Naturalism(Teaching Practice)

 

Naturalism

Introduction to Naturalism

In education Philosophy of naturalism was a revolt against the stereotyped education system and against the artificiality of life. Proponents of naturalism believes that it is a self-sufficient entity.

According to them

·        Nature is the ultimate reality

·        Natural world is the real world

·        Nature alone consists of the answer to all philosophical problems.

·        Back to nature is the phrase to watch with naturalism philosophy.

·        Naturalism believes that nature and reality are identical and there is no reality without nature.

·        It does not believe in spiritualism and supernaturalism.

·        Material world is the real world.

Exponents

 

·       The chief exponents of naturalism are

o   Bacon,

o   Comenius

o   Herbert Spencer

o   Huxley

o   Bernard Shaw

o   Rousseau.

Naturalism Definition

1.    Dr. Pram Nath “Naturalism is an attitude rather than a specific system of philosophy”

2.    Thomas and Lamg “Naturalism is opposed to idealism. It subordinates mind to matter and holds that ultimate reality in material not spiritual”

Main Characteristics of naturalism

·        Nature alone is the entire reality. Naturalism denies the existence of anything beyond nature. It says no to the supernatural phenomena.

·        Naturalism has no belief in spiritual values. Values can be subjective and relative. They can be created according to situations, needs, and conditions of life.

·        They believe scientific knowledge to be of highest worth.

·        Here society is only an artificial structure. Individuals alone are real.

·        It does not have faith in the existence of the soul, God, and the spiritual world.

·        It believes only in the existence of the material world, matter, and nature.

·        Here senses are considered the natural gateway to knowledge. Knowledge can be comprehended through senses.

Naturalistic View of: -

Ø Instincts

According to naturalists, instincts are responsible for all our activities — biological, psychological or social.

Ø Values of life

According to naturalism, values of life are created by the human needs. Man creates them when he reacts to — or interacts with — his environment.

Ø Nature

According to the naturalists, nature is complete in itself, having its own laws. It does not, therefore, require us to have insight or intuition to understand Nature.

Ø Mind

Naturalism believes that mind is an accident in the process of evolution and it can be explained in terms of nature. Mind is a function of the brain which is material in nature. Mind is not the source of knowledge; all knowledge is acquired from without, and senses are the gateways of all knowledge.

The personality of the child, according to the naturalists, is fashioned by:

(a) Endowment  

(b) Environment.

 

Forms of naturalism

(A) Physical Naturalism (Instinctivists)

·        Studies the external nature

·        It explains human activities and experiences in terms of material objects and natural laws.

·        Lays more stress on external phenomenon then conscious human beings

·        Nature has a complete hold on the life of human beings.

(B) Mechanical Naturalism

·        regards man as machines

·        believes in behavioristic psychology

·        believes man as well as mind is matter

·        science is only a dependable form of matter.

(C) Biological naturalism (Darwinians):

·        Based on the notion of evolution.

·        Darwin believed in the “survival of the fittest” in the evolution.

·        believes that life is ever-changing dynamic and always developing.

·        our survival depends on adjustments.

·        three principles according to biological naturalism are

1.      Adaptation of environment

2.      Struggle for existence

3.      Survival of the fittest

Naturalism in Education

·        Naturalism has a great impact on theory as well as the practice of education.

·        In systems of educations with naturalistic philosophy, there is no place for classrooms, textbooks, time-table, formal exams, etc.

·        It stands against the present system of teaching.

(A) Main tents of naturalism

·        Reality and nature are identical. Nature is the ultimate reality of the world.

·        Have no belief in the spiritual world

·        Regards scientific knowledge as the highest value.

·        Values are subjective and relative. One has to live in harmony with nature. Values are created in terms of the need and purpose of life.

·        Naturalists are against the complex nature of civilization.

·        They advocate the inductive method where knowledge is gained through observation for the acquisition of knowledge.

·        Knowledge is comprehended through senses.

·        Laws of nature are unchangeable and the whole universe is governed by them.

·        Man is an offspring of nature not a segment of society.

·        Nature grows and evolves with the passage of time

(B) Important characteristics of naturalistic education

·        Believes that education should be in a strict agreement with the nature of the child.

·        Regards education as a natural necessity.

·        Whole of the learning comes from the experience of the child. An important place is given to the concept of freedom to live in nature without control.

·        Advocate school education and is against bookish knowledge.

