilitarianism – what is
good is that which is most
useful (that which brings
happiness) to the greatest
number of peoples;
9. Empiricism – source of
knowledge is through senses;
teacher must involve the
senses in teaching- learning
10. Behaviorism – behavior is
shaped deliberately by forces
in the environment and that
the type of person and actions
desired can be the product of
design; behavior is
determined by others, rather
than by person’s own free
will; teacher must carefully
shape desirable behavior;
drills are commonly used to
enhance learning, rewards
reinforce learning.
11. Constructivism – Learners
are capable of constructing
knowledge and meaning;
teaching – learning therefore
is constructing knowledge and
meaning; teacher does not
just “tell” or dictate but asks
learners for knowledge they
construct and meaning of
lesson
12. Other Philosophies
Any proof of utilitarianism?
Any proof of empiricism?
Any proof of behaviorism?
Any proof of constructivism?
Activity 16.2 Articulating My Personal Philosophy of Teaching
Resource Teacher: ___________ Teacher’s Signature: __________School: ________
Grade/Year Level: ____________ Subject Area: ________________Date: _________
OBSERVE


Observe how a teacher relates to every learner and how he/she proceeds with her
teaching.
Accomplish this Observation Sheet.
Here are philosophies of education. Find out which philosophies were manifested in class by
observing what and how teacher teaches and relates to learners.
Philosophies of Education
1. Essentialism – teach mastery of the basics;
curriculum is prescribed; subject matter –
centered there are universal, objective values;
inculcate values in subject matter
Teaching Behavior (State what the teacher
said, taught or did).
In what way was teacher essentialist?
e.g. He/She saw to it that the students
mastered basic concepts and skills.
He/She inculcated values.
2. Perennialism – teach those that last, the
classics; there are universal values; inculcate
these universal objective values
3. Progressivism – very child-centered; teach
those that interest the child; one learns by
experience; learners learn by doing so teacher
teacher’s teaching is experiential; values are
subjective; no inculcation of values since they
are subjective; instead teachers help students
clarify their values
4. Reconstructionism – school is agent of
change; schooling is preparing students for the
social changes; teaching is involving the
students in discussions of moral dilemmas
5. Existentialism – Teachers teach learners to
make a choice, to make decisions and not
merely to follow the crowd; one who does
make a choice and so simply follow others do
not leave meaningful life
6. Pragmatism – That which is useful, that
which is practical and that which works is what
is good; that which is efficient and effective is
what which is good. e.g. showing a video clip
on mitosis is more efficient and more effective
and therefore more practical than teacher
coming up with a visual aid by drawing mitosis
on a cartolina or illustration board
7. Rationalism – emphasizes the development
of the teachers’ reasoning powers; knowledge
comes through reason; teacher must develop
the reasoning power of the learner
8. Utilitarianism – what is good is that which is
most useful (that which brings happiness) to
the greatest number of peoples;
9. Empiricism – source of knowledge is
through senses; teacher must involve the
senses in teaching- learning
10. Behaviorism – behavior is shaped
deliberately by forces in the environment and
that the type of person and actions desired
can be the product of design; behavior is
determined by others, rather than by person’s
own free will; teacher must carefully shape
desirable behavior; drills are commonly used
to enhance learning, rewards reinforce
learning.
11. Constructivism – Learners are capable of
constructing knowledge and meaning;
teaching – learning therefore is constructing
knowledge and meaning; teacher does not just
“tell” or dictate but asks learners for
knowledge they construct and meaning of
lesson
12. Other Philosophies
ANALYZE
1. Based on your findings and observation in Activity 16.1 and Activity 16.2, which philosophies of
education are dominant in Philippine basic schools? Why do you say?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________
2. If there is one philosophy that schools and teachers should give more attention to, what should
that be and why?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
REFLECT
What is your philosophy of teaching? This describes what you believed you should teach,
how you should teach and how you should relate to others in school – with the learners, your
colleagues, your superiors and all other stakeholders. Write them down. This is your title, “My
Philosophy of Teaching.”
My Philosophy of Teaching
These may be of help:
I believe that the learner………. (concept of the learner)
I believe that I should teach the learners… (what)
by……... (by)
I believe that I… (how should you relate to learners, colleagues, superiors, parents and other
stakeholders)
SHOW Your Learning Artifacts
*Accomplished Observation Sheets
*My Philosophy of Teaching
EVALUATE Performance Task
Evaluate Your Work Task Field Study 1 Episode 16 – On Teacher’s Philosophy of Education
Learning Outcomes: Determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and
Mission statement, core values and mandate, the K to 12 Curricular Framework and Guide and RA
10533 ● cite teacher’s behaviors and the philosophies of education on which these behaviors are
founded ● articulate my philosophy of teaching
Name of FS Student:_______________________________________ Date Submitted:___________
Year & Section:______________________________ Course:_______________________________
Learning Episodes
Excellent 4
Very Satisfied 3
Satisfactory 2
Accomplished
Observation Sheet
All observation
questions/tasks
completely
answered/
accomplished.
