Focusing Questions
1. How does philosophy influence curriculum workers?
2. In what way is philosophy the main curriculum source? Or only one of many curriculum sources?
3. What are the differences (in terms of knowledge and values) between idealism, realism, pragmatism, and existentialism?
4. What are the differences (in terms of content and methods) between perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and reconstructionism?
5. Can schools promote the ideas of equality and excellence at the same time? Why? Why not?
6. In what ways are reconstructionists both realistic and idealistic? Mainstream and radical?
7. Which philosophical orientation likely to have the major influence on the curriculum field in the future? Why do you think this to be so?
8. Which philosophical orientation appears the most critical of mainstream education?