SEMINAR ON ECLECTIC TENDENCY IN EDUCATION

ECLECTIC TENDENCY IN EDUCATION

Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple styles, or gain ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases. An eclectic approach in education is one that seeks to combine the best elements of different schools of philosophy. The fusion or synthesis of diverse philosophies to answer educational enigmas is known as eclectic tendency in education.

Need for Eclectic Tendency in Education

Philosophy has got a powerful impact on education. No philosophy stands out exclusively. They are interdependent. The aim of modern education is the balanced, integrated and coordinated development of the whole child. Education should prepare the individual to face the challenges of life and contribute constructively to human race. To achieve this, the educational system should receive inspiration from the cumulative experiences of whole race and make a synthesis between the merits in all the ideologies. An eclectic tendency in needed in any worthwhile system of education because of the following reasons:

1.  No philosophy is complete in itself: No single philosophy can invariably be applied to all the educational situations. This necessitates borrowing good elements of other philosophies to solve educational problems.

2.   It is not safe to stick to one ideology: The world is fast changing. Educational values change with changing world. So any good educational system should be dynamic and flexible in its outlook.

3.    Quest for harmonizing various educational philosophies: Since the main concern of all educational ideologies is the educand, it has become imperative to make an agreement among different philosophies to reach the goal safely.  

4. Eclecticism ensures social cohesion: The synthesis and fusion of diverse thoughts and practices for attaining a greater degree of social consistency and unity in any field. This is more so in educational system.

5    Eclecticism is imperative: Humanity is advancing fast ahead. This advancement is possible by the permissiveness of those disciplines which often infringe their borders and make consensus with other disciplines.

6.    Democracy in education demand eclecticism: A mixing of prevailing ideologies is essential for meetings the educational needs and realizing the life dreams of all segments of people in a democratic society. Thus, a philosophical system, to be practical and functional, has to pull down the barricades that separate them from one another and find an operational agreement with regard to different aspects.