N A T U R A L I S M

N A T U R A L I S M

Naturalism is related to nature.  It is the oldest philosophy in the western world.  Naturalism is a philosophical theory that affirms that all beings and events in the universe are natural and therefore can be fully known by methods of scientific investigation.  It is based on assumption the nature is the whole of reality and the material world is the only real world.

Naturalism is nature – centric.  Material or nature is real.  Naturalism oppose the idealism  “Nature is god” by Tagore.  It reject the supernatural events, forces or entities, naturalism have no belief in spiritual values, divine, inspiration, intuition etc,  are illusions of the mislead human mind.  Sensory  experiences are more important than abstract thinking.  Mind is subordinate to matter.  It is a function of brain.  Mind and its process can be studied through senses.  Science is the source of soul & knowledge.  Matter under go changes.  These changes are governed by laws & nature.  Laws & nature are unchangeable  and the while universe is governed by them.

A I M S   O F   E D U C A T I O N

The general aim would be ‘self expression ‘  or “unfolding of the self ” according to naturalism the original nature of the child is good.  The naturalists who consider man as a  good machine would like to make the human machine a good machine by attending to its construction by elaborating it and making it capable of doing more and more complicated tasks.  The second aim would be self preservation that is   individual aim. Education should enable the child to preserve and protect his body. Then third would be to put the individual harmony with his environment and to make him adjust with the environment most effectively.  It gives complete freedom for the individual  and permits no control of any kind.  Percy Nunn advocated the free and full development of the individuality of each child.  The next one is struggle for existences.  Education should prepare the child for the struggle of his existence and thus to ensure his survival.

C U R R I C U L U M

Naturalism based curriculum would be flexible, it is based up on the psychology of the child, like expends on their age and development.  It should not rigid curriculum.  Earlier stages ply, stories, music are the lesions.  Then child come to be developed stage enter in to subjects from sensory experiences to learning experiences.  The subjects are basic science physiology, Biology, physics, chemistry, Home science etc.,  Then come in to physical education such as sports games etc.  Then study of past experiences is included in this curriculum.  Naturalists like Spencer, Huxley etc.  stresses the importance of studying past experiences of the race as it explain the origin of the present.

Methods of teaching

Naturalistic method of teaching emerged out of a revolt against the old traditional and bookish methods of teaching where the child had little role in the teaching learning process.  Rousseau said that “ Burn the books and break the walls.  Here allow observation, experimentation, learning by doing, self education, play way method, heuristic method.

Play is natural activity of the child and hence play – way is the method of learning, in naturalism.  Play way not stressed to play, it is the method of learning which promote sprit of joyous, spontaneous, creative and active activity.

Learning by doing activities that way child will get effective and meaningful learning.  Learning by observing and learning by observing are other way of methods child performs certain tasks for getting results.

Heuristic method for learning through self directed activity; learner encouraged to learn by discovering things for himself.

Discipline

Naturalism said that discipline means to give full freedom.  It gives maximum freedom for children’s expansion.  No external discipline, Discipline by natural consequences, No expressionistic measure, Discipline through self government.

We give the child to freedom to do allow wrong thinks.  And leaned by doing wrong thinks.  And the consequences faced themselves.  Naturalists disapprove the practice of giving punishment of children the doctrine of natural consequence will work in discipline the child.  It the child breaks the window pane of his room he should not be punished physically.  The individual’s freedom is curtailed when its affects others.

According to naturalists, students self government with the rules and regulations framed with the consent of all is the best means to regulate the conduct of pupils in schools.  Children should learn about the right and duties of citizenship through participation in such a society and not through lectures.  Blocking of natural interest  and energies would lead to  poor mental health.  Positive attitude to the nature should be develop a good children or individual.

ROLE OF TEACHER

·         Teacher not interfering the children’s interest.

·         Teacher should be wire puller.

·         The teacher  is merely a stage setter or manager proving opportunities, conditions, 

Facilities, etc.  for the natural development of the child.

·         Teachers duty is to guide the child in the process of learning, rather than to pour in information and ideas.

·         Teacher in the Montessori and such other nursery school is often qualified as director.

·         Teacher should be promoter, supporter, wire puller.

·         Teacher as an observer and facilitator.

Contribution of Naturalism of Education

·         Naturalism encourage self education.

·         The emphasis of naturalism in education is the development of child according to his natural interest, inclinations, aptitudes and capacities.  This view gave an impetus to the development of child psychology and introduction of psychological and sociological tendencies in the field of education.

·         The great importance attached  by the naturalists to the social tendency  of the child in education gave birth to the scientific  study of society and social process.

·         Naturalism has shifted from a subject centered curriculum to an experience centered curriculum which is essential need of modern life society.

·         Practical methods of teaching such as learning by doing, heuristic method, diatom  plan, play way method, observation method, Montessori method etc, are contributions $ naturalism.

·         Naturalism helped to set forth the individuality, activity, and freedom of the learner as the basis of educational process.

Limitation of Naturalism in Education

·         Naturalism in its extreme form neglects books.  It is very difficult to assume that we can neglect books, especially in view of the explosion of knowledge.

·         Physical nature alone is not sufficient for providing education.

·         Absolute freedom to child is a myth.  It cannot exist child cannot be allowed freedom to hang himself.

·         Naturalism ignores the higher ends in the process of education.

·         It is very difficult to find naturalistic surrounding for location educational institutions.

·         Naturalism assigns very little importance to the teacher.

Naturalistic Tendency in Education

Naturalism, has been a great force in bringing about ‘ renaissance ‘ in education.  As a protest against the rigidity and formality of school education as naturalistic form of education resents a refreshing humanistic attitude towards learning and methods of instruction.

Naturalism promote negative education.  It threw away books. Naturalism  prefer to study the nature.  Here nature is the text books and environment is the lesions to be learn

           SANDHYA.N

NATURAL SCIENCE