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Thursday, December 28, 2023

Curriculum of Education by Plato| Philosophy of Education | Course Code 8609

How had Plato classified the curriculum of education into different parts? Discuss in detail.

Course: Philosophy of Education

Course code  8609

Level: B.Ed Solved Assignment

ANSWER

Curriculum of Education

Plato's education has its objective in the realization of truth, a comprehensive truth, not limited or narrow. Plato, therefore, believes that the development of the mind, body, and soul is essential. For this reason, he has divided the curriculum into three parts:

1. Bodily Development. 

Plato's philosophy believes bodily development to be of the utmost importance in education, but this bodily development is achieved not merely through exercise and gymnastic activity, but also through a regulated and controlled diet. The educator must guide and train the educator to attend to his food. He must be the kind of doctor who advises a particular kind of diet after acquainting himself with weaknesses of the educand's body. This must be done to get rid of these debilities and finally to lead to the complete development of the body.

2.  Educational Impressions.

 But it must be remembered that bodily development is only a means to mental development because a healthy mind resides only in a healthy body. Although much importance is attached to bodily development, even greater importance is attached to mental development. Being under the influence of Pythagoras, Plato recommended the teaching of mathematics as of supreme importance. The first step in the teaching of mathematics is the teaching of arithmetic. Geometry and algebra should then be taught. Plato believed that the teaching of mathematics could remove many mental defects. In addition to mathematics, Plato considered the teaching of astronomy as of great significance, as part of higher education.

3.  Training in Music.

 To achieve balance in education, Plato stressed the value of musical training as a supplement to training in gymnastics. Exercise is the source of bodily development while music helps in the development of the soul. But music and literature taught to the student must be capable of building character.

Plato suggested that the child's curriculum should be purged of all literature and musical epics which tended to generate such qualities as cowardice, weakness, selfishness, egoism, etc. He was critical of the epics of Homer and other contemporary poets on this ground. Plato considered balance in human life to be of the greatest importance because, in the absence of such a balance, man should neither fulfill his social obligations nor enjoy his own private life to the full. Hence it can be concluded that Plato suggested a balanced curriculum for education.

Role of Educator

In Plato's plan of education, the educator is considered to have the greatest importance. He is like the torch bearer who leads a man, lying in a dark cave, out of the darkness into the bright light of the outside world. His task is to bring the educator out of the darkness of the cave into the light of the day. He is thus the guide.

In his methods of teaching Plato believes imitation to be of the greatest importance, for he realizes that the child learns a great deal through imitation. He will acquire the behavior of the people among whom he is made to live. Hence, keeping in mind the status of the child, he should be made to live among people from whom he can learn good habits and avoid bad ones.

Education According to Classes

Plato's plan of education does not envisage uniform education for one and all. He accepted the concept of social stratification and suggested that since different individuals had to perform different tasks in society, they should also be educated differently, to train each one in his own respective sphere. He believed that different individuals are made of different metals. Those made of gold should take up administration and government, while those made of silver were best suited for trade and defense. Others made of iron and baser metals should become laborers and agriculturists. The state must make different arrangements for the education of these different kinds of people, although Plato implicitly agrees that the education of governing classes is of the greatest importance. The education of the other classes in society does not concern him very much.


Faced with the problem of determining the class of each individual, Plato suggested various kinds of tests to be conducted at different age levels. In the first place, primary education will be given to all between the ages of seven and twenty, following which a test shall be administered to everyone. Those who fail the test are to be sent to labor in various occupations and productive trades. The successful candidates will be sent to the armed forces where training will be imparted to them for the next ten years. This will again be followed by a test; the failures will be compelled to remain in the armed forces while the successful ones will be sent to join the government. Then this governing class will be subjected to further education in science. Later on, one from among the governing class will be elected as the philosopher administrator whose task will be to look after the government and education of the state. This individual will occupy the highest position in the land, his word will be the law of the land. Apart from this supreme individual, all other members of the governing class will continue to receive education throughout their lives, most of this education consisting of teachings in philosophy. It is thus evident that Plato granted the highest place to philosophy in his educational scheme (Shrivastava, 2003).


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