PHILOSOPHIES AND ISSUES 1
EDUC 771– Curriculum Theory (CURRICULUM CHANGE PLAN:
CURRICULUM CHANGE PLAN: PART 2 - PHILOSOPHIES AND ISSUES
FOR CHANGE CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY) 2026 Liberty University
Curriculum Change Plan: Part 2 - Philosophies and Issues for Change
School of Education, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Email:
Word Count (body only): [####]
Curriculum Change Plan: Part 2 - Philosophies and Issues for Change
Curriculum Philosophy
, PHILOSOPHIES AND ISSUES 2
People learn how to understand and deal with their feelings, make strong connections
with others, set goals, and make smart choices through social and emotional learning (CASEL,
2025). The curriculum philosophy that best fits social and emotional learning is pragmatism.
“Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the role of personal experience in
shaping understanding and truth” (Smith, 2021). Pragmatism aligns with social and emotional
learning because it helps students use their experiences to build practical skills for dealing with
real-life challenges. This way of thinking shows that learning works best when it connects to
students’ everyday experiences and is useful in their lives. Pragmatism helps with social and
emotional learning through real-life situations, which improves their understanding of feelings
and relationships. This method encourages students to actively learn by trying out different ways
to handle their emotions and solve problems. Pragmatism emphasizes hands-on experiences,
helping students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for making
responsible decisions. Pragmatism began in the late 1800s with thinkers such as Charles Sanders
Peirce, William James, and John Dewey (Candiotto & Dreon, 2021). These philosophers
highlighted that the truth of an idea is shaped by how it works in real life and its practical
benefits. Over time, pragmatism has changed to focus more on learning through experience and
being flexible, which makes it a perfect fit for educational approaches like social and emotional
learning (Candiotto & Dreon, 2021).
When educators bring practical approaches into social and emotional learning, they can
build a lively classroom that meets the unique needs of every student. This method helps learners
think about their experiences, leading to a better understanding of their feelings and how to
handle them well. Additionally, when students use practical strategies in everyday situations,
they build resilience and adaptability. This helps them gain the skills they need to handle the
EDUC 771– Curriculum Theory (CURRICULUM CHANGE PLAN:
CURRICULUM CHANGE PLAN: PART 2 - PHILOSOPHIES AND ISSUES
FOR CHANGE CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY) 2026 Liberty University
Curriculum Change Plan: Part 2 - Philosophies and Issues for Change
School of Education, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Email:
Word Count (body only): [####]
Curriculum Change Plan: Part 2 - Philosophies and Issues for Change
Curriculum Philosophy
, PHILOSOPHIES AND ISSUES 2
People learn how to understand and deal with their feelings, make strong connections
with others, set goals, and make smart choices through social and emotional learning (CASEL,
2025). The curriculum philosophy that best fits social and emotional learning is pragmatism.
“Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the role of personal experience in
shaping understanding and truth” (Smith, 2021). Pragmatism aligns with social and emotional
learning because it helps students use their experiences to build practical skills for dealing with
real-life challenges. This way of thinking shows that learning works best when it connects to
students’ everyday experiences and is useful in their lives. Pragmatism helps with social and
emotional learning through real-life situations, which improves their understanding of feelings
and relationships. This method encourages students to actively learn by trying out different ways
to handle their emotions and solve problems. Pragmatism emphasizes hands-on experiences,
helping students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for making
responsible decisions. Pragmatism began in the late 1800s with thinkers such as Charles Sanders
Peirce, William James, and John Dewey (Candiotto & Dreon, 2021). These philosophers
highlighted that the truth of an idea is shaped by how it works in real life and its practical
benefits. Over time, pragmatism has changed to focus more on learning through experience and
being flexible, which makes it a perfect fit for educational approaches like social and emotional
learning (Candiotto & Dreon, 2021).
When educators bring practical approaches into social and emotional learning, they can
build a lively classroom that meets the unique needs of every student. This method helps learners
think about their experiences, leading to a better understanding of their feelings and how to
handle them well. Additionally, when students use practical strategies in everyday situations,
they build resilience and adaptability. This helps them gain the skills they need to handle the
