educational philosophy of j. dewey in philippine setting
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The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 1
The Importance of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational
Philosophy
Applied in Philippine Setting
This term paper was prepared for:
DR. GLORIA T. BAYSA
Prepared By:
ALTHA FELINA R. DAMIAN
For the completion of the requirements in:
EDU 640 Foundation of Education
Master in Educational Management
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 2
Introduction
Dr. John Dewey (1859-1950) is an outstanding
American Philosopher and educator. He was born on
October 20, 1859 and graduated from the University of
Vermont in 1879 and received his Ph.D. Degree from John
Hopkins University in 1884. He was a professor of
Philosophy in University of Minnesota in 1868 and at
the University of Michigan from 1889 -1894.1
He had authored several philosophies of education
which are proven tested and applied by most educational
institutions. His philosophies provided great effects
and changes in the field of education not only in the
Philippines but also in other countries. As a
philosopher, he is an expert pragmatist, and as
educator, he is known as progressivist or democratic
educator. His philosophical beliefs have been described
as (1) Empiricism or naturalism which means that
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 3
everything begins and ends with an experience and
nature. (2) Experimentalism which stresses the
importance of experiment in achieving the truth (3)
Instrumentalism means that man can think and can
discover new ways in of responding to a new changed of
environment.
_______________________________1 Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. Garotech Publishing. 2007
(4) Pragmatism asserts that man and nature are
inter-independent. Nature is not something merely to be
accepted and enjoyed by man, it is something to be
modified and experimentally controlled. 2
There are several concepts also derived from these
philosophies which influenced the educational system
and contributed in improving and directing the
education to a new level of understanding. Dewey
provided a strong foundation in the process of
developing education. His educational philosophy
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 4
recognizes the importance of the principle of transfer
in training or the use of past experiences in
developing the continuous growth of the learners.
Philippines as one of the countries that put emphasis
in the educational philosophies by Dewey brought
positive outcomes and results through experimentation
and experience. His philosophies became an integral
part of the educational system in the country.
_______________________
2Acero,Victorina. Javier, Evelyn. Castro, Herminia. Principles and Strategies of Teaching. Rex Bookstore,
Inc. 2000
Background of Education, Philosophy and Educational
Philosophy
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 5
Education according to Webster Dictionary is the
sum of the qualities acquired through individual
maturation and social training. In the dictionary of
education, it is defined as the social process in which
people are subjected to the influence of a selected and
controlled environment, especially that of the school,
so that they obtain competence and optimum
development. Education is also defined in the same
reference as the aggregate of all processes by which a
person develops ability, attitude and behaviour of
practical values in the society in which he lives.
In the fundamental sense, education is a cultural
process by which successive generations of men take
their places in history. Nature has assigned essential
role to take education through the proclamation of
human infancy, and through the emergence of human
facilities. By nature man is not equipped with
capacities that enable him to learn how to live.
Basically acquired characteristics are not inherited,
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 6
education portray the full responsibility of developing
men.
While Dr. John Dewey explained that, “since life
means growth, a living creature lives truly and
positively at one stage at another, with the same
intrinsic fullness and the same absolute claims. Hence,
Education means the enterprise of supplying the
conditions which guarantee growth or adequacy of life
irrespective of age. The process of education is a
continuous adjustment of, having as its aim at every
stage an added capacity for growth”.3
Education develops with the growth of humanity,
like human history in which it is applied and education
is a continuous process because it is a source of life.
The word philosophy comes from the Greek word –
philo and sophio, which together means love and
wisdom. Philosophy is sometimes considered as a group
of theories or system of thoughts by which it sought to
understand the world, its meaning and its values.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 7
According to J.A. Leighton, “a complete philosophy
includes a world view, doctrine of values, meanings and
purpose of human life. “ To E. S. Amos, “ It is the
endeavour to achieve a comprehensive view of life and
its meaning upon the basis of the results of basic
sciences.” While Dewey assumed that philosophy could
never be defined in terms of subject matter. The
purpose of philosophy is to identify problems and
suggest ways in handling these problems. 4
The study of Philosophy will provide an individual
a strong foundation in meeting the demands of his
profession and in coping with the problems brought
about by multifarious activities of man.5
Educational philosophy is perceived as personal
effort to arrive at solutions for educational problems
based upon the experience of the
_______________________________________
3 Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. GarotechPublishing. 20074Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. GarotechPublishing. 20075 Zulueta,Francisco.Maglaya, Elda.Foundations of Education. National Bookstore. Reprint 2005
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 8
thinker. Philosophy in education is an attempt to
formulate a critically-built general outlook upon life
in the light of the evaluation of values which people
prize in the educative process.
