Question a)

Educational philosophies represented in the stakeholder debate

The stake holders debate represents two distinct educational philosophies. These educational philosophies
have different analysis
Essentialism/traditionalism
essentialism emphasizes the transmission of core knowledge, traditional values and discipline (Biesta 2013).
This philosophy is reflected in the views of stakeholders who advocate for a focus on standardized
assessments and the transmission of core knowledge. Traditionalists believe that education should prepare
students for future roles in society by imparting established knowledge and values. Curriculum design
focuses on core subjects such as mathematics, language and science, its content selection emphasis on
established knowledge which is based on rote memorization and standardized assessments.
Some philosophers term this method of knowledge induction as essentialism saying that it is also based on
the idea that knowledge is centered on certain essential subjects, this philosophy provides a foundation of
knowledge that students can use to build upon throughout their educational journey.it prefers teaching
fundamental time based subjects and puts emphasis on fundamental knowledge that is deemed for students
to be successful citizens and contribute to the society (William Bagley 1874-1946). this approach views the
curriculum as a means to persevere cultural heritage and maintain societal stability.in this system the teacher
is the center of knowledge some people call it direct learning.at the end, the teacher assesses students based
on the set standards.
Essentialists also believe and typically support standardized testing as a way to measure students’ progress
and ensure students are mastering the core content. On the other hand, traditionalism takes a stance by
traditionalists arguing that education should expose learners to timeless ideas and universal truths found in
classical works of language, mathematics and art, both traditionalism and essentialism ensures the making of
a disciplined well rounded individuals who have understanding of respect for traditional, interactual and
cultural ideas.
b) influence of essentialism/traditionalism on curriculum design, content selection and teaching methods.
On curriculum design, essentialism influences the curriculum design in the way that it advocates for rigid
and structured curriculum that focused on the basics which a clear scope of what learners should have in
class. The curriculum is designed around the four major subjects when it comes to upper primary,
Mathematics science English language social studies
In this model you find that its more systematic with concepts and builds skills on one another for example in
mathematics learners move from set concepts to numeracy then to algebra and so on in a carefully planned
progression. Essentialism promotes the idea that learners must achieve mastery in core subjects there by
hindering flexibility in terms of what learners should learn. Content is carefully selected to focus on most
essential knowledge and skills that learners need to succeed in life and contribute to the society.
Classical subjects like English language, science and social studies are believed to provide learners with
fundamental tools they need to think critically and logically. Under curriculum design essentialists education
often includes the teaching of traditional values, which may be embedded in the content itself for example
moral lessons from religious education can help to instill responsibility and respect societal norms.
Teaching methods that align with essentialists
In essentialists classroom, teaching methods are typically teacher-centered and focus on direct
transformation of knowledge.in this this situation the teacher is seen as an expert and the goal is for children
to acquire a defined body of knowledge and skills. Essentialist teaching methods often include.
Direct instruction, this is where a teacher plays a central role in delivering lessons, explaining concepts and
guiding learners through the content. The instruction is highly structured with clear goals for each lesson and
focus on content mastery.
Drilling and frequent practice are emphasized to ensure mastery for example the learner may be tasked to
memorize multiplication tables, grammar rules or historical facts which are then tested periodically to ensure
retention.in other wards in essentialism that a section of parents advocates for is based on mastery of the
core subjects and ensures that learners are meeting established standards and goals.
Assessments as a tool for measuring the learners progress. This is done through tools such as quizzes,
tests and exams and used to evaluate learners’ mastery of core knowledge and skills. The goal is to ensure
learners are meeting established standards and goals.
Class room environment, this is where every wall is organized with a flow of charts in accordance to their
respective learning disciplines. The classroom environment is highly structured with clear rules, routines and
expectations. Students are expected to focus on their work, follow instructions and complete assignments on
time.
Teacher centered, this is where the teacher becomes the central figure in the classroom and the learner is
expected to respect and depend on the knowledge and guidance from the teacher, in this mode of teaching is
less interactive and usually teacher directed and learners expected to listen and take notes and engage with
material in disciplined manner.
Therefore essentialism influences curriculum by advocating for core centered approach to education
focusing on traditional academic disciplines and moral values. Just as essentialism, traditionalism
emphasizes the teaching of timeless and universal truths through the study of classical works and ideas.
Traditionalists believe that education should focus on development of interactual and moral virtues, and that
the curriculum should be centered around knowledge and classical literacy.

