Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education Review

According to John Locke, the human mind at birth is a tabula rasa, which means it is:

• Inherently virtuous and good.

• A "blank slate" shaped entirely by experience.

• Pre-loaded with innate ideas and knowledge.

• Naturally inclined towards competition and survival.

Herbert Spencer's utilitarian philosophy of education answers the question "What Knowledge is of Most Worth?" by prioritizing:

• The classics and humanities for moral development.

• Religious doctrine for spiritual salvation.

• Scientific and practical subjects for survival and action.

• Democratic principles for civic participation.

John Dewey's statement that "education is life itself" means that schools should function as:

• Isolated institutions for rigorous academic training.

• Competitive arenas to prepare students for the workforce.

• "Miniature societies" where students learn by participating in a democratic community.

• Centers for transmitting a fixed body of cultural knowledge.

What is the core difference between John Locke's and Herbert Spencer's vision for an educated person?

• Locke focused on external utility, while Spencer focused on internal virtue.

• Locke prioritized scientific knowledge, while Spencer prioritized classical literature.

• Locke aimed to cultivate internal virtue and reason, while Spencer aimed to prepare individuals for practical action and competition.

• Locke believed in state-controlled education, while Spencer advocated for private schooling.

George Counts criticized the Progressive Education movement for being:

• Too focused on social justice and political activism.

• Overly reliant on rote memorization and strict discipline.

• Too focused on the individual child and blind to social and economic injustices.

• Excessively focused on preparing students for vocational trades.

Theodore Brameld's philosophy of Social Reconstructionism is described as a "crisis philosophy" because it:

• Responds to the crisis of faith in the post-Reformation era.

• Views education as a response to urgent global crises like war and inequality, aiming to reconstruct society.

• Addresses the personal identity crisis of adolescent learners.

• Focuses on the financial crises affecting public school funding.

Which philosopher argued that since schools can never be neutral, teachers must "deliberately reach for power" to build a more equitable social order?

• John Dewey

• John Locke

• Herbert Spencer

• George Counts

A curriculum that emerges from the intersection of a learner's interests and "organized bodies of truth" to solve "genuine problems" is a central idea of:

• John Dewey

• Herbert Spencer

• Theodore Brameld

• John Locke

The concept of "survival of the fittest," applied to education to mean that the most capable students would naturally succeed, was championed by:

• John Dewey

• Herbert Spencer

• George Counts

• John Locke

Which philosophy would most likely advocate for a curriculum centered on controversial social problems like poverty, racism, and war, with the goal of taking action to solve them?

• Empiricism

• Utilitarianism

• Social Reconstructionism

• Progressivism