Take Home Examination in SPE542M

1. The educational philosophies of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Rudolf Steiner, Johann

Pestalozzi, and Friedrich Froebel greatly influenced the teaching of Special Education.
a) Who borrowed (or was influenced by) whose philosophy and how? 5 points
-The key note of Jean Jacques Rousseau philosophy is termed Naturalism. He
believes that Goodness was innate and evil is acquired. He believe that we
should leave the child alone and let him live in a state of nature and he will
undergo his natural development. He believes in the innate tendencies of the child
and the importance of contact in nature. Johann Heinrich Pestalozzis
philosophy was influence by Rousseau. Pestalozzi believes the importance of
developing the the natural faculties of the child
Like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzis philosophy of
education emphasized that children are naturally good and only become evil when
they are corrupted by society rather than by a weak nature.
Friedrich Froebel was Pestalozzi student. He accepted the basic principles of
Pestalozzi theory like permissive school atmosphere, the importance of nature and
object lesson. However, he strongly believes that education is related religion. He
viewed man in his eternal existence. Same with Froebel, Robert Steiner believes
in the spiritual dimension of the child. He focuses on the moral dimension of the
child.