Pragmatism in Education

The word Pragmatism is of Greek origin, it is the product of practical experiences of life. Pragmatism means action, from which the words practical and practice have come. It does not believe in fixed and eternal values, it is dynamic and ever-changing. Pragmatists are practical people, there is should be an experiment and its results to believe in such a truth. The emphasis of pragmatism is on action rather than on thought, thought is subordinated to action. It is made an instrument to find suitable means for action, so that’s why pragmatism is also called Instrumentalist.

Aims:

Pragmatism does not lay down any aims of education in advance. It believes that there can be no fixed aims of education. To enable the child to create values in his life is the only aim of education according to pragmatism. Also, they direct the impulses, interests, desires and abilities towards the satisfaction of the felt wants of the child in his environment. What pragmatism wants to achieve through education is the cultivation of a dynamic, adaptable mind which will be resourceful and enterprising in all situations, the mind which will have powers to create values in an unknown future.

Methods and Curriculum:

The curriculum should be framed on the basis of certain basic principles. These are utility which is the watchword of pragmatism, interest, experience and integration. The pragmatists advocate that the pupils should not be taught dead facts and theories because these may not help them to solve the problems of life. The subjects that help to solve the practical problems of life should be included in the school curriculum, particularly at the elementary stage. Purposive and socialized activities should be in the curriculum among the school subjects. The pragmatists do not allow the inclusion of cultural activities in the curriculum, because they think these activities have no practical value, but this view is somewhat narrow and biased. Pragmatic method is a Project Method which is of American origin. The most general method of a pragmatist teacher, according to Ross, is to put the child into situations with which he wants him to grapple and providing him, at the same time, with the means of dealing with them successfully.

Role of the Teacher:

According to Pragmatism a teacher is useful, a teacher is the guide and the advisor, a teacher is the helper and the prompter. His importance lies in the fact that he has to suggest suitable problems only to his students and to motivate them in such a way that they can solve the problems with tact, intelligence and cooperation. He is not required to provide raw information to the students from the textbooks.