Discuss realism

REALISM

This movement came up as a general reaction against Christian humanism and scholasticism which was seen as an idea isolating school from real life and ignoring personal and individual needs was showing dissatisfaction due to school separating people from society. Realism was searching for reality. It was attempting to have an approach that would meet human needs through such things as vernacular instructions, more effiencient methods of teaching, better schools and broader curriculum. In this movement the problem that man and nature faced were approached inductively by means of scientific observation and experimentation rather than deductively with nature being seen in terms of being pre-determined by god. Wanted to understand nature so as to control it. Two educators of realism were John ammos Comenius and John Locke.

JOHN AMOS COMENIUS (1592-1670)
He was a bishop and he believed that education is acquired through sense experiences. He believed that the highest goal of education should be eternal happiness with God which could only be achieved through the art of earthly happiness with god which could only be achieved through the art of earthly living that was good. He combined his religious enthusiasm and his passion for knowledge. Education according to Comenius is education should embrace all knowledge, teaching all things to all men. He is referred to as the father to modern education. Some of his ideas are;

1. On curriculum – every subject should be taught in school even if in general but history should be emphasized. He emphasized the importance of textbook He developed some textbooks in Latin. He emphasized the use of vernacular but also advocated for learning of other languages.

2. On school organization – schools should be organized in levels of education for both sexes with each level naturally leading to the next
1-6 years school of I infancy
7-12 years vernacular school. This school should be in every village
13-18 years Latin school which should be in every city
19-24 years university for those with ability and will for higher education.
He also suggested that schools should open and close at certain times of the year and have regular timetables each day. It should take care of breaks and co-curricular activities
3. On methodology he emphasized use of models and pictures teaching aids to
aid senses. He advocated for early education. This would help the mind from
being corrupted. He said that education should proceed from general to
specific, simple to complex known to unknown.

JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)

He was mainly concerned with physical development and educating young children. His ideas were;
1. He is the one associated with eh idea that the mind of the child is a tabula rasa a blank state for writing his experiences through training and learning.

2. A teacher needs to understand the Childs moods, interests and capabilities before planning for his education.

3. Teachers should be kind as unhappy experiences lead to total dislike by the child.

4. The main aim of education is to develop good manners and virtue in children. He encouraged firm through not harsh discipline for the purpose of training a child in good habits.

5. Teachers should not only have good education but should also be people of integrity. This is because they take over the place of parents in instructing the child.

6. Children should be allowed enough time to play.

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marto answered the question on May 20, 2019 at 06:36