Arnold G.

Onia Education 200 Reaction Paper

REALISM

Realism holds that reality, knowledge and value exist independent of the human mind. Its most important concept is of independence, thus trees, stones, stick exist whether there is human mind to conceive them. Human adapting to its environment is thrust of the philosophy of realism. Adaptability and conformity seem to be the order of the day for the realists. Call it compliance or subservience, but it breeds discipline. Discipline especially in the matters of rules and regulations, of laws both written and unwritten, of tradition, of conduct, is necessary to maintain social control and social order. The cure to social unrest brought about by the

disobedience of the people to the letters of the law is the discipline that realists advocate. I agree in this aspect. However, I am not one with the Realists devotion to preconceived standards. Take this example: every learner, from elementary to tertiary have to pass a standardized test to prove they had learned from the curriculum (of course the curriculum is prepared to cater to the needs of vested groups who in the first place lobbied for its enacted by the house of congress) set by the government before it can proceed to enroll to the next higher level. Those who flunk the test have to be contended to vocational or non-formal education. Again, education becomes a privilege, which is supposedly a right. Even professionals have to pass standardized test to be able to get an employment. This problem of conformity is that, so little room is left for the cultivation of the critical mindedness of the students. So little room is left to develop the artist and scientist in every learner. So little room is left for the advancement of academic freedom. History tells us that great men need not to conform to standards and ideals. They set their own standards and ideals. Realists should realize that with its strict compliance to meet standards, it exterminate the aspiration of learner to learn outside the box, to be free of almost robotic routines. Realists should see to it that A is not only for apple and B is for Banana. A is also for atis and B is also for balimbing.