Reconstructionism

Reconstructionism is the most outward-looking of the four philosophies. Where essentialism wants schools to transmit society as it is, reconstructionism wants schools to help rebuild it. Its subject is change and reform, and the rebuilding of social and cultural structures that are not working as they should.

The core belief

Reconstructionism argues that learners must be taught to study social problems and to think of ways to improve society. The classroom is not a refuge from the world’s troubles; it is where learners learn to face them. On this view the school becomes an agent of social change and social reform, an active force for making things better rather than a place that merely passes on what already exists.

This connects reconstructionism to the social-reconstruction image of curriculum met earlier in the guide. Both start from the same place: that society is imperfect and that education exists, in part, to improve it.

Flashcard

What is the core belief of reconstructionism?

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Answer

The school is an agent of social change and reform

It is about change and rebuilding social structures. Learners are taught to study social problems and think of ways to improve society, then act to bring change about.

The reconstructionist curriculum

The curriculum follows from the mission. It emphasises the social sciences over the pure sciences: history, political science, economics, sociology, religion, ethics, poetry, and philosophy. These are the subjects that help learners understand how a society works and where it falls short.

Its content is built around social and economic issues and around social service. Learners are asked to analyse, interpret, and evaluate social problems, and then to take action to bring about constructive change. They engage in critical analysis of community issues at every level, local, national, and international, such as poverty, pollution, unemployment, crime, war, political oppression, and hunger.

Because the problems of a society keep shifting, the curriculum keeps changing to meet the needs of a changing society. It is never finished, because its job is to respond to a world that will not hold still.

Flashcard

What does a reconstructionist curriculum ask learners to do with social problems?

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Answer

Analyze, interpret, evaluate, and then act on them

It engages learners in critical analysis of issues like poverty, pollution, and injustice at local to global levels, and the curriculum keeps changing to meet the needs of a changing society.