Existentialism

Filled with computers, books, and hands-on materials, the existentialist classroom is devoted to individual student development and creative expression. Existentialism adds metaphysical meaning to the classroom. Students learn material that is meaningful to them personally; they do not feel, as they do in other classrooms, that what they learn will have no bearing on the real world. Moreover, existentialist learning touches the very core of their existence, and helps them discover the meaning of life from their own perspective. Teachers offer reading materials they feel might be valuable in stimulating the students' level of inquiry. Books are not selected from an established canon of classics, but can also include modern sources that the teacher finds helpful. The humanities are emphasized in the existential classroom, but not necessarily at the expense of the sciences. However, when science or math is taught the teacher makes ample reference to metaphysical ideas to underscore the relevance of such subjects.

Methods of teaching in the existentialist classroom include the Socratic process of dialogue, in which students and teachers engage in meaningful intellectual conversations. The students can also engage in brainstorming sessions with each other or with the teacher. The teacher acts as a facilitator, not as an authority figure. He or she helps each student reach personal self-realization. Students learn skills that are not just useful for the purposes of standardized testing, but skills that make them better people. Therefore, philosophy, ethics, and socialization are stressed as being integral to the learning process. Teachers deal with behavioral problems by directly confronting students and asking them to discover the underlying causes for their misbehavior.

The teacher helps students achieve their fullest potential as individuals and encourage uniqueness. Therefore, students who are weak in certain areas are encouraged to come out in whatever area they are comfortable or talented in. Students are not forced to conform to an ideal of intellectual achievement, and are not expected to completely master one specific area of study, such as Shakespeare or algebra. Rather, Shakespeare and algebra are small parts of a larger and broader curriculum.

Works Cited

'Existentialism." Online at .

'Existentialism." (2005). Wikipedia. Online at .

Wyatt, C.S. (2005). "Existential Primer." Online at .