Philosophy of Education: Critical Realism as an Appropriate Paradigm for a Philosophy of Education in Multicultural Contexts

Dr. Rogers’ purpose in this study is the identification of a philosophical paradigm for a Philosophy of Education that is appropriate for accomplishing citizenship education in multicultural contexts. Chapter One provides a historical overview of the field of Philosophy of Education, designed to highlight what philosophers and educators through the ages have identified as the basic goal or purpose of education-citizenship education, that is, the education of individuals prepared to participate and contribute in meaningful ways to their society. Chapter Two provides an overview of the current state and needs of our educational system given its existing and growing multicultural nature, focusing especially on the kind of training teachers at all levels need if they are to accomplish citizenship education in a multicultural context. Chapter Three provides a discussion of what Critical Realism is and demonstrates how and why it is an appropriate paradigm for accomplishing citizenship education in multicultural contexts.