Description of the Philosophy
The ‘Essentialism Theory of Education mandates that the fundamental role of all academic institutes, specifically schools, is to transmit basic social and cultural norms to all students with the goal of helping them integrate into society and function as effective and efficient members .
Human Nature
Aspects
The principle on which Essentialism is based states that all human beings are imbued with a standard set of learning abilities. Therefore, children require a systemised environment in which their foundational ability to compute numbers, learn different languages, appreciate artistic creations and learn life lessons from the study of history are polished. The rationale here is that only when children are taught the basic sciences and mathematics will they be able to progress and understand more complex concepts at later stages in their life .
Personal Reaction
On a personal level, I do not consider Essentialism’s premise to hold true in every instance. The theory implicitly assumes that all human beings are equipped with similar capabilities and therefore each one of them can be taught and their skill level assessed using the exact similar methods . I concur more with proponents of Progressivism who acknowledge that different people are gifted in their own unique way.
The School
Purposes
According to Michael Demiashkevich, who is considered a pioneer of Essentialism theory, schools are tools of transferring a fixed set of facts and theories, evaluating the learning process through a fixed criteria, thereby enabling all students to excel. Schools are therefore viewed simply as a conduit of facts that are transmitted from teacher to student .
Personal Reaction
In reality, this is taking too constricted a view of the role schools can play in early life personality development of children. While learning is the main purpose of attending school, yet it is also a social platform that provides opportunities of interpersonal activities among kids, which helps in developing their ability to work in teams and learn to tolerate different approaches to work projects and life in general.
The Teacher
Characteristics and Function
In order to deliver an ‘Essentialist Education’ teachers carry a heavy burden since they are expected to possess absolute knowledge about their subjects, because only then will they be able to impart the required information to their students in order to train them. In order to acquire this level of expertise, teachers themselves must undergo a rigorous training process through which they master the skills in their disciplinary field .
Personal Reaction
In practicality, I agree that teachers need to have achieved a certain level of expertise and experience before they can effectively transmit this information to their students. However, I also think that a student’s keenness and thirst for knowledge is also an important determinant of a student’s success.
The Students
How Students Learn
In order for each person to realize his/her potential, it is crucial that they are allowed to grow and learn in an environment that nurtures their talent, whether it is in computational ability or spatial processing. One yardstick cannot and should not be used to gauge how intelligent or able a student is; subject curriculum, examinations and assessments should instead be tailored according to the type of skill each child inherently possesses .
Personal Reaction
Just as each person has a different area of expertise, some are good at numbers, others at design and yet others enjoy dexterity with their hands, the instructional methods should also vary for students. In some cases, sequential education works (where the focus is on the timeline of introducing concepts in class) while in others, the personal areas of interest for children are made part of the subject matter (life adjustment education).
The Curriculum
Aspects
Devising a curriculum that is more focused towards mathematics, sciences, social studies and programming is believed to be of great help in raising the level of education within the U.S. It was theorized that if admission requirements are made more stringent and more class time is allocated for the essential subjects, the quality of education and hence economic advancement of the country will be maximised.
Personal Reaction
Supporters of the Essentialist theory are completely in the right by recommending that imposing a strict grading criteria and a more rigorous mode of study is likely to make more of an impact in raising a more aware, informed and educated nation.
References
Fuchs, S. (2001). Against Essentialism: A theory of Culture and Society. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Glutek, G. L. (2014). Philosophical and Ideological Perspectives on Education. New York: Pearson.
Wesley, J. (2007). William C. Bagley and the Founding of Essentialism: An Untold Story in American Educational History. Teachers College Record , 1013-1045.
