My Personal Philosophy of Education Essay

A large part of my educational philosophy is based on the fundamentals of Progressivism. This philosophy, founded by John Dewey, organizes schools around the concerns, curiosity, and real world experiences of students. I agree with these ideas because people must continually learn to keep up with today’s fast paced world. I believe that when learning is relevant and enjoyable students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. Progressivism has respect for individuality, a high regard for science, and a receptivity to change that I feel is critical to successful education. As a Progressive teacher I will facilitate learning by helping students formulate meaningful questions and devise strategies to answer those questions. In my opinion, answers are best discovered through real world experience, especially hands on learning or pragmatism. I believe that there is a time and place for book-learning; however, there is no substitute for actually doing things. I

To be an effective educator, I believe one must have a foundation of moral and ethical principles. An educator should support the learning environment, while being flexible and teachable. He or she must also lay a foundation of beliefs on how individuals learn, seeking to enable individuals to reach their optimal potential. My personal educational philosophy begins with believing all children are unique individuals, with different emotions and different styles of learning. An educator has the incredible challenge of attempting to meet those needs. As an educator, I believe all children deserve the opportunity and resources that would better enable them to reach their maximum potential.

For me, the decision to become a teacher is more of a way of life than a career. I have always loved school, practicing at being school marm from a young age, and voraciously devouring every shred of education offered me in my career as a student. If it were possible, I would be a student for the rest of my life. And then I still would not have learned enough. As a teacher, I hope to instill this appetite for knowledge in secondary students. They are, after all, the future leaders of the world, and what better place to expand the minds of the generations to come than here in Appalachia where education programs, especially the sciences, which I plan to teach, are poorly funded and children’s dreams

However, leaders such John Dewey, Mother Jones, Florence Kelly, etc. brought on a new social idea, progressivism. Progressivism is is a philosophy based on the idea of progress, which asserts that advancement in science, technology, economic development, and social organization are vital to improve the human condition.

Education serves as the foundation to a lifetime of learning. Since every child is unique, I believe that it is important for them to learn in an environment that is both secure and stimulating. By creating this type of atmosphere, the students will be able to realize their intelligence and use it constructively. As a future educator, it will be my goal to establish a classroom that is, 1) non-authoritarian, 2) student-centered, and 3) focused around student experience. These three elements are part of Progressivism, the educational philosophy I plan to incorporate in my classroom.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Angelou, 2009) This is a truth that I have witnessed firsthand. As a child, at the tender age of seven years, I was blessed with an educator, Mrs. Cager, whose commitment to her students was so profound until I have never forgotten her. She made me feel like I was the most important person in her classroom. Her encouraging words instilled a level of confidence within me that I still cling to and apply more than 40 years later. Her commitment is directly responsible for my personal philosophy of education also being commitment.

Education entails individual human development in the cognitive, emotional, creative and social areas. All children are entitled to a free education regardless of race, cultural background or handicaps. For education to be an effective part of the students life, the student and teacher must be actively and enthusiastically involved in learning. A teacher needs to be well prepared and organized. They need to know the perspective goals for each student and ways to achieve these goals. Teachers need to work with students to help them grow and develop ways to use their knowledge.

Education is not only for classroom purposes but it extends into the workforce because it is important to make a living. Education should help us appreciate life more by giving us the power to do things and have personal fulfillment. Developing a good education involves problem-solving, creativity, curiosity and criticism. I have learned that it is

Regardless of the factors that determine the nature of students, I feel the purpose of education is to make sure every student has the ability to live up to his or her full potential. I also feel every student should have the chance to learn and excel through education. When I become a teacher, I will make sure each of my students receives the knowledge they need and has the opportunity to grow during the learning process. I never want a student to leave my classroom and say, “I didn’t learn anything today.” I hope for

As the Industrial Revolution ushered modernity into America, new schools of thought came along with it. Among these schools, and arguably the most popular was the Progressive Movement, which sought to undo the unintended consequences of rapid technological and social development. The idea of reform at all levels of society to improve the quality of life for everyone captivated minds, especially that of John Dewey, who sought to apply the progressive philosophy to the classroom.

"Some people make things happen, some watch while things happen, and some wonder ‘what happened?’ Which type of person are you?" author unknown.

John Dewey, founder of progressivism, denounced the scholarly and classical school of curriculum. Dewey thought children should not be taught what to think but how to think through a 'continuous reconstruction of experience.' This implies that children learn best

Progressivism will also be a part of my classroom. The world is constantly changing and as a part of the world we must be able to change with it as John Dewey, the man responsible for the success of progressivism, realized. Dewey relied on the scientific method to develop his ideas and found that books are no substitute for actually doing and experiencing in the learning process. I agree with Dewey on this point because in my classroom I plan to allow students to experience as much as they can first hand. Actually, being part of or performing an experiment helps to teach students because they are able to apply what they are learning to the real world. This ties in with the essentialist philosophy as well as the behaviorist philosophy. Progressivism also encourages social interaction between all students. Learning social skills is an important part of the learning process in school because this is one of the skills that the students will need in the world after school. Having activities and lab experiments in the classroom will encourage the growth of social skills.

Education is the process of learning that can take place anywhere and at any time. I believe that creativity and activity as well as books and lessons are essential to the learning process. As a teacher, I hope to instill in the children a sense of knowledge and self-worth that will remain with them throughout their lives.

I am becoming a teacher because I know I can make a difference in the lives of my students. I will be a positive influence in their lives in both the classroom and the outside world. I will be there to show them support educationally, in their extra -curricular activities, and when needed the social world of school. I want my work as their teacher to make an impact on their lives and open up their eyes to all the opportunities that are available to them. I believe that every child can succeed when given the right tools, knowledge and a teacher who truly believes in them. I believe that the circumstances one is born into shouldn 't dictate their chances for success, and I believe that a strong education system is essential for America to