A study of American education in light of Western intellectual thought. The role of the school in relation to democracy and problems of academic freedom and professional ethics. Required for partial fulfillment of teacher education program. It is anticipated that all students entering EIS 401 will have successfully completed prior senior division requirements. Further, this introductory course is intended as a broad survey of the philosophical and historical foundations of education.
Philosophical information is often general and abstract in nature.
In addition, as philosophy and its history extend throughout a vast period One of the principle aims of this course is to explore some of the perennial themes in the intellectual history of educational thought from classical times until the present focusing on distinctive methods for approaching knowledge and learning. Consequently, the theoretical and ideological commitments, as well as the personal motivations of significant philosophers throughout history will be emphasized. This task is divided into two major components. To explore modern schools of thought that have critical bearing on the ethical, political and social foundations of American Education in light of the aforementioned basic philosophical issues. A Case Studies approach will be employed in order to explore the interactive and communicative dimensions of ethics and teaching, the various roles teachers must play in school and community, as well as to ascertain how and why students mature in their understanding of ethical problems.