Running Head: EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY 1
Educational Philosophy Essay
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Educational Philosophy Essay
Ever since I stepped into a classroom, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. Learning how to make the right choices, discovering something new, and becoming a child’s friend and role model are some of the many reasons why I want to become a teacher. A teacher has numerous responsibilities when teaching her children. They are supposed to guide the child and help them grow knowledgeable and become respected people. Life’s necessities are taught in kindergarten. A person learns how to say “please” and “thank you,” how to share, speak correctly and also how to read and write in school. I have always pictured myself shaping a child’s future and being a part of the process that helps them decide who they want to become in life.
Throughout the course, I have discovered that there are many beliefs in the way children should be taught or what they should be taught. The way I would describe my teaching philosophy is through methods like hands-on learning, classroom debates, group work and also, through experience. This teaching method has always helped me gain problem-solving skills and become a resourceful person in society. I believe that if most students were to work this way, then they would become more successful when it comes to their education. In this paper, I discuss three theories that have influenced my educational philosophy which are Essentialism, Perennialism, and Progressivism.
Essentialism is a theory developed by William Bagley which “strives to teach students the accumulated knowledge of our civilization through core courses in the traditional academic disciplines” (Zittleman & Sadker, 2015). Essentialism strives to introduce difficult topics to the mind of a student progressively. Once a concept is imparted in their minds, the student then graduates to the next level. Essentialism focuses on preserving the history of the society rather than changing it (Lynch, 2016). Essentialism is essential in teaching how various laws came into place in our country. Therefore, I would use this theory in teaching subjects like the history of our nation and the constitution to the students.
Perennialism is another theory of education that was developed by Robert Hutchins. According to Robert, perennialism focuses on the organization of schools around books, ideas, and concepts (Zittleman & Sadker, 2015). This philosophy holds that certain concepts transcend time, that is, some works written long ago are still important and relevant today. Perennialism’s primary focus is on developing a person that can think and reason critically (Lynch, 2016). In my teaching practice, this concept applies in areas like physics, for instance, where the works of scientists like Isaac Newton are still relevant today although they were written a long time ago. Also, perennialism is pertinent to my teaching practice since the world needs people who can think rationally and critically to offer solutions to the various problems that the society faces today.
So far, the two theories discussed above have all been teacher-centered. Progressivism, however, is a student-centered philosophy. According to Zittleman & Sadker (2015), “Progressivism organizes schools around the concerns, curiosity, and real-world experiences of students.” Theorist John Dewey developed this philosophy. According to an article by Josh, O. (2018), the most crucial aspects of a developing student are self-expression and self-identity which can be developed through social interactions (Josh, O. 2018).
Progressivism is the teaching philosophy that I agree with the most. Much like me, Dewey proposed that students learn best from their social interactions and problem-solving. The way a teacher conducts a classroom and helps their students learn shows just how much they care. The way I was taught as a child was through all five educational philosophies, but the most effective one for me was the progressivism philosophy. When the student understands that the teacher cares about his or her welfare, the student becomes more willing to learn new concepts and always anticipates to interact with the teacher. When I become a teacher, I will most likely use this student-centered philosophy and help my students progress and learn to love school just as much as I do.
In conclusion, a student’s willingness to learn and his or her ability to retain the concepts mainly depends on how these concepts are delivered. Teachers should opt for more student-centered approaches to impart knowledge.
References
Josh, O. (2018). The Negative Effects of Social Media for Teens. Smart Social. Retrieved 25 January 2019, from https://smartsocial.com/negative-effects-of-social-media/
Zittleman, K., & Sadker, D. M. (2015). Teachers, Schools, and Society: A Brief Introduction to Education. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Lynch M. (2016). Philosophies of Education: 2 Types of Teacher-Centered Philosophies – The Advocate. The Advocate. Retrieved 25 January 2019, from https://www.theedadvocate.org/philosophies-education-2-types-teacher-centered-philosophies/