Progressivism and constructivism

Progressivism, also known as constructivism, on the other hand emphasizes critical thinking, creativity and
problem-solving (Dewey 1916). This philosophy is reflected in the views of stakeholders who advocate for a
focus on the lifelong learning, critical thinking and student-centered learning. Progressivists believe that
education should empower students to construct their own knowledge and develop skills that will enable
them to adopt to an ever-changing world.
For example, a teacher using a project-based learning lets ay you are teaching about poultry in P.5, this will
help students design and implement solutions to real world problems and explore topics through hands on
activities and investigations. Instead of passive reception of knowledge in traditional models, progressivism
advocates for hands on way of learning, there is experiential learning where learners explore topics and
make connections with the topics.in this model, teachers are guides who act as guides who provide
opportunities for students to learn from their own experiences.

Social constructivism, this emphasizes the role of education in addressing social issues and promoting
social change. This philosophy is implied by a focus on preparing students for lifelong learning and
addressing the diverse needs of students’ population

b) influence of essentialism/traditionalism on curriculum design, content selection and teaching methods.

Teaching methods that align with essentialists
In essentialists classroom, teaching methods are typically teacher-centered and focus on direct
transformation of knowledge.in this this situation the teacher is seen as an expert and the goal is for children
to acquire a defined body of knowledge and skills. Essentialist teaching methods often include.
Direct instruction, this is where a teacher plays a central role in delivering lessons, explaining concepts and
guiding learners through the content. The instruction is highly structured with clear goals for each lesson and
focus on content mastery.
Drilling and frequent practice are emphasized to ensure mastery for example the learner may be tasked to
memorize multiplication tables, grammar rules or historical facts which are then tested periodically to ensure
retention.in other wards in essentialism that a section of parents advocates for is based on mastery of the
core subjects and ensures that learners are meeting established standards and goals.
b) influence of progressivism/constructivism on curriculum design, content selection and teaching methods
curriculum design: focus on inter displinary learning, project based learning and student centered learning,
collaborative learning and formative assessments
balanced approach to curriculum design, to accommodate both perspectives, a balanced approach to
curriculum design could be adopted. This approach involves the integration of core knowledge with critical
thinking and problem solving skills, incorporate traditional subjects such as thematic and language while
emphasizing critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills.
Use a combination of a teaching methods, employ a range of teaching methods including didactic
instructions, inquiry based learning and collaborative learning to cater to different learning styles.
Incorporate formative and summative assessments: use a combination of formative ad summative
assessments to evaluate student learning, providing feedback and guidance throughout learning process.
foster student centered learning, encourage student autonomy, agency and self-directed learning, while
providing support and guidance as needed.
Emphasize relevance and real-world applications, connect the curriculum to real word problems and
themes, making learning relevant and more meaningful to students lives.
This approach makes the curriculum to reflect students’ interests as learners think independently through
projects, group work, and collaborative learning. According to lev Vygotsky an educational philosopher, and
other teachers who believe in constructivism believe that learners construct their own knowledge through
experience and interaction with the environment. Here learners engage in discovery learning where they
find, experiment and solve problems.in this teaching ideology teachers are guides who provide opportunities
for students to learn from their own experiences.
By adopting a balanced approach, the curriculum can cater to the needs of a diverse student population,
preparing them for success in an ever changing world.
References:
Beista, G. (2013). The beautiful risk of education. Routledge
Dewey. (1916). Democracy and education. Macmillan