Perspectives in Educational Philosophy           

 

Rev. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D.

 

 

 

 A. Course Description

 

Effective problem-solving in guidance, teaching, learning, school and community leadership, competencies crucial to helpful communication, instruction, management, interpersonal relations, self-improvement; practice of education and the helping professions as the implementation of an educational philosophy, as applied to Catholic education.

 

 

 B. Course Objectives

 

1. To offer the student a philosophical context for the study of educational problems and issues.

 

2. To provide the student with broad exposure to continuing educational concerns:  goals, purposes and values of schooling.

 

3. To discuss the assumptions which underlie the establishment of educational systems and curriculum.

 

4. To examine various perspectives on educational issues, including secular and religious approaches.

 

5. To give the student an historical perspective on contemporary issues in education.

 

6. To present the student with an understanding of the complex relationships among education, the Church’s vision, secular society's ideals, and the individual.

 

7. To assist the student to view teaching and education as part of the wider human concerns of the human person, the Church, and society-at-large.

 

8. To bring the student to an appreciation of philosophical thought in the practice of the teaching profession/vocation.

 

  

 C. Texts (Required Readings)

 

Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind. 

 

John Dewey, Democracy and Education. 

 

Ivan Illich, Deschooling Society. 

 

Jacques Maritain, Education at the Crossroads. 

 

Students should be prepared for a half-hour test on the above works on the dates indicated in the schedule.

 

In addition, the following text must also be read in its entirety, so as to have an intelligent appreciation of the discussions that conclude the course:

 

Curtis Hancock, Recovering a Catholic Philosophy of Elementary Education.

D. Suggested Reading (Optional)

 

Christopher Dawson, The Crisis of Western Education

Archbishop Michael Miller, The Holy See's Teachings on Catholic Schools

Francis Bethel OSB, John Senior and The Restoration of Realism

Ravi Jain and Kevin Clarke, The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education

 

E. Reaction Papers

 

Observing the dates noted in the Lecture Schedule, students are to submit reaction papers based on the reading list given above.  Each paper is to be a clear, succinct, and thoughtful analysis of the particular work under consideration, three (3) to five (5) typed, double-spaced pages in length.  Papers outside the stated parameters are unacceptable, as are late papers.

 

 

F. Grading Criteria

 

Tests                    25%

Papers                 25%

Final Examination   50%

 

 

 

Lecture Schedule

 

Session 1                         Introduction

 

Session 2                         Realism

 

Session 3                       Realism

 

Session 4                       Idealism 

• Review I due

 

Session 5                       Idealism

 

Session 6                       Pragmatism

 

Session 7                         Existentialism

 

Session 8                        Humanist Manifesto I, II, & III

• Review II due

 

Session 9                       Humanist Manifesto I, II, & III

  

Session 10                      The Classics Under Attack

• Bloom Test

 

Session 11                      Hancock Reading

• Dewey Test

 

Session 12                    Hancock Reading

• Review III Due

 

Session 13                  Discussion III on Hancock

• Maritain Test

 

Session 14                  Final Examination