“The educational philosophy is like a cleaning
house where relative values in education and the
relative validity of different claims on the school are
weighed. Any philosophy must be based upon and
supported by the careers, individuals, school, nation
and civilization.”6
History of education reveals that the importance of
philosophy in education was not realized by educators
until the beginning of World War II, hence, educational
philosophy is essential in the curriculum formulation,
training of teachers and the administration of school.
An attitude of open-mindedness and a readiness to
evaluate critically the concepts of educational
philosophy must be stressed. The comprehension of the
relationship among the various elements in educative
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 9
provide an important knowledge of the whole of
education.
The Philippines education started before the
“ninunos” or aborigines arrived in the Philippines. It
was Dr. Robert Fox, an anthropologist who discovered
remains and artefacts of the very first Filipinos in
the Palawan Cave, who believed that the very first
people in the Philippines have their
________________________________________
6Zulueta,Francisco.Maglaya, Elda.Foundations of Education. National Bookstore. Reprint 2005
own culture and system of living. So education in the
Philippines existed as early as the Negritos came.
Knowing that education is a continuous process and a
source of life, education had been practiced
unconsciously by the early inhabitants of the country.
The Asian and western countries invasion of Malay,
India, Chinese, Spaniards and Americans in our
countries brought influences to the Philippines.
Reforms began, people learned to discuss literature,
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 10
music, religion, politics, democracy, justice, science
and technology and the rest is history. Education and
culture worked side by side as the civilization ages
and innovates. Significant changes in the educational
system were marked by the ideas of different
philosophers particularly Dr. John Dewey.
Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy in the
Philippine Setting
Dr. John Dewey’s principle was actually an
outgrowth or product of Rousseau’s principles of
growth, pupil activity and individualism; Pestalozzi’s
philosophy of discipline of sympathy and his principle
that learning proceeds from the known to the unknown
and his doctrine of interest; Froebel’s idea of
learning by doing which depended upon self-principled
activities or creative development; Findings in the
study of G. Stanley hall which stimulated an interest
in child nature.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 11
Under the Martial Law the schools, public and
private, have been vitally affected in many other
significant ways. After Marcos regime, there were
reorganization in the government structure and even in
the functions of the educational system. There were
several revisions and improvements, new orders and laws
that made the education better and uplift the aims of
the education.
Under the presidential Decree No. 6-A, it is hereby
declared a policy of the state to maintain the highest
quality of education for purposes of national
development. The P.D. No. 6-A states to be the policy
of the government to insure, within the context of a
free and democratic system, maximum contribution of
the educational system to the
attainment of national goals.7
In relation to this, the educational philosophy of
Dr. John Dewey is expressed in the following terms:
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 12
(a) Education is life and not preparation for life
which is based on the idea that education is not
learning alone but it is living.
(b) Promoting the total growth of the child is made the
aim of education which is based on the philosophy that
growth means growth in knowledge, habits, skills, and
abilities. It is a continuous process.
(c) Learning by experiencing or reacting or doing in
which learning and teaching must utilize the theory of
self activity.
______________________________________
7Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. GarotechPublishing. 2007
(d) Recognizes individual differences based on the
principle that each individual is unique in which calls
for the adjustment of subject matter and activities
given to learners.
(e) Evaluation is made an important part of teaching
and learning.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 13
(f) Thinking and reasoning are stressed in classroom
activities based on the theory of self-activity.
(g) Use of academic freedom in the classroom
activities. This concept calls for the use of
democratic principle in teaching and learning.
(h) Education is more practical and functional. The
instructional method must also gear in the social,
political and economic aspect of the individual’s life.8
Dr. John Dewey, who is an advocate of the philosophy of
pragmatism, might simply be called experimentalist
because he insists that ideas must always be tested by
experiment. He believed that no knowledge is ever
certain that is not subject to new evidence which might
result from experimentation and experience. He applied
these basic concepts to nearly every aspect of
philosophy and education. His experimental belief which
was carried over into his educational philosophy became
the basis for what is usually described as progressive
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 14
education. His influence on public schools has been
great in the Philippines.
_____________________8Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. GarotechPublishing. 2007
In addition the aims of education under the New
Society are based on pragmatic , experimentalism or
approach of Dr. Dewey. The school under the New Society
utilizes the following educational concepts of the said
philosopher:
(1) The nature of the child is made the center of
educative process. This means that the child’s needs,
interests, abilities and purposes must be taken into
consideration. The child is viewed as an active element
whose purpose is to live and grow.
