Deck 6: Philosophical Roots of Education

Question 1

Curriculum development committees that consider the nature of reality and existence focus primarily on

A)axiology.
B)epistemology.
C)logic.
D)metaphysics.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Axiology is focused on appropriate and inappropriate behavior and evaluates what subdivision(s)?

A)ethics
B)idealism
C)aesthetics
D)A and C

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The process of problem solving is stressed in

A)idealism.
B)perennialism.
C)pragmatism.
D)realism.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The philosophy of realism would suggest

A)competency testing for both teachers and students.
B)classroom dialogues designed to build a person's self-concept by enabling him or her to make significant choices.
C)instruction organized around solving society's problems by applying the scientific method.
D)instruction using language analysis to clarify communication and to establish meaning.

Question 5

Karen sees the world and everything in it as a laboratory for learning. She believes her students learn best when she poses problems they have to solve by interacting with a real-world setting. Which of the following views is closest to Karen's beliefs?

A)idealism
B)realism
C)pragmatism
D)essentialism

Question 6

Pragmatists such as Dewey see the school as a local community of _______________ connected to the larger society.

A)educators and decision makers
B)learners and teachers
C)pragmatist and realists
D)educators and politicians

Question 7

Curriculum guides for the subjects taught in elementary and secondary schools were developed by teachers and others who first considered the philosophical basis of the curriculum. Think about the subjects you had in high school, and identify the philosophy or theory of education that served as the basis for the curriculum. Provide the rationale for your selection.

Question 8

Compare deductive and inductive logic as pertains to the presentation of hypotheses and arguments of critical thinking. Provide a short example of each

Question 9

The postmodernist educator focuses on

A)raising consciousness about social inequalities.
B)providing experiences in making personal choices.
C)cultivating the intellectual virtues.
D)helping students understand the structure of the disciplines.

Question 10

Which of the following groups of terms best describes the philosophy of idealism?

A)environment, experience, subjectivity
B)spirituality, intellect, absolutes
C)relativity, situation, emotion
D)individuality, change, reality

Question 11

A curriculum that reflects the philosophy of idealism would be certain to include

A)consumer education.
B)mathematics.
C)vocational education.
D)all of the above.

Question 12

Of the following, who were pragmatists?

A)Peirce, James, Mead, and Dewey
B)Piaget, Dewey and Mead
C)Darwin, Montessori and Dewey
D)Peirce, Mead and Montessori

Question 13

For the existentialist educator, values are

A)absolute and eternal.
B)freely chosen.
C)regarded as emotional preferences.
D)culturally determined.

Question 14

________________focuses on the knowledge of knowing and what we base our knowledge of the world on.

A)Epistemology
B)Metaphysics
C)Ethics
D)Logic

Question 15

Teacher education classes that deal with methods of instruction focus primarily on

A)axiology.
B)epistemology.
C)logic.
D)metaphysics.

Question 16

Progressive educators stress that all learning should center on

A)courses to develop the rational person.
B)promoting the useful and competent person.
C)the child's interests and needs.
D)all of the above.

Question 17

Because of the seriousness of violence in schools, many state departments of education are requiring school districts to develop a course of study for secondary students on violence reduction and conflict resolution. Select three educational theories or philosophies, and describe how educators representing each of the three positions would respond to this mandate.

Question 18

Who developed the concept of realism, which asserts that reality is outside of our minds?

A)Plato
B)Aristotle
C)Newton
D)Dewey

Question 19

A course examining the moral values and rules of right conduct deals with

A)aesthetics.
B)epistemology.
C)ethics.
D)logic.

Question 20

The philosophy that would support a subject-matter curriculum emphasizing the great and enduring ideas is

A)existentialism.
B)idealism.
C)pragmatism.
D)realism.

Question 21

Reflect on the success of the A.S. Neill's Summerhill School.

Question 22

Which educational theory views education as part of a larger effort to reform American society and politics?

A)essentialism
B)existentialism
C)perennialism
D)progressivism

Question 23

Postmodernist critics who attack the perennialist notions of education, such as the "Great Books" approach, do so on the grounds that

A)not all children will be able to understand such complex literature.
B)perennialist approaches to education are restricted to unchanging knowledge from certain times and contexts only.
C)the "Great Books" approach to education leaves little time for anything beyond reading.
D)only a small minority of schools will be able to afford the wealth of literature necessary for an effective perennialist education.

Question 24

According to the philosophy of idealism, which subjects are especially important in stimulating thinking and promoting identification with the cultural heritage? Why are these subjects useful?

Question 25

Teachers who use critical theory select instructional activities that enable students to

A)study the great works.
B)connect education to political issues.
C)learn through contrived experiences.
D)pass basic skills tests.

Question 26

Perennialists maintain that the effect of cultural relativism is

A)better student understanding of the fine arts.
B)increased interdisciplinary study.
C)a lack of standards for right and wrong.
D)limited study in the natural sciences.

Question 27

The aim of perennialism is to

A)foster a student's intellectual development.
B)educate the useful and competent person.
C)educate the individual according to her or his own interests.
D)educate for the world of work.

Question 28

In an approach based on realism, why is the subject-matter competence of the teacher such an important concern?

Question 29

Why would the No Child Left Behind Act be associated with essentialism?

Question 30

Critical theory contends that schools

A)are receptive to social change.
B)facilitate pluralistic harmony.
C)are a liberating force.
D)control those who lack power.

Question 31

What are the major educational principles of the perennialist theory?

Question 32

Mortimer Adler's Paideia Proposal advocated

A)activities and projects as the focus of the curriculum.
B)utilitarian education.
C)heavy emphasis on social sciences.
D)one high-quality curriculum for all students.

Question 33

How would you encourage students to develop their own authentic modes of self-expression?

Question 34

The educational theory that emphasizes the authority of the teacher and the value of the subject-matter curriculum is

A)essentialism.
B)perennialism.
C)progressivism.
D)critical theory.

Question 35

Lisa, who teaches literature, almost never uses contemporary fiction in her class. Instead, she emphasizes classics. She believes that because these works have stood the test of time, they help teach important ideas vital to anyone living in any era. Which of the following is most closely related to Lisa's beliefs?

A)perennialism
B)progressivism
C)essentialism
D)existentialism

Question 36

Progressive educators focus their attention primarily on the

A)instructional approach.
B)learner.
C)subject.
D)teacher.

Question 37

What is the goal of education in the essentialist theory, and how can schools accomplish this goal, according to an essentialist?