THE SEVEN PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION
THE SEVEN PHILOSOPHIES OF EDUCATION
PHILOSOPHY
1. Behaviorism
DEFINITION
When applied to a
classroom setting,
behaviorism is a branch
of psychology that
focuses on conditioning
student behavior through
various sorts of behavior
reinforcements and
consequences known as
operant conditioning.
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WHY TEACH
The goal of behaviorist
schools is to modify and
shape students' behavior
by providing a
favorable environment for
them.
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WHAT TO TEACH
Students are taught to
respond positively to
numerous stimuli in the
environment by
behaviorist teachers.
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2. Constructivism
3. Essentialism
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To develop intrinsically
motivated and
independent learners
adequately equipped with
learning skills for them to
construct knowledge and
make meaning of them.
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This philosophy contends
that teachers teach for
learners to acquire basic
knowledge, skills and
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The students are
taught how to learn.
They are taught
learning processes and
skills such as searching,
critiquing and
evaluating information.

The emphasis is on the
academic content for
students to learn the
basic skills and
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HOW TO TEACH
Behaviorist teachers
should set up an
atmosphere in such a
way that
students can easily
respond to stimuli.
To capture and
maintain students'
attention, teachers
should make the
stimuli clear and
interesting.
They should offer
adequate incentives
to enhance positive
answers while
weakening and
eliminating
unfavorable
reactions.
The teachers provide
students with data or
experiences that
allow them to
hypothesize, predict,
manipulate objects,
pose questions,
research, investigate,
imagine and invent.
Essentialist teachers
emphasize the
mastery of the
subject matter.
values.
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4. Existentialism
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5. Linguistic
Philosophy
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To help students
understand and
appreciate themselves as
unique individuals who
accept complete
responsibility for their
thoughts, feelings and
actions.
To help students to define
their own essence by
exposing them to various
paths they take in life.
To develop the
communication skills of the
learner.
To develop in the learner
the skill to send messages
clearly and receive
messages correctly.
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6. Perennialism
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To develop the students’
rational and moral powers.
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fundamental r’s –
reading, ‘riting,
‘rithmetic and right
conduct.
The teachers and
administrators decide
what is most important
for the students to
learn.
In an existentialist
curriculum, students
are given a wide
variety way of options
from which to choose.
Provide students with
vicarious experiences
that will help unleash
their own creativity
and self-expression.
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Learner should be
taught to
communicate clearly –
how to send clear,
concise messages and
how to receive and
correctly understand
messages sent.
Communication takes
place in three (3) ways
– verbal, non-verbal
and paraverbal.
The perennialist
curriculum is a universal
one on that all human
beings possess the
same essential nature.
It is not a specialist
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They are expected to
b e intellectual and
moral models of their
students.
They are seen as
“fountain of
knowledge” and as
“paragon of virtue”.
Existentialist methods
focus on the
individual.
They help students
know themselves and
their place in society.
Experiential is the
most effective way to
teach language and
communication.
The teacher
facilitates dialogue
among learners and
between his/her
students.
The perennialist
classrooms are
“centered around
teachers”.
The students do not
allow the students’
curriculum but rather a
general one.
7. Progressivism
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Progressivist teachers
teach to develop learners
into becoming
enlightened and intelligent
citizens of a democratic
society.
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The progressivists are
identified with needbased and relevant
curriculum.
The curriculum should
respond to students’
needs and that relates
to students’ personal
lives and experiences.
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interests and
experiences to
substantially dictate
what they teach.
Progressivist teachers
employ experiential
methods.