Educational Philosophy: Essentialist vs. Neo-classical

[Mama Anna]

Here's the situation:

 

For the past 4-5 years, I've been schooling pretty straight WTM-style. Dd8 is now moving into a combination of 4th and 5th grade level stuff. Dh is very supportive of hsing and has pretty much trusted me as to choosing curriculum, priorities, etc. Now that we're getting to logic stage (with rhetoric looming in the distance) I don't want to go this alone anymore. I'm going to need Dh's teaching support in rhetoric and I don't want to head down WTM's logic stage toward rhetoric if it's going to be a struggle to get it. Does that make sense?

 

Anyway, I've brought this up with dh a couple of times. (It would be great if he could just read WTM for himself, but seeing as how he's in the middle of another semester of PhD work, that's just not practical before summer when our curriculum should already be on order.) Dh did a semester of Ed. classes in college and has told me a couple of times that he was exposed to three philosophies: Classical (Adler), Essentialist (?), and Progressive (Kozol). At the time he didn't really understand the Classical philosophy and of the other two preferred Essentialism.

 

So, I finally ask my questions:

 

Could anyone give me a comparison/contrast of Essentialist and Neo-classical (ie WTM) philosophies?

 

Is there a basic book from the Essentialist school that I could read in order to become more familiar with the philosophy?

 

I appreciate you reading this far!

 

Mama Anna

[Bloggermom]

I didn't even realize there were 3 different "Classical education" philosophies!

[Mama Anna]

I didn't mean to imply that these are 3 different classical philosophies. Essentialist and Progressivist are quite different from classical, although classical and essentialist have more in common, especially in the grammar stage. Progressive education is almost a polar opposite of WTM thinking, and it dominates our public schools.

 

Mama Anna's DH

[lovemykids]

A few thoughts: I like to think that I drive my children towards a Progressive type of education. One that is accepting of diversity, includes hands on opportunities, focuses on both problem solving and critical thinking, and also stresses social responsibility. I do not think that any of those things are polar opposites to a WTM education. Instead, I think it is important to focus on the individual child and their capabilities as well as potential. When you do that, you can tailor your educational philosophy to meet your true needs instead of trying to unnaturally fit into an educational box ....

 

edited to add: (or I should say, “if†the process feels restrictive or unnatural to you or your child)

 

edited a second time: :lol:

(Oh, I sincerely apologize for any perceived snarkiness on my end. That truly wasn’t my intent. ;)

I guess I just wanted to point out that seemingly “polar opposites†sometimes are meshed well together, if that makes sense. I also believe that in both public school and any given homeschool you will find blend of educational philosophies.)

 

It’s funny that many unschooling/ relaxed type of parents like to use the Core Knowledge curriculum, which is Essentialist, as a base for their loosely woven studies.

 

I hope you get a real answer to your question since I obviously haven’t really considered the differences between Neo-classical and Essentialist. I also hope you find a way to educate your children that truly works for all of you as a family.

 

Happy homeschooling!

Edited February 18, 2012 by lovemykids

[Mama Anna]

Happy homeschooling!

 

Thanks for your good wishes, Lovemykids! I appreciate your diplomacy.:D

 

I figured Core Knowledge would fit in the Essentialist box. I'm just trying to feel my way around these things. If I can figure out which boxes hold which things, I'll know where to go to pick out the parts of each that I wish to use in creating my own, KWIM? This wouldn't be nearly so important if dh and I weren't both fairly analytical people.

 

Anyone else?

[Hunter]

 

Now, if you were going to compare Essentialism to Classical, I would say that the biggest difference is that the former is primarily involved in practical studies-the things that will produce productive workers and citizens, whereas with the latter you will almost always be involved in not-so-very-practical lessons just so you can develop the mind enough to continue the "great conversation".

 

 

 

I don't know if I'm correct, but I think that essentialism teaches children to know and obey the laws, and neoclassical teaches students to make the laws.

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

Would Cultural Literacy by Hirsch fit the Essentialist model, then? That might be a book to start with.

[momto2Cs]

I used this book in an education class - it discusses many theories of education, including the specific ones you mentioned.

[lovemykids]

I didn't mean to imply that these are 3 different classical philosophies. Essentialist and Progressivist are quite different from classical, although classical and essentialist have more in common, especially in the grammar stage. Progressive education is almost a polar opposite of WTM thinking, and it dominates our public schools.

 

Mama Anna's DH

 

Thanks for your good wishes, Lovemykids! I appreciate your diplomacy.:D

 

I figured Core Knowledge would fit in the Essentialist box. I'm just trying to feel my way around these things. If I can figure out which boxes hold which things, I'll know where to go to pick out the parts of each that I wish to use in creating my own, KWIM? This wouldn't be nearly so important if dh and I weren't both fairly analytical people.

 

Anyone else?

 

I think that WTM creates a blend of educational philosophies, and then leaves it up to the parent to choose which path to take (e.g. presenting choices).

 

I see Essentialism, Perennialism, Existentialism, as well as Progressivism in the WTM, or Neo-classic education. If your son is not ready for the logic stage, you could delay it a little longer. Why change if the WTM method is working for you otherwise? Again, good luck with your quest for more knowledge. It really is enjoyable to learn about different types of educational philosophies, and then form your own according to your child’s needs. :)

[Mama Anna]

Now, if you were going to compare Essentialism to Classical, I would say that the biggest difference is that the former is primarily involved in practical studies-the things that will produce productive workers and citizens, whereas with the latter you will almost always be involved in not-so-very-practical lessons just so you can develop the mind enough to continue the "great conversation".

Thanks, WendyAndMilo - this is the kind of comparison I was looking for. From what I read in TWTM, though, practical lessons are also required - the Great Books, etc. stuff is in addition to Math, Science, etc. That is, if you go by the book in Rhetoric stage, anyway. I guess I'm asking; does WTM take the basics of Essentialism and sort of layer the intellectualism (for lack of a better term) of preparation for "the Great Conversation" over the top?

 

I don't know if I'm correct, but I think that essentialism teaches children to know and obey the laws, and neoclassical teaches students to make the laws.

 

:D

 

Would Cultural Literacy by Hirsch fit the Essentialist model, then? That might be a book to start with.

 

I used this book in an education class - it discusses many theories of education, including the specific ones you mentioned.

 

Thanks for the book reqs!

 

Mama Anna

[Mama Anna]

I think that WTM creates a blend of educational philosophies, and then leaves it up to the parent to choose which path to take (e.g. presenting choices).

 

I see Essentialism, Perennialism, Existentialism, as well as Progressivism in the WTM, or Neo-classic education.

 

I can't argue with you there - I'm not sure how to identify and sort out the pieces of the various philosophies you mention. Unfortunately. I hope to learn to do so over time, though!

 

Mama Anna