Philosophy's Questions about Society

A school’s philosophy does not only state values openly; it also carries implied answers to deep questions about society. Those implied answers screen objectives just as the stated values do. Two questions matter most: what a school thinks of materialism, and whether it aims to fit learners to society or to change it.

Stated and implied values

The democratic values from the previous article were stated values. But a philosophy also has implications, and these screen objectives too.

Consider a value widely approved in contemporary life outside the school: material success. Suppose a school’s philosophy states that it does not accept the contemporary emphasis on materialism, or on financial, personal, or social success, as an educational value. That decision has direct implications for selecting objectives. Any suggested skill, practice, or habit whose main contribution is to material rewards or success will be eliminated from the proposed objectives. Meanwhile, objectives that lead toward spiritual values will be given a higher rank. The philosophy’s stance, even when only implied, reshapes the list.

Flashcard

How can the implied values of a school's philosophy screen objectives?

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Answer

They drop objectives that clash and raise those that fit, even when unstated

A school that rejects materialism will eliminate objectives aimed mainly at material reward and rank objectives leading to spiritual values higher. The implication does the screening.

Adjust to society, or improve it

Educational philosophy also wrestles with a classic question: should the educated person adjust to society, or try to improve the society they live in? Put in school terms, should the school develop children to fit into society as it is, or develop children who try to improve society? A modern school usually holds a little of both, but how it leans changes the objectives it picks.

The two leanings point to very different objectives:

1. If a school believes its primary function is to teach people to adjust to society, it will emphasise obedience to present authorities, loyalty to present traditions, and skill in carrying on present techniques.
2. If a school intends to enable children to change society, it will include objectives like critical analysis, problem solving, freedom, and self-discipline.

This echoes the split between essentialism, which leans toward transmitting society as it is, and reconstructionism, which leans toward changing it. The philosophy a school holds about society is not abstract; it decides whether learners are trained to conform or equipped to question.

Flashcard

How does the 'adjust versus improve' question change a school's objectives?

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Answer

Adjusting emphasizes obedience and tradition; improving emphasizes critical thinking and freedom

A school that fits learners to society stresses obedience, loyalty, and present techniques. One that equips them to change it stresses critical analysis, problem solving, freedom, and self-discipline.