Essentialism education appeared in the late 1930s, which is the opposite of pragmatism education and progressivism education. 1938 "Essentialists Promote american council on education" established in the United States is the symbol of the formation of essentialist education. Representative figures are Baglai, Conant and others.

Common elements of human culture

In the inheritance of human culture, there are eternal, common and transcending time and space elements, which are the basis of national culture and racial culture.

The core of school education

In a democratic society, school education should be used to "make each generation have the common core of ideas, meanings, understanding and ideals that represent the most precious elements of human heritage".

The core of teaching plan

The most important function of education is to maintain the highest possible common culture. Therefore, "the teaching plan of special subjects containing these elements should be the core of democratic education system", hence the name of essentialism education.

The core position of teachers

Essentialism severely criticized American progressive education, which led to the decline of American education quality. It emphasizes that the core of school education is the common element of human culture, and the teaching process must be a process of training wisdom; Students must study hard and concentrate on their studies, while emphasizing the core position of teachers in education and teaching.