Reconstructionism, education and curriculum

1. Reconstructionism,
Education and
Curriculum
Presented by Masoud Mahmoodi-Shahrebabaki

2. Background
• Great Depression
• Reconstructionist philosophy is
based on socialistic and utopian
ideas

3. Theodore Brameld`s Perspective
• Theodore Brameld, often credited with
coining reconstructionism in 1950
(actually, Dewey coined the term),
asserted that reconstructionism is a
crisis philosophy and, therefore, suited
to today’s society, which is in crisis.

4. Meeting of the Progressive Education Association 1932
• George Counts urged progressive
educators to consider the era’s
social and economic problems
and use the schools to help
reform society
“Dare the School Build a New
Social Order?”

5. John Dewey's Perspective
“we are doubtless far from realizing
the potential of education as a
constructive agency of improving
society, from realizing that it
represents not only a development of
children and youth but also of the
future society of which they will be
the constituents’” (Dewey 1985).

6. Reconstructionism vs Progressivism
• For them progressivism was too one-sided in its interest in
the individual
• progressivism overemphasized child-centered education and
mainly served the middle and upper classes with its play
theories and private schools.
• Reconstructionist advocated greater emphasis on society-
centered education that addressed the needs of all social
classes

7. Basic principles in Education
Students and teachers must improve society
Classroom political neutrality, disguised as
objectivity and scientific inquiry, does not suit the
democratic process
Teachers and students have a right to take
sides, to stand up for the best reasoned and
informed partialities they can reach as a result of
free, meticulous examination and communication
of all relevant

8. Role of Teachers
• Teachers must measure up to their
social responsibilities.
• Teacher are agents of societal
change
• Teachers should strengthen control
of the schools by and for the goal-
seeking interests of the majority of
mankind.

9. Basic principles in Curriculum
• Curriculum must be transformed in
keeping with a new social-economic-
political education
• It must incorporate reform strategies
• Society is always changing, and the
curriculum has to change.
• A curriculum based on social issues
and services is ideal.

10. A Good Curriculum:
(1) critically examines a society’s
cultural heritage,
(2) examines controversial issues
unabashedly,
(3) commits to bringing about
constructive social change,
(4) cultivates a future-oriented
attitude that considers school reform
(5) enlists students and teachers to
enhance educational opportunities for
all children and youth.

11. Legacy : Critical Pedagogy
• students have the capacity to think, question, and
be critical.
• Teachers and schools need to educate students to be informed
citizens and agents for change.
• The students must be viewed as the major resource for promoting
and protecting democracy

12. Neo- reconstrutivism or global reconstrutivism
• Historically, the United States has taken a
relatively isolationist position,
• Interdependence among nations no
longer allows Americans to remain
ignorant of developments in distant
countries.
• Educators now feel the need to emphasize
understanding of other nations and
cultures.

13. Example

14. • Shallow
• Unrealistic
• Ineffective
• Unpopular