Explain Philosophical foundations of education

A) Western Philosophers
1.Education for all
PLATO: (427 – 347 B.C)
He was a pupil of Socrates. According to him, education?s aim was both for the
happiness of an individual and the goodness of the state. Education was a
great business of life and for the preservation of the state. He stressed that
boys and girls should receive same education to the age of 6 years.
Plato’s contribution to modern education
1) Education to be universal and compulsory
2) Education to be stat controlled
3) Co-education type of education
4) Corporal punishment discouraged
5) Use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction
6) Physical education was emphasized.


2) MARIA MONTESSORI (1870 – 1952)
She developed interest in “pedagogy” while working with retarded child. She
designed various materials for sense training e.g. rods etc.
She valued play in learning.
Her main contribution (Kenya)
a) There are a few nursery schools in Kenya following Montessori?s ideas
b) Play is used as a method of learning
c) A variety of play equipment is used in schools

Education for the whole person
3.JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU (1712 – 1778)
He is the father of childhood education i.e. (child – centred education).
Education should be planned around the child i.e. need, interests, ability and
stages of development.
His thinking has influenced education in Kenya in that:-
a) Curriculum developers have focused on child?s growth and development
b) The content selected for each class considers stages of the child?s mental
development
c) The ability of targeted children is considered
d) The class teacher is expected to plan and cater for individual differences

4. Education for socialization
FREDRICK FROEBEL (1782-1852)
He was a German and a trained teacher. Froebel was greatly influenced by the
study and observation of plants and insects. He came-up with the idea of the
“Kindergarten” the child?s garden.
His main ideas
a) That play is important in learning
b) That socialization is important in learning.
c) That cooperation among children should be encouraged. His thinking has
influenced education in Kenya in that:
a) Kenya has nursery schools, the brain child of Froebel
b) He is the father of Kindergartens; there are pre units in Kenya
c) Nursery teachers are trained

5. Participatory learning
JOHN DEWERY: (1850 – 1952)
He is associated with the project method
His main ideas:
a) Recommended child centre curriculum
b) Children should take active part in life at home, in the villages and in the
community to prepare best for life
c) The role of the teacher is to guide the child in participating in village projects
Dewey?s contribution to education in Kenya is that the project method is
used in teaching upper primary and Higher levels of learning.
6. Inductive Method
SOCRATES (469 – 399 BC)
He is famous for Inductive (discovery approach) method in his teaching. He as a
proponent of the question and Answer method of teaching. His greatest aim was
to encourage thinking on part of individual learners and get to him to discover
things by himself.
Socrate?s contribution to education in Kenya is that Inductive and Question and
Answer methods are recommended and used by teachers in schools.
B. African Philosophies
1) Harambee philosophy
2) Nyayo Philosophy – Education for peace
3) Common man?s charter
4) Ujamaa – Education for self reliance
5) African Socialism – Sessional paper No. 10 of 1965

---

Nicholas_Mutinda answered the question on August 27, 2018 at 08:22