·        Sensors are the gateway to knowledge. The child should be trained to function his senses effectively.

·        Believes in progressive education.

Aims of Naturalism in education

1.    Self-expression

2.    Struggle for existence

·        Education ensures survival

·        Enable children to adjust themselves to the environment

3.    Development of individuality

·        Education should aim to develop the individuality of children without any interference in society.

4.    Education for adjustment

·        Education helps children in physical and mental adjustment.

·        Education is regarded as a process of adjustment to the environment.

5.    Education according to the nature of the child. Here Nature has two meaning one is the nature of the child and the second is environment.

6.    Education to achieve present and future happiness.

·        Education should help to cultivate self-restraint and values in children.

7.    Education should develop the child into a joyous, rational, and mature child.

(C) Naturalism and curriculum

·        Does not believe in a rigid and fixed curriculum.

·        Believes in inborn ability and instincts of the child.

·        Child learns best in a natural setting.

(D) Features of naturalistic curriculum

1.    Curriculum based on psychology and inborn instinct of child.

2.    Believes in the study of science subjects. Due importance is given to mathematics and languages.

3.    Study of past experiences is given due importance in the curriculum. This because our present is defined by our past. They believe that history and social studies should be included in the curriculum.

4.    Naturalism advocates the inclusion of subjects in the curriculum that promotes self-preservation.

5.    There is no place for moral religious and spiritual education.

(E) methods of teaching in naturalism

·        It rejects

·        rigid teaching methods

·        uniform

·        traditional methods of teaching

·        It does not favor classroom teaching

·        “Give your pupils no verbal lesson, they should be taught by their experiences alone” is what Rousseau said.

·        It lays emphasis on learning by doing

·        Naturalists believe that children should be encouraged to discover things on their own.

·        They are advocates of the play-way method of teaching. The Montessori method is one such method of teaching. Teaching should be a joyous, creative, and spontaneous activity.

·        According to naturalists’ observation and experiments in the laboratory should be important factors of teaching methodology.

(F) Naturalism and Teacher

·        Teacher plays the role of the observer in a naturalistic education scheme.

·        Teacher facilitates the learning of the child.

·        Teachers should be able to understand the child and help in the growth and development of the child.

·        Teacher’s role should be that of a stage setter. He should be able to provide material and environment to facilitate the development and learning of the child.

(G) Merits and demerits of Naturalism in education

Merits

·        It provides presents a refreshing and humanistic attitude towards teaching and learning.

·        Here children are treated as equals by adults. Their personality and individuality are respected.

·        Discipline comes in the self-imposed form rather than by constant correction or harsh attitudes by adult interference.

·        Children share freedom as well as the responsibility with adults.

Demerits

·        It ignores the spiritual and moral side of human nature.

·        Its tents are applicable to all the children irrespective of their individual differences. Sometimes it is not practical to apply principles of the naturalistic approach to education in practical situations.

·        Naturalistic education practices are hard to follow in urban areas.

·        This approach is not suitable for a vast amount of learning which is needed in a short span of time. Sometimes it is not practical to approach learning at a leisurely pace through experience and unaided by books.

 

Educational Implications:

Naturalism has tremendously influenced the modern educational theories and practices.

1. “Follow nature” is the watch-word of naturalism. The innate nature of the child should be developed in natural environment and not in the artificial atmosphere of the school.

2. Instincts, impulses and emotions should form the basis of all education of the child. According to the naturalists, instincts should be the main instrument of education.

3. Pedo-centrism is another important contribution of the naturalists in the field of education. In the educative process the child takes the pivotal position. Children should be treated as children and not as adults in miniature.

4. The freedom of the child is another important feature of naturalistic education. The child should grow freely according to his own nature and pace without interference from the educator or the parents. True education takes place when the nature, powers and inclinations of the child are allowed to develop freely with a minimum of guidance. The naturalists strongly advocate freedom for the child.

5. Senses are the gateways of knowledge. Education is very much effective when it comes through sensory channels. As such, naturalists consider the training of senses very important.

                  In conclusion we can say that naturalism has secured freedom for the child and has further succeeded in freeing the child from many a tyranny of rigidity, interference and strict discipline. Naturalism has given an impetus to new psychological methods in education. Self- expression, follow nature, auto-education, play-way, Pedo-centrism, sense-training, self- discipline and learning by doing are some of the main characteristics of modern education.