EDU601 Midterm Current Paper

Basic knowledge:

The school‟s task is to teach basic knowledge. Basic subject matters should be mastered at the elementary and secondary school levels to eliminate illiteracy at the college level.

Higher Knowledge:

Defining words and concepts - Concepts of beliefs, use of logic - Wisdom and goodness of gods is derived from human logic & natural scepticism

The search for absolute (universal) truth in all fields of life Truth is perfect and eternal. Dialectic (Means a two sided conversation. In dialectic, two persons will talk from their perspectives and when they bring up their knowledge, they create a new knowledge by the end of the time.) Humans have lost the knowledge that souls possess. It is the responsibility of humans to search for that knowledge and truth in order to lead a good and virtuous life.

People can free themselves of the concerns of the material world through the use of the dialectic method The dialectic helps one move from mere opinion to true knowledge. The dialectic consists of arguments and discussions. Dialectic looks at both points of view and tries reaching a consensus. It may help alter the views of one side, or to help them advance their own argument. The question and answer session stimulates the brain, engages the learner, and can bring new ideas to life.

Curriculum that Plato suggested has three aspects:

Depth:

Studies must not be limited to subjects that are new or meet occupational needs. - Most contemporary problems have solutions in the great literature of the past. - Philosophers have debated issues such as individual, society & their relationship since the beginning of thought. - Studying such philosophers in-depth constitutes a quality education.

Holistic learning:

Specialized learning is useless. - Students must see the whole instead of the partial. - „Important‟ subjects such as the natural sciences are of maximum value only when they help us see the whole picture. - Dialectic aims at achieving holistic learning. - Holistic learning requires a critical attitude, background in mathematics, and extended study.

Self-directed:

A student should learn with interest and through self-motivation. - An educational direction given by another does not have the same affects as self-directed studies.

Idealists have given considerable attention not only to the search for truth, but also to the persons involved in it. - Teacher is in a unique and important person. - Creators of methods. - Teacher must be philosophically oriented and must assist students in choosing important material, and infuse them with a desire to improve their thinking in the deepest possible way. - A torch bearer who leads a man lying in the dark, out of the darkness, into the bright light of the outside world. - Constant guide of the students. - Person of high integrity - Possessor of high self-worth - Deeply committed to his/her profession. - High sense of responsibility - True role model - Should lead a true moral life - Pleasing personality - In-depth knowledge - Professional training - Must lead a moral life

For the sake of the common good. - For the society as a whole. - State needs to provide rulers who are wise and well educated enough to make rational and informed political decisions for the good of the state.

Little education for productive classes:

Productive classes are only granted primary education, while higher education is reserved for soldiers & governing classes, imply that the labour class has no need for education.

No individual differences:

Plato suggested a uniform curriculum which would lead to the creation of only one kind of citizen leading to lack of variety and static monotony.

Neglect of literary education:

Plato‟s curriculum neglects training in literature by stressing the importance in mathematics.

Stress on Philosophy:

Some critics feel that Plato‟s instance on philosophy is exaggerated which can lead to an increase in the number of contemplative individuals at the expense of more practical members.

Concern for child development & learning through activities “Children ought to be educated, not for the present, but for a possibly improved condition of man in the future; that is, in a manner which is adopted to the idea of humanity and the whole destiny of man.” Kant – Thoughts on Education

“Adopting a particular course of action from a sense of duty means obeying the dictates of reason”

Types of Obedience:

Absolute Obedience:

Obedience without question Necessary to prepare the child for the fulfilment of laws that he will have to obey later, as a citizen, even though he may not like them

Voluntary Obedience:

Obeying what feels good and reasonable and moral. If children sense preferential treatment towards any other student, they would take it as a cue to be disobedient. “The moral law must carry with it absolute necessity.” “Duty is necessity of action from respect for law.”

Kant makes a plea for the inclination of the sense of duty in children. - Doing by inclination is better than doing by duty but in some instances it is important to teach a child about duty as it will be of great use to him throughout the rest of his life.

Concept of duty:

Even though a child should not be able to see the reason of a duty, it is better that certain things should be prescribed to him in this way, for after all a child will always be able to see that he has certain duties as a human being

Being fond of company of others. When we talk of school going children, their desire to meet with other children is said to be their Sociableness. Release from the narrow constraints of school. Important to maintain their natural joyousness Games played while enjoying perfect freedom would help make the young minds bright and cheerful again after the dullness of school.

A child must be taught as a child and not as an adult. Instruction for a child must be different from instruction for an adult. Parents and teachers must discourage over cleverness and mimicry of adults. Children should remain children and must not act like monkeys imitating humans. A child must only have the „understanding‟ of a child and must not seek to display it too early. A precocious child will never become a man of insight and clear understanding. It is out of place for a child to follow adult example to the point the child eventually becomes a miniature version of his or her mother or father.

Compulsion in education Learning methods Notion of duty The issue of „compulsion in education‟ arises because it is important for a responsible citizen to obey the legal and social constraints, while at the same time the individual must be allowed the use of his personal freedom. Child must be educated to acquire an enlightened universal reason which would promote the cause of peace. Individual and society‟s interests must be safeguarded side by side. Kant advocates the „judicious‟ further development of the „art of education or pedagogics‟ in order that it may be „transformed into a science.‟ Kant proposed three pedagogical rules of conduct for the progressive development of freedom as a way of resolving this central issue of compulsion in education.