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approach also uses field trips outside of the classroom for educational purposes. Progressive philosophy isn't center around the main goal of educating students for adulthood. Instead this approach was meant to enrich the educational growth process.

This educational philosophy can still be found in our public school systems today. It is not just limited to urban, suburbia or rural areas and can be used with all social economic classes. By using this approach our schools systems take into consideration the abilities of the whole student population. This approach is suitable for the diverse population of students that attend today's schools. In my opinion the reason for the popularity of this approach is that it incorporates the practice of various educational philosophies.

EXISTENTIALISM

A.S . Neill is perhaps the most noted influence when it comes to the existentialism philosophy being applied in a school environment. Neill helped to promote existentialism with the creation of his Summerhill School. Jean Paul Sarte along with Soren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich Nietzche helped to strengthen the popularity of the existentialism movement. Each of these famous men contributed to the belief that it was "not just the mind that needed to be educated, but the whole person."

An existentialism school didn't enforce formal education. Instead it nurtured the creativity, and individuality of the student. It was felt that in time a student would mature by themselves, and decide what direction was suitable to pursue. In an existentialist school children would be given a variety of subjects to choose from. Vocational courses were to teach the student about themselves, and not to prepare them for a future occupation. The student pursued the subject of their choice, learning method, and worked at their own pace. They received one-on-one guidance from their teacher. Existentialism was an independent study program rather than a traditional class.

In today's society we would find this approached used to some degree with home schooling. However, in the late 1960's and 1970's some private and public schools experimented with this form of learning. I was a student in one of these independent study programs in ninth grade during the seventies. At the time I was too immature to handle making my own choices. This approach to education lacks structure in the academic day. It is my feeling that most children need some form of organization to achieve academically.

BEHAVIORISM

John Watson is known

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