A RESEARCH STUDY CONDUCTED BY: SHELBY PARKER & SARAH
WILLINGHAM UFC: vs. Rousseau John Locke Jean-Jacques
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IS THERE A DOMINANT PHILOSOPHY OF LEARNING AND EDUCATION
EMBEDDED IN TODAYS SCHOOLS? Question
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A MONTESSORI SCHOOL WILL REFLECT ROUSSEAUS PHILOSOPHY OF
LEARNING AND EDUCATION. AND A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WILL
REFLECT A COMBINATION OF LOCKE AND ROUSSEAUS PHILOSOPHIES.
Hypothesis
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Objectives Investigate the ideas of John Locke and Jean Jacques
Rousseau Identify common themes found between their philosophies
Compare and contrast common themes Observe children, educators and
the environment in a classroom Analyze the collected information
Determine which theorists principles are dominant in contemporary
education environments.
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John Locke August 29, 1632 October 28, 1704 A.K.A The Father of
Learning Theory Primary Text: Some Thoughts Concerning Education
& An Essay Concerning Human Understanding The Empiricist
(Physician and Philosopher) At 14, he entered Westminster School.
In 1652, he attended Christ Church, in Oxford where he received his
B.A and M.A He never married and had no children. Thoughts on
knowledge: derives from external world
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau June 28, 1712 July 2, 1778 A.K.A The
Father of Developmental Psychology Primary Text: Emile The
Rationalist (Philosopher) He received no formal education past the
age of 13. In 1732, he began to self-educate. He had one son, and
possibly 4 other children, but he gave them all away. Thoughts on
knowledge: derives from innate ideas and natures inner
promptings.
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Common Themes Purpose of Education Role of Child Role of
Educator Educational Environment Rewards and Punishments Curiosity
Innate Ideas
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Common ThemesJohn LockeJean-Jacques Rousseau Purpose of
EducationSelf Control, Socializing Process, Formation of Character
Personal Developmental Process, in accordance with biological
timetable Role of ChildA blank slate for the educator to write on.
His mind is impressionable. Learns in accordance with biological
timetable, result of internal influences Role of EducatorDevelop
their pupils natural capacities to their limit. Truthful, hands
off, does not make any attempt to affect childs decisions.
Educational Environment Social settings where children learn by
associations, repetition, and imitation. Here they gain
experiences. Removal of child from society, child follows innate
curiosity and desire to learn Rewards and Punishments Praise and
flattery as rewards and disapproval as punishments. Children
experience the natural consequences of his own acts or behavior
CuriosityA childs curiosity should be directed by education. A
childs natural curiosity should guide its educational process.
Innate IdeasNo innate ideas, tabula rasa, ideas derive from
experiences Knowledge derives from innate reason and ideas
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Montessori School Public School The focus is on the childs
making the conscious decision to decide what subject they want to
focus on. It is the focus of the childs decision making and will
power to pursue the activities he or she desires. During their math
lesson, the students were learning in order to solve problems in
everyday life. The lesson plan placed emphasis on connecting the
activities to something in reality. Main goal: to be able to solve
real life problems. Purpose of Education LOCKEROUSSEAU
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Montessori School Public School When a child finished a
project, he cleaned it up and chose a new project. The children are
allowed to talk freely. The majority of the children work
diligently. All extremely eager to answer questions. Use each other
as a scaffold to learn. As time went on, interactions between the
children became more social. The children were directing each other
on how to sit around the carpet, to get into a circle. Children
were often told to be quiet. One student was helper of the day.
He/she would pass out papers and pencils. The children need some
prompting from the teacher to start and complete their work. The
children would assist the teacher in answering the warm- up
questions. Role of Child LOCKE & ROUSSEAULOCKE
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Montessori School Public School Teacher promoted children to
work. Teacher called up two children at a time. She appeared to be
giving them some sort of skill assessment. When the learning was
directed by the teacher the group was much louder, as if they were
trying to compete with each other to get to the right answer.
Teacher leaves open ended questions yet directs them to the answer
through visual tools and carefully stated questions. For the first
15-20 minutes the teacher didnt say much to the students, it seemed
like they were rather independent. Teacher asked guiding questions.
Teacher made sure the students stayed on track. Teacher was the
center of focus as she went over the warm-up worksheet with the
students. Teacher kept controlled pace of activities. Cmon lets get
started Role of Educator LOCKE & ROUSSEAULOCKE
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Educational Environment: Montessori
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Educational Environment: Public School
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Montessori School Public School Child centered room there is no
front of the room the tables arent directed in any certain
direction. Child treat environment well. Close doors to bathrooms,
turn off lights and wash hands all without any prompting. Five
stations some children are at the tables. Some children working on
the floor. Everything is child size. The white board was the
center, focus of the room. Chairs and desks were child sized. Desks
were set up in groups of four. Every wall was covered with visual
learning aids. There were lockers in the back of the classroom for
students to keep their personal belongings. There was a reading
loft and library. Different materials were placed throughout the
classroom for the students to use at appropriate times. Educational
Environment ROUSSEAU LOCKE
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Montessori School Public School One boy said to another, I like
your work area! He answered enthusiastically: Thank you! Teacher:
Im impressed! verbal affirmations Students were talking teacher
threated that if they continued to talk, theyd have to get back to
work. Teacher made an announcement that everyone must get back to
their seats, but the students didnt listen, so she turned off the
light to warn them. During a math game, who ever won received a
piece of candy. If the children did something they werent suppose
to, the teacher would put their name on the board. They competed
for prizes. If they didnt complete something, they would have to
continue to work on it while others got to move on to more exciting
activities. Rewards and Punishments LOCKE
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Montessori School Public School The children were initially
intrigued by our presences. They occasionally glanced at us but
then immediately return to their activities. The teacher did not
say anything to the students when they were obviously curious about
us. One child asked if Christopher learned capital letters? to
another child, because he has to learn those things first in order
to learn his capital letters. One girl made rounds of the room, in
order to see what others are doing. The children were curious about
us, but the teachers told them to stop paying attention to us. They
asked a lot of random questions that the teacher wouldnt answer if
they strayed from the topic. The teacher gave the children math
manipulatives and allowed them to do what they wanted with them.
Curiosity LOCKE & ROUSSEAUROUSSEAU
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Montessori School Public School Winners LOCKE 6 Locke 1
Rousseau ROUSSEAU 5 Rousseau 3 Locke
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A MONTESSORI SCHOOL WILL REFLECT ROUSSEAUS PHILOSOPHY OF
LEARNING AND EDUCATION. AND A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WILL
REFLECT A COMBINATION OF LOCKE AND ROUSSEAUS PHILOSOPHIES.
Hypothesis
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Rousseau (Nature) Locke (Nurture) Conclusion Our hypothesis was
false. The Montessori school exhibited nearly an even number of
Locke and Rousseau principles. Whereas the traditional public
school was Locke dominant. Public School Montessori School
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HOW DO CHILDREN CONDITIONED TO A CERTAIN ENVIRONMENT ACT IF
THEY ARE PLACED IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT? IS ONE ENVIRONMENT
BETTER THAN THE OTHER? DO PARENTS CHOOSE CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS FOR
THEIR CHILDREN ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD OR ACCORDING TO
THEIR OWN PREFERENCE OF EDUCATIONAL METHOD? Further Questions to be
Explored