047 PROGRESSIVE ECLECTICISM
Progressive Eclecticism is a progressive approach to education that recognizes the inherent value of traditional philosophies, beliefs and approaches to education, as applied to the objectives, content and methodology of learning.
As a progressive philosophy of education, it highlights the importance of the holistic development of each learner.
It stresses the need for the empowerment of the learner through the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills, values formation, and the inculcation of lifelong learning habits.
It however also recognizes the importance of academic rigor and the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills that are essential to living in the 21st century and becoming productive members of 21st century society.
As such, it espouses a healthy balance between what the learner has to learn and what the learner wants to learn. Moreover, it means that even while the learner is afforded a lot of freedom and empowerment in defining the learning process and objective, it also acknowledges the need for having prescribed standards for both the process and the objective.
Progressive Eclecticism, as defined here, serves as the foundation of our Educator Empowerment Program (EEP). As a philosophy of education, it guides us in everything we do under the banner of the EEP to help improve teaching and learning in the classroom and make quality reforms possible in K-12 schools.