All questions were
answered
completely; answers
are with depth and
are thoroughly
grounded on
theories; grammar
and spelling are free
from error.
One (1) to two (2)
observation
questions/ tasks
not answered/
accomplished.
All questions were
answered
completely;
answers are
clearly connected
to theories;
grammar and
spelling are free
from errors.
Reflection
Profound and clear;
supported by what
were observed and
analyzed
Clear but lacks
depth; supported
by what were
observed and
analyzed
Learning Artifacts
Portfolio is reflected
on in the context of
the learning
outcomes;
Complete, wellorganized, highly
relevant to the
learning outcome
Portfolio is
reflected on in the
context of the
learning
outcomes.
Complete; well
organized, very
relevant to the
learning outcome
Submission
Submitted before
the deadline
Submitted on the
deadline
Three (3)
observation
questions/tasks
not answered /
accomplished.
Questions were
not answered
completely;
answers are not
clearly
connected to
theories; one (1)
to three (3)
grammatical /
spelling errors.
Not so clear and
shallow;
somewhat
supported by
what were
observed and
analyzed
Portfolio is not
reflected on in
the context of
the learning
outcomes.
Complete; not
organized,
relevant to the
learning
outcome
Submitted a day
after the
deadline
Analysis
COMMENT/S
Overall Score
Needs Improvement
1
Four (4) or more
observation
questions/tasks not
answered/
accomplished.
Four (4) or more
observation
questions were not
answered; answers
not connected to
theories; more that
four (4)
grammatical/spelling
errors.
Unclear and shallow;
rarely supported by
what were observed
and analyzed
Portfolio id not
reflected on in the
context of the
learning outcomes,
not complete; not
organized, not
relevant
Submitted two (2)
days or more after
the deadline
Rating: (Based on
tranmutation)
TRANSMUTATION OF SCORE TO GRADE/RATING
Score
Grade
20
1.0
99
19-18
1.25
96
17
1.5
93
16
1.75
90
15
2.00
87
14
2.25
84
13-12
2.50
81
11
2.75
78
10
3.00
75
9-8
3.5
72
7-below
5.00
71-below
Signature of FS Teacher above Printed Name
Date
LINK Theory to Practice
1. In its vision and mission statements, DepEd wants to develop learners…” whose values and
competencies enable them to realize their full potential… “On which philosophy of education is this
mission statement anchored?
A. Existentialism
C. Essentialism
B. Empiricism
D. Pragmatism
2. Based on the DepEd’s mission statement, “quality basic education means that students learn in
a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment”. This implies that DepEd
believes that environment affects learning. Which philosophy of education is this?
A. Utilitarianism
C. Essentialism
B. Empiricism
D. Behaviorism
3. Field Study 1 which is primarily observation of classes and teachers, is based on which philosophy
of education?
A. Utilitarianism
C. Essentialism
B. Empiricism
D. Behaviorism
4. The inclusion of logic and critical thinking as subjects in the curriculum is an offshoot of which
philosophy?
A. Rationalism
C. Existentialism
B. Utilitarianism
D. Progressivism
5. It’s Valentines’ Day. The lesson is a part of human digestive system – the stomach. Students
bargain with the teacher and so ask if they can discuss the heart in place of the stomach. Teacher
responds “Let’s talk about the stomach which is the lesson for today then go to the heart when we
are done with stomach”. Based on philosophies of education, which is TRUE of teacher?
A. Is essentialist in the sense that she stuck to the subject matter for the day and progressivist since
she also considered student’s interest
B. Is pragmatic because it was practical to give way to students’ request even if she prepared for
the day’s lesson
C. Is utilitarianist because she considered both lessons useful
D. Is empiricist, she used visual aids for her lesson
6. what do the DepEd vision and mission statements and core values imply about Philippine
educational system?
I. It is highly essentialist and perennialist.
II. It believes in universal, objective, unchanging values.
III. It is reconstructionist.
A. I only
C. II and III
B. I and III
D. I, II and III
7. For a lesson on developing classifying skills, instead of making students bring objects to classify,
teacher considers it most practical to simply use the students’ body parts like kinds of ear lobes,
kinds of hair line or a lesson on classifying. On which philosophy is teacher’s practice anchored?
A. Pragmatism
C. Utilitarianism
B. Progressivism
D. Empiricism
8. The history of curriculum development in the Philippines shows reduction of units in the
humanities but an increase in the natural and physical sciences. On which thought is this action
based?
A. Perennialism
C. Utilitarianism
B. Progressivism
D. Empiricism
9. There are a number of laws in the Philippines requiring the teaching of subject matter such as
taxation and agrarian reform, etc. This proves that schools must bring about reform in society. On
which philosophy of education is this based?
A. Perennialism
C. Empiricism
B. Progressivism
D. Reconstructionism
10. Teacher makes use of moral dilemmas to enable students to make a stand in moral issues.
Which word CORRECTLY applies to teacher’s teaching practice?
A. Behaviorist
C. Rationalist
B. Existentialist
D. Pragmatist