No, essentialists do not aim to teach students to reconstruct society. Essentialism in education focuses on transmitting a core body of knowledge and skills that are considered fundamental and timeless. This body of knowledge is often seen as representing a fixed and unchanging truth or essence. The goal is to equip students with this essential knowledge, not to encourage them to challenge or change the existing social order.
While some essentialist approaches might indirectly support the status quo, the primary aim is to cultivate a shared understanding of established knowledge and values, not to actively promote social reconstruction. That's more the domain of progressive or critical pedagogical approaches.