A focus on the pedagogical relevance of the school in harmonizing education for individual autonomy with responsible citizenship : implications for a school curriculum
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Date
1991
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Abstract
This study is conducted within the Department of Philosophy of Education. The researcher established that there are two rival claims in so far as the role of the school is concerned. We live at a time where there is a great talk on the rights, needs and interests of the individual. Such talks are more often than not, founded on a big caption of individual autonomy or in¬dividual freedom. As the position of the individual is exalted, schools are also blamed for failing to enhance the status of the individual. The second claim is that of the role of the school and society. In this regard the school is merely seen as an agency or instrument for a society. Its task should therefore be centered around preparing individuals for com¬munity service.
The researcher is therefore advocating that neither side should be afforded predominance over the other. To this end, the school should be seen as an institution that should help bring about harmony between individual autonomy and responsible citizenship. In order to confirm the supposition on "a Focus on the Pedagogical relevance of the school in harmonizing education for individual autonomy with responsible citizenship: Implica¬tions for a school curriculum", the researcher stated his problem in a question form like this:
Can a school manage to bring about harmony between individual autonomy and responsible citizenship? What curriculum can be envisaged if a compromise between individual freedom and citizenship is reached?
Methods of research included, among other things, discussions with members of the public like parents. The researcher intended to find out how parents feel about the role and the contribution that is made by schools. Some members of the parent—community were also interviewed. Certain key figures in the society, at schools, universities, technikons and colleges of education were also interviewed on the role that could be played by the school in bringing about a compromise between individual autonomy and responsible citizenship. Teachers of high schools and senior secondary schools were requested to fill in a questionnaire. Through literature review, discussions, interviews and empirical investigation, the researcher found that most people believe that the question of the pedagogical relevance of the school in bringing about harmony between education for in¬dividual autonomy and responsible citizenship has to do with an aim of education. Briefly, it hinges on what children will become after they have completed schooling. Both parents and teachers agreed that the school can¬not be solely held responsible for the education of children. It was then suggested that the school should work in close contact with the parent com¬munity. Aims and purposes of education should be decided by both parents and teachers. The researcher also found that teachers and parents agreed that there is nothing like absolute individual autonomy. For this reason, there is therefore a general consensus that proper education is the one that prepares pupils to live both as worthy individuals and as responsible citizens. An individual in this study was viewed as a person with his own needs, wants, interests, rights and wishes which need not be suppressed at the expense of those of a society. On the other hand a responsible citizen was seen as a person who does not only live for himself, but for other people as well. The researcher then concluded that in executing their ped¬agogic tasks, both teachers at school and the parent community should real¬ize that the needs of an individual and those of a society are interdepen¬dent. There must be harmony between the needs of an individual and those of a society. The school must therefore not only inculcate a spirit of in¬dividualism in pupils but also a spirit of community service.
Lastly, the researcher recommended that since the school curriculum dic¬tates what children will become when they have finished schooling, it therefore needs serious attention. It is therefore recommended that a school curriculum should be designed in such a way that it encompasses both the needs of learners and those of their societies. There is therefore a need for further research on the needs of learners and those of their societies. The school curriculum should not only be designed by a selected few. Teachers, members of the public, the private sector, and if possible, students, should all be consulted before a school curriculum is designed.
Description
Submitted to the Faculty of Education in Fulfilment of
the requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF EDUCATION
in the Department of Philosophy of Education,
University of Zululand, 1991.
Keywords
School curriculum, Individual autonomy