ESSENTIALISM, BASIC EDUCATION,
AND STANDARDS
INSTRUCTOR:
Eileen Wade, Ed.D.
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AGENDA CHAPTER 16
Defining Essentialism
Situating Essentialism
Why Study Essentialism
Essentialism as an Educational Theory
Defining Essentialism
• As an educational theory, Essentialism
asserts that schooling, instruction,
teaching, and learning need to focus on
the basics – on what is really necessary to
become an educated, productive,
effective, and capable individual and
citizen in American society.
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Situating Essentialism
• Essentialism has shown great staying
power in education.
• Essentialism took the form of the “three
R’s (reading, writing and ‘rithmetic) and
mental discipline (the theory that certain
subjects trained or disciplined the mind).
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Why Study Essentialism
• Essentialism is worth studying because of
its persistence and reappearance.
• Essentialists have been very consistent in
defining schools as primarily academic
institutions.
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Essentialism as an Educational Theory
• Essentialism is a theory of education that
tends to focus on specifics. It defines the
school as a sociocultural agency whose
primary role is the formal and academic
education of students in prescribed
essential skills and subjects.
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SUMMARY CHAPTER 16
Defining Essentialism
Situating Essentialism
Why Study Essentialism
Essentialism as an Educational Theory