1 Philosophical Perspective Mar Qardakh School Ankawa, Erbil, Iraq PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE 2 Philosophical perspectives are theories focus on what is taught and how is taught inside the class. There are four philosophical perspectives used in education: essentialism, perennialism, progressivism, and social reconstructionism and critical pedagogy. Essentialism supports the teaching of a set of core skills to all the students to prepare them to be effective members in the society, while perennialism is teaching based on universal truths that teach students to act in certain situations. Progressivism supports the experimental learning of the students; it is a student-centered instruction that allow them to participate in decision making, and social reconstructionism and critical pedagogy believes that learning and knowledge are driven by certain ideologies and cannot be objective and focuses on political and social reform (Amatullah et al., 2018). These four philosophical perspectives cannot be seen in their “pure” forms at schools rather than each school favors/adopts one or more of these perspectives (Louis, 1994). Looking at Mar Qardakh School’s web page, the school tend to lean more toward perennialism perspective as their educational goal is students’ intellectual development that is visible in their mission statement, “providing students holistic, international education encompassing academic, social, spiritual and personal development”. Also, Mar Qardakh School prepares the students for the future and adjust them to eternal truth through providing challenging college preparatory curriculum, designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group. It teaches them to observe, value and dialogue with different cultures and world views, in order to learn from them, and share what they have in common with them (“Mar Qardakh School mission and philosophy”, 2021). Mar Qardakh School trains its students to be good human beings who can face the challenges encounter them in during their journey of life, through helping them to be risk takers, PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE 3 inquirers, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, reflective and thinkers, it also teaches them values such as honesty, sincerity, respect, appreciation, friendship and generosity (“Academic Integrity Policy”,2021). Mar Qardakh School has the responsibility to provide a holistic, differentiated and inclusive class education for all students. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, nationality or ethnicity. All students receive universal education, have the same rights and privileges and the same level of access to the programmes, resources and materials (“Inclusion Policy”,2021). In the view of the findings, Mar Qardakh School favors the perennialism philosophical perspective, the school provides a comprehensive and inclusive education, centered on the development of the entire person, that helps produces individuals with intact knowledge and societies that have universal education perspectives. 4 PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE References Mar Qardakh School mission and philosophy. Marqardakh.com. (2021). Retrieved 22 Jan 2022, from http://www.marqardakh.com Academic Integrity Policy. Marqardakh.com. (2021). Retrieved 22 Jan 2022, from http://www.marqardakh.com Inclusion Policy. Marqardakh.com. (2021). Retrieved 22 Jan 2022, from http://www.marqardakh.com Phillips, Louis. (1994). Survey of Philosophies of Education: Implications for the Reflective Practitioner. Amatullah et al., (2018). Foundation of Education. SUNY Oneonta, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-oneonta-education106/chapter/5-3-philosophicalperspective-of-education/ from