(2) The theory of self activity is made the center
or basis of learning. The new education stresses
learning by doing or experiencing and experimenting.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 15
The school is converted into a living and creative
influence , producing self directed reference.
(3) The development of personality is made the
primary aim of the New Education. The aim of the new
education is to produce a well-balanced, well
integrated and socially adjusted personality. The
cooperation between the teacher and the student are
important element in the development of personality.
(4) Activity program is the core of the curriculum.
This is based on Dr. John Dewey’s concept that
education is life and a social process. Example of
school activities are field trip, report, group
activity, games, observation, experiments, cultural
activities, on–the-job training, programs and project.
(5) Socialized teaching and learning are utilized.
This is patterned from the concept that education is a
social process. Teacher and student work together to
execute classroom activities.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 16
(6) Individual differences of the pupils are
recognized not by sectioning students according to IQ
but by adjusting the subject matter to the abilities of
the students. This is based on the concept that each
individual is unique or individual differences.
(7) Thinking and reasoning are emphasized in the
educative process. Effective teaching, thought
provoking activities and good questioning stimulate
thinking and reasoning in which the abilities of a
child are maximized.
(8) Evaluation with flexible standards is utilized
in teaching and learning. This is based on the
principle that evaluation completes the learning.
(9) Students are free from emotional tension or
fear of the teacher. A law about corporal punishment
has already implemented in the Philippine to prevent
emotional and devastation of the learners. The
Philippine society promotes not blind obedience but
intelligent self-discipline.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 17
(10) Close relationship between the school and the
community. School activities are related to the
awareness of community improvement, participation in
cultural activities and projects. As Dewey emphasized
that Education is a social process.9
The philosophy of Dr. John Dewey focuses on the
practical and useful events of a child. The assertive
factors of empiricism or naturalism, experimentalism,
instrumentalism and pragmatism had vital influence in
the field of education in the Philippines. Attention
is placed on the child’s activities and the value of
learning by living, that growth is more important in
learning and is applicable to the educational system in
the Philippines.
It can be said that the nature of educational
philosophy suggests the necessity for all other
educational disciplines to follow the goal and
direction of philosophy. The bright ideas and
reflective thought of the philosopher provided a frame
of reference which must operate. Education must deal
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 18
with the nature of learner, the teaching process,
curriculums, duties and responsibilities of teachers
and the administration likewise must be considered.
Aims of Education under the Philippines New Society
Based on Dr. John Dewey’s Philosophy
The system of education in the Philippines is
directed toward the total
development of individual, family, school, community
and the nation.
_____________________9Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. GarotechPublishing. 2007
The general aims of the New Constitution (1973) are
designed to accelerate the individual growth or self-
discipline, social growth, economic development,
political awareness and values –oriented. It is also
the new aims of the new education to achieve a high
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 19
moral regeneration and improve the people’s character
and attitude necessary in national development.10
During the Marcos regime, the aims of education under
the Constitution of 1973, Article XV Sec. 8 states
that:
All educational institutions shall be under the
supervision and subject to the regulation by the
State.
The State shall establish and maintain a complete,
adequate and integrated system of education
relevant to the goals of national development,
All institutions shall aim to inculcate love for
country, teach the duties of citizenship, and
develop moral character, personal discipline and
scientific and
technological and vocational efficiency.
__________________________
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 20
10Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in Philippine Setting. Garotech
Publishing. 2007
The State shall maintain a system of free
public elementary education and in areas where
finances permit, establish and maintain at
least up to the secondary level.
The state shall provide citizenship and
vocational training to adult citizens and out-
of-school youth, and create and maintain
scholarships for poor and deserving students.8
Aside from the Constitutional laws, the development
of the whole man is another aim of Philippine
Education. It means to develop the individual
mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and
spiritually. This is from the concept that education is
a process of growth and development. Growth is the
product of interaction of individual with its
environment.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 21
Another aim of the Philippine educational system is
to upgrade and change its curriculum. The newly
implemented Enhanced K-12 Curriculum is also based on
the philosophy of John Dewey, the pragmatism,
experimentalism, empiricism or naturalism and
instrumentalism principles. According to data
gathered, the objectives of Enhanced K to 12 Basic
Education Program is to create graduates that will:
1.Acquire mastery of basic competencies.
2.Be more emotionally mature.
3. Be socially aware, pro-active, involve in
public and civic affairs.
