Download Kaitlyn Jones Philosophy of Education Course Identification

Kaitlyn Jones
Philosophy of Education
Course Identification Information
Dr. McJunkin
12/8/14
Teaching is a privilege. Teachers have the power to influence young people and shape the
malleable minds we call children. This is something that only the best should have the power to
do. How a teacher teaches can either foster a love of learning in a child or create a dislike for all
things academic. A teacher needs to love her students, but she also needs to have other skills in
her toolbox. My favorite teachers were always the ones who loved knowledge and who pushed
me to learn more than I thought possible. I will strive to be this kind of teacher, one who makes
learning even mundane things interesting.
I believe that purpose of education is to empower young people by teaching them to think
for themselves. Realizing that everyone is unique and has different beliefs, I don’t think that
indoctrinating young people in the public school system represents democracy. Facts should be
taught, facts about politics and different religions and current events, without the bias of an
instructor. Cultivating a love for learning must start with discovering one’s opinions for himself.
Of course, teaching elementary students to think for themselves will look much different than
teaching high school students to do so. I think in elementary school this process starts by giving
students critical thinking problems, letting them solve them, and then defending their result.
Because we are privileged to live in a democratic society, as a teacher I will treat all of
my students as equals, despite the differences they may have in socioeconomic status, race,
religion etc. I think that it is these differences that make us interesting. I want to not only treat
them the same, but also show them that they should value the things that make them different.
Our country is a melting pot of people who are vastly different- maybe that’s why we have been
successful for so long! We have many different views and ideas with which we can solve
problems.
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Although I do not agree that “the needs of the individual are more important than the
needs of society” (Ryan, 300), I do agree with romanticism in that the needs of each individual
child are important. In the classroom there will be incredibly bright students who need to work at
a higher level, students who struggle with simple work who need help, and those in between. It
will be my responsibility to find lessons that will help all of them learn. These lessons must also
be culturally responsive, meaning that I should incorporate literature from other countries, and
use both visual and auditory teaching styles. These things ensure that students, who all learn
differently, learn easier. Using these things will also help create a positive teaching-learning
environment. By learning about their different backgrounds and by learning through a style that
comes naturally to them, all the students should realize that their differences are good things that
will help them succeed if they embrace them.
I believe that curriculum in elementary schools has a duty to help children develop
physically, mentally, and socially. I will provide a balanced curriculum that will help students
develop in these areas. Things I would like to work on are problem-solving skills, like mentioned
earlier, and moral understanding. Problem solving skills can be incorporated through real-world
problems and moral understanding through social stories. Although I do believe the school has a
responsibility to help a child develop in these areas, I believe that the child also needs support
from their home and community as well. Cooperation between home, school, and community is
vital for the child to grow and develop.
Classroom management is a vital part to the student’s learning experience. If the room is
noisy and disruptive, chances are the student won’t learn. So in order to put learning first in my
classroom, I will enforce the rules and be up and moving often. I think both of these things are
important because of personal experiences and because Dave Foley, a writer for the National
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Educational Association, suggests this in an article on classroom management. Enforcing the
rules means that students know they will be punished for misbehaving so they are more likely to
follow the rules. And being up walking around helps a teacher see everything that’s going on
instead of being focused on grading papers at her desk. Students know when the teacher is
distracted so they can misbehave.
Those Who Can, Teach has several different teaching models that will be useful to me as
a teacher. I think that using stations and problem-based learning would be helpful to students and
to me. In stations students could work together, gaining social skills, and I could circulate the
classroom to assist them. As I mentioned earlier, teaching students to have problem-solving
skills is very important to me, so I think using problem-based learning, or placing “students in an
active role of solving problems” (Ryan, 151), is a great idea! I would also like to incorporate
time into the lesson for individual instruction, where I can help them one-on-one with questions
they have. I think that helping students one-on-one is very effective and ensures they understand
the material, even though I know it’s not possible to do this often.
The best way of assessing student learning is something that is being debated over a lot
these days. Teachers don’t like standardized testing, but that’s how we’re supposed to assess
student learning. I think that students should be able to “apply knowledge rather than… store it
in their minds” (Ryan, 400) which is the definition of authentic assessment. When giving out
grades, I would like to be able to look at student capabilities and compare them with student
effort. This would require knowing my students well, but I think that the result would be students
making their best effort on every assignment.
There are points to all four educational theories that I could agree with. I agree with
Aristotle’s essentialism in that it’s important to learn “what will help a person live a productive
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life today” (Ryan, 296) and that it’s important to see the world around you in order to learn from
it. But progressivism and romanticism are probably the philosophies that fit me best. Looking
back on my philosophy, I have made it clear that I think problem solving and thinking for oneself
is important. This would align with the beliefs of progressivism. And both romanticism and
progressivism note that “a well educated person does not necessarily have a definite body of
knowledge; rather, a well-educated person is able to function well in society and life” (Ryan,
299). It is these statements that make me most compatible with romanticism and progressivism.
I’m sure my philosophy will evolve throughout the continuation of my education and as I gain
experience in the classroom. I can’t wait to teach. Teaching is a responsibility to our future
leaders and a privilege that I cannot wait to be a part of.
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Works Cited
Foley, D. 6 Classroom Management Tips Every Teacher Can Use. (n.d) retrieved 12/07/2014,
from nea.org Web Site: http://www.nea.org/tools/51721.htm
Ryan, K. & Cooper, J. M. (2011). Those Who Can, Teach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
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