Educational Theories: Social Reconstructionism

Social Reconstructionism

A Presentation in Educ. 501 by Gigi Lumbre Mondelo, MA Ed. in Social Science

The Two Major Premises of Reconstructionism

• Society is in need of constant reconstruction or change

• Such social change involves a reconstruction of education and the use of education in reconstructing the society

Historical Background of Reconstructionism

• Reconstructionist ideas in one form or another have existed throughout history.

• Plato, in preparing his design for a future state, was a “reconstructionist” philosopher. He outlined a plan for a just state in which education would become the building material for a new and better society.In his book, Laws, he envisioned a time when interest charges would be forbidden, profits would be limited, and human beings would live as friends.

• Stoic philosophers, particularly in their concern for a world state, promoted a reconstructionist ideal.

Historical Background of Reconstructionism• Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and philosopher,

maintained that he was a citizen of the world, not ofRome. This concept is one of that reconstructionistsarticulate today in their attempts to minimizenationalistic fervour and chauvinism.

• Augustine preached reconstructionist reforms to bringabout an ideal Christian state through his book TheCity of God.

• Thomas More, Thomas Campanella, Johann ValentinAndreae, Samuel Gott and other Christian utopianwriters also proposed things we might do to bring thestate into better accord with Christian thinking.

Historical Background of Reconstructionism• Writings of 18th and 19th century utopian socialists,

such as Comte de Saint Simon, Charles Fourier andFrancois Noel Babeuf, advocated reconstructionist idealsthrough the development of various forms of socialism.

• Robert Owen and Edward Bellamy were part of theindustrial revolution, but saw the use of technology notonly for the production of wealth, but for improvingthe lot of humanity throughout the world.

• Karl Marx, decrying the harm done to workers by thedehumanization of the industrial system, who pictureda reconstructed world based on internationalcommunism.

Historical Background of Reconstructionism• After the World War, Bertrand Russell in his

Principles of Social Reconstruction, listed steps thatmight be taken to avoid the holocaust of war.

• B. F. Skinner advocates the use of conditioning or“behavioural engineering” in his book Walden Two.In his Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Skinnermaintains that people cannot afford freedom in thetraditional sense and that they must engineer anew social order based on a technology of behaviour.

• Horace Mann and John Dewey view education as atool for social reform.

Modern Reconstructionism

Modern reconstructionism is basically pragmatic andowes a tremendous debt to Dewey. Reconstructionistspromotes such things as the scientific method, problemsolving, naturalism, and humanism; however,reconstructionists diverge from pragmatists in how theybelieve the pragmatic method should be used.

Although pragmatism advocates continuous change anda forward-looking approach to the problems of people andsociety it has become a tool for helping people adjust tosociety rather than change it.

Education, from the reconstructionist’s view, is a toolfor immediate and continuous change.

Leading Exponents of Reconstructionism

George S. Counts

Theodore Brameld Henry David

Thoreau

Alvin Toffler Ivan Illich

Paulo Freire

Reconstructionism and Education

Focus of Learning

*Critically analyze world events

*Explore controversial issues

*Develop vision for new and better world

*Promote programs of cultural renewal

Curriculum*Critical Pedagogy

– Unites theory and practice

– Provides students with critical thinking tools

*Public Education should be the direct

instrument of world reformation

*Use moral dilemmas to direct attention

toward social and world reform

Role of the Teacher*An educator who is also a social activist

*Sees education as a tool for solving the problems of society

- The teacher can inform others about the nature and the extent of the problem

- Can suggest what one can do about these problems

*Rather than being passive dispensers of knowledge, teachers should become facilitators for analysis and change

Critiques of Reconstructionism

*Reconstructionists analysis of social problems and the accompanying remedies suffer from shallowness and superficiality.

*Often, in their strong desire for change, reconstructionists are precipitous in their recommendations for reform.

*Reconstructionists have a romantic notion of what schools can do.

*The views about democracy and decision making are questionable.

Post Script

Reconstructionist philosophy has been an antidote to the easy virtues of

materialism, traditional cultural values, and social stability. Its theory is not widely accepted but it can stimulate and provoke critical thinking. It has provided visions for a more perfect world and suggested ways

of obtaining them.Concern for social values, humane justice,

human community, world peace, economic justice, equality of opportunity,

freedom and democracy – are the significant goals for reconstructionism.