The Eastern and the Western Philosophy

The Eastern and the Western philosophy have both influenced the life of people.Both thoughts made vast contributions in different fields and domains.

The Eastern philosophy started around 5000 years ago.The Eastern philosophy is mostly found in countries located in the east of Asia like China.Japan,India,Iran and Mediterranean countries.The Eastern philosophy stresses on the importance of morals.It calls for harmony and stability. The religion and the philosophy are mostly attached.The eastern philosophy refuses conflict and causing harm to others.They even prefer to preserve the traditions and to keep the status quo. (A History of Eastern Philosophy, 2016)They easterners care about communities and group as well.

The Western philosophy started in 6 BC.It is mainly based on three principles: change, development and competition. The philosophy of west leans toward change .In west,they are in favor for conflict .The westerners don’t try to find a common ground.They call for individualism. The Western philosophy is based on logic and the use of reasoning.In addition,the religion and philosophy are detached. (Eastern Vs.Western philosophy and metaphysics)

Now the question is :Is the Lebanese educational system is more in favor to the eastern philosophy or western philosophy?

Changes in the Curriculum

The new Lebanese curriculum is established in 1997.The new curriculum calls for change in terms of teaching and learning .The new curriculum is stressing on the importance of cooperative learning and cooperations.The curriculum clearly invites the teacher to change the class to be a student-centered classroom.The curriculum wants the students to be self-independent individuals. The new curriculum recommends the new teachers to imply meaningful learning while teaching. The new curriculum is calling to design activities to enhance the oral communications skills among the students.The new curriculum is calling the teachers to enhance their communications skills so the students can enhance their ability to communicate effectively.The new curriculum wants to develop the logical and reasoning skills of the students. (Principles Underlying The Curriculum) (Studies, 2006)

There are many changes in the curriculum .

Cooperative learning enhances the students ‘relationship and it helps to create a peaceful learning environment. Despite the fact that the new Lebanese curriculum has clearly invited the teachers and the educational institutions in Lebanon to use cooperative learning in schools, but we can clearly see that there are few schools are starting to using cooperative learning.For instance ,Dr Rasha Halat,an instructor at Lebanese International University and an English teacher at JubJanin High school,used coopetive learning in her teaching process..However few schools are starting to integrate the idea of cooperation among the students.

Physical punishment was widely used in the Lebanese schools. The ministry of education in Lebanon prohibited the use of physical punishment in 1974.. Although the Lebanese law was very clear but many teachers in Lebanon are somehow relying on the traditional methods in punishment . Bill Van Esveld, claims that 76 percent of schoolchildren in Lebanon have been physically punished by teachers. (Middle East schools struggle to stamp out physical punishment, n.d.)

Making an error is considered to be a sign of development in the west.However in Lebanon making errors is a sign of weaknesses.The majority of Lebanese teachers mock the students who make mistakes and they even shout at the student.

The new curriculum is calling for a change in terms of how to teach. Meaningful learning is starting to be widely use in Lebanese school. Last year I observed in kindergarten school, the teacher always used concrete materials, pictures, songs and posters. These methods reflected positively on how the student learned new concepts .It helps them grasp the information in their mind for long term.

Although the use of technology is still primitive in Lebanon but there are many schools like East-Wood school (Khoury, 2018) and school of Broumana. are implementing technology .The technology is helping many students to find answers and do researches. In universities the technology is widely use. As an illustration instructors communicate with us online.

Both culture the east and west focused on moral and ethics.In Lebanon there are a major focus on social skills .We were taught not to lie, not to fight,and not to steal things.They told us to speak politely and use good words.We were taught to share things with our friends.They also read for us folk stories to learn important lessons in life .

The educational institutions have changed a lot nowadays. The Lebanese schools are not hiring except teacher with degrees with a minimum two years of experience. In the past ,teachers were used to teach even if they don’t carry a degree.

The educational institution are promoting the teachers to update their knowledge.They are inviting the teachers to attend workshops so they can update their knowledge..In Omar Mukhtar Educational Center they made many workshop to enhance the teaching practices of the teacher.

From 40 year , there was no counselor in any Lebanese school.Nowadays,the Lebanese educational intuitions are hiring many counselors to help the students with psychological problems. (Mukallid, Alamuddin, & Ayyash-Abdo, 2010).

After scanning all these examples mentioned above we can conclude that:

Lebanon is influenced from both philosophies.

In Lebanon ,the religion and philosophy are strongly attached to each other.In Lebanon we have 18 religion .Religion has an influence on our educational system we are more to the eastern philosophy.

Despite the fact the Lebanese educational system has changed a lot.For instance ,the Lebanese curriculum has changed and even the Lebanese schools and their educational policies have changed a lot but we can’t deny that these changes are “theoretical changes”.The teachers,who are supposed to be the agents of change,aren’t fully committed to what the curriculum has stated.The Lebanese teachers prefer to stay on the safe side.They like stability..Although some teachers are starting to do a vast changes but the numbers of those teachers are countable

No society is static.Each society is changing. Changes are happening at a very low rate in Lebanon.I can deduce that Lebanon is more in favor to the east more to the west.The practices are changing somehow but in very low tempo. (Ololube & Uriah, THE NATURE OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING, 2013)

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Faryadi, Q. (2015). An Islamic Perspective of Teaching Philosophy:A Personal Justification. Journal of Research and Method in Education, 49-60.

Hassan, A., & Jamaludin, N. S. (2010). Approaches and Values in Two Gigantic Educational Philosophies:East and West. Retrieved from Semantic scholar: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/deb8/f98dc08a7e117ca382c251e8582ecde6ffe2.pdf

How Does Education Facilitate Social Change? (n.d.). Retrieved from A resreach Guide for Students: https://www.aresearchguide.com/education-facilitate-social-change.html

Introduction:Principle Underlying the Curriculum. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Center for Educational Research and Development : https://www.crdp.org/curr-content-desc?id=21

Khoury, G. (2018, April 26). A Progressive French System. Retrieved from Eastwood Schools: https://eastwoodschools.com/progressive-french-system/

Khoury-Mikhael, V., Abou Jaoudeh, G., & Saleh, J. (2014, 12 12). Education in Lebanon. Retrieved from DIDAR Lebanon: uccblog.dk/didar/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/Education-in-Lebanon.pdf

Mark, E. (2016, 1 17). Similarities between Eastern and Western Philosophy. Retrieved from Ancient History Encyclopedia: https://www.ancient.eu/article/855/similarities-between-eastern--western-philosophy/

Middle East schools struggle to stamp out physical punishment. (n.d.). Retrieved from ArabNews: https://www.arabnews.com/node/1514396/middle-east

Mukallid, S., Alamuddin, R., & Ayyash-Abdo, H. (2010). School Counseling in Lebanon:Past,Present,and Future. Journal of Counseling and Development, 13-17. Retrieved from http://www.ircep.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ACAJCD_88_01_Win10article04.pdf

Ololube, N. P., Uriah, O. A., & Agbor, C. N. (2013). . . January 2013, Vol. 1(1), 49-58 49 THE NATURE OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING. International Journal of Educational Foundations and Management, 49-58.