4. Be adequately prepared for the word of work or
entrepreneurship or higher education.
5.Be legally employable with potential for better
earnings.
6.Be globally competitive.
7. Every graduate of the Enhanced K to 12 Basic
Education program is an empowered individual
who has learned, through a program that is
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 22
rooted on sound educational principles and
geared towards excellence, the foundations for
learning throughout life, the competence to
engage in work and be productive, the ability
to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and
global communities, the capability to engage in
autonomous critical thinking, and the capacity
to transform others and one’s self.11
The aims of the New Enhanced K-12 Curriculum are
acquired and influenced by the different philosophies
of several philosophers. The approaches built by Dr.
John Dewey are very visible in the New Enhanced K-12
Curriculum.
This proves again that aims of the education in the
Philippines originated and influenced by the
Philosophy of Dr. John Dewey.
Conclusion
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 23
The leaders of the Philippines are building a
nation for the citizens of the future. The Philippines
keeps on reorganizing the school system so that it may
prepare young men and women to have promising future.
The Department of Education wanted to meet the needs
and aims of the New Society in education even in the
complexity of time, economic aspects, advanced
technology, environment, social forms and political
change. Its goal to improve and focus on the student as
the focus of education remains the first priority.
History shows that Philippines has taken education
as one of its priorities and considered it as a
requirement of individual to act morally, live
responsibly, socially aware of his/her environment,
participate and exercise his/her rights politically and
grow productively in the society where he /she belongs.
A child must grow productively in the society where
he /she belongs. Education served as an integral part
of the society in elevating the lives of every
Filipinos.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 24
Department of Education underwent several changes –
new system, new curriculum, new laws and ordinances or
Republic Act. Although the styles and techniques of
teaching or systems and forms have changed, the role
of school in the society will always be vital in the
growth of individual. It is very transparent that the
principles formulated by the Philosopher Dr. John Dewey
influenced the Philippines education in all areas and
aspects. Present curriculum shows several thoughts of
the philosopher has been applied and accounted to be
the guiding patterns of the system.
According to de Montaigne, famous philosopher and
education advocate, “Learning is a good medicine: but
no medicine is powerful enough to preserve itself from
taint and corruption independently of defects in the
jar that it is kept in. One man sees clearly but does
not see straight: consequently he sees what is good but
fails to follow it; he sees knowledge and does not use
it.“11 So continuous training and revisions must be
modified from time to time, rigid monitoring in the
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 25
implementation of the principles and ceaseless support
and effort from the different sectors of the society to
completely achieve the ideals of the principles.
The attainment of the objectives of education will
always depend on
the cooperation and total participation among the
students, teachers,
school administrators and the country’s officials. They
are the instruments and tools of education. They are
needed to implement the system and to continually
adjust and adapt to the changes that the computer age
will bring. None the less the philosophies no matter
how great or effective will become senseless and futile
if not applied properly in the learning process.
To this day, school has retained some basic
characteristics of its origin. Many of our
contemporaries would be surprised if we tell them that
there was a time when schools did not exist and that
perhaps in the far-off future they will stop to exist.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 26
Marshall McLuhan has already announced the end of the
era of written letters and books, and consequently the
disappearance of school in the traditional form to
which people are accustomed. Traditional learning and
methods will soon be transformed.12 Education may change
in the following years, yet philosophies of education
___________________________
11http://www.spaceandmotion.com.Philosophy-Spinoza-Philosopher.httm
will always remain as guiding principles and theories
in this complicated times of the era. Dr. John Dewey’s
philosophy together with the other theories will always
be the foundation in the system of education in the
Philippines and in any parts of the world.
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 27
______________________________
2 http://www. Prospects in Education.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization. Place de Fontenoy ©
References:
Acero,Victorina. Javier, Evelyn. Castro, Herminia. Principles and Strategies ofTeaching. Rex Bookstore, Inc. 2000
Gregorio, Herman. Gregorio, Cornelia. Philosophy of Education in PhilippineSetting. Garotech Publishing. 2007
Zulueta,Francisco.Maglaya, Elda.Foundations of Education. National Bookstore.Reprint 2005
http://www.philosophy.ProspectsinEducation.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Place de Fontenoy © Vol.1No.2.2007
http://www.spaceandmotion.com.Philosophy-Spinoza-Philosopher.httm
The Aims of Dr. John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy, Applied in Philippine Setting 28
http://www.John Dewey’s Educational Philosophy:Core Concepts George Demetrion Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford George.demetrion@lvgh.org August 1, 2003
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