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COURSE OUTLINE
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Instructor: J. Morgan
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Spring 1990
4.4c1&
EDUCATION 230-3 (Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek)
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The philosophy of education is an area
of inquiry which bears significant implications for social
life and institutional practice. There are important
philosophical dimensions to many of the hardest educational
problems facing parents, teachers and voters: What should
our schools be doing with our young people? What sorts of
interference in their lives is perinissable? Is there a
discipline problem in our schools? Should our government
subsidize religious schools? Is religious instruction
educational? How should curriculum be organized? Should we
be emphasizing
j
ob training over liberal arts in schools?
Should we treat diverse cultures differently in our schools?
When does the exercise of authority become authoritarianism?
What is moral education? Can we teach children creativity?
In this course students will learn how to think more clearly
and rationally about many of the deepest educational
problems. They will sharpen their critical skills so that
they will be far less at the mercy of the many charlatans
and intellectual phonies who will attempt them to lead them
away from the educational engagement.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: First Paper (3 pages)
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10%
Midterm Examination
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20%
Second Paper (5 pages)
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30%
Final Examination
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30%
Seminar Participation
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10%
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COURSE TEXTS:
Hamm, Cornel.
Philoso
p
hical
Issues in Education.,
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Falmer Press, 1989)
Hirst, Paul, and Peters, R.
S.
The Logic of Education.
(London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974)
TENTATIVE OUTINE OF TOPICS:
1. The nature of philosophical questions in education
2.
Definitions in educational discourse
3.
The concept of education
4. Philosophical problems in curriculum organization
5.
The concepts of teaching and learning
6. Indoctrination
7. Freedom and authority in educational institutions
B. Discipline and punishment in the schools
9. The education of the emotions
10. Moral education
11. Democracy and education
12. Parents' rights in education