The Mixology of Philosophies 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

Each of the major philosophical approaches to education has merit. However, to strictly employ only one philosophy is limiting and hampers all possibility for improvement. Essentialism, progressivism, perennialism, and existentialism all contribute valid ideas to the teaching profession. I will choose to use aspects of each in varying degrees as is appropriate to different

Historical foundations of curriculum are important as we often learn from where we have been and focus on where we are growing by analyzing past journeys. We must be cautious to study the history so that we do not make the same mistakes as in the past. Furthermore, curriculum history allows us to address what society has valued as important enough to address in schools. For example, essentialism has called for reading, writing, math, foreign language, and history to be the focus of the curriculum. However, progressivism encourages curriculum to be focused on students’ needs and interests along with human affairs. Progressivism calls for subjects to be integrated and interactive. Curriculum history shows what has caused the transition and shift from common

There are five philosophies of education that make up my personal philosophy. I believe in certain aspects of every philosophy. Perennialism strives above all to develop our capacity to reason. The things of everlasting importance should be taught to people everywhere. I believe that there should be an authority figure to guide the students. The aspects of perennialism that I agree with are critical thinking, problem solving, coaching, discussion, prayer in the classroom, contemplation, and orderliness. I believe that the children should be led to use strategic thinking skills to solve problems. Moral development is included in the curriculum of perennialism. I believe children today need to be taught

The philosophical orientations that I would promote throughout the district would be both essentialism and progressivism philosophies.  My philosophy or belief for teaching and learning would be to urge teachers to use both “transmission” of knowledge and “construction” of knowledge.  I believe that it is the district responsibility to make sure that educators teach and guide students in developing basic skills and assisting students to enhance their learning by using those basic skills along with students' interests, experiences, and understandings to create

There are two educational philosophies that influence the way I want to teach in my own classroom. Essentialism and progressivism correspond to my beliefs. They both represent the values that I hold important when coming to running my future class. These philosophies interconnect to form the view of the best educational philosophy for me.

Alfie Kohn is an educator that pedagogically aligns his method of instruction with progressive education. What is progressive education? In the attempt to explain what a progressive education embodies, we must first observe the traditional approaches to education. For example, in a traditional educational setting, the teacher is the ultimate leader in the classroom. The teacher controls classroom expectations, sets rigid curriculum many times disconnected to the lived experiences of the students in the classroom, and positions a learning system in which students robotically memorize information for the sole of testing where information is merely to be regurgitated. In a couple of weeks, if days after, students do not retain this information because it lacks meaning, connection, and relevancy. Students are not able to connect to the information that they have just learned. So, we should ask ourselves, “Are our students learning for the love of learning, or learning for the purpose of testing?” Alfie Kohn in, “Progressive Education Why It’s Hard to Beat, But Also Hard to Find,” conveys progressive education as “the thoughtful school practices that include hands-on learning, multiage classrooms, and mentor-apprentice relationships.” A progressive education includes having collaborating activities with students to be able to learn from and which each other. In order to prepare our students in the 21st century, we must teach about becoming more globally conscious about the

In this paper I am discussing the social problem of education. In the present educational system, educators are not sure which method to use to teach children. Here I am reviewing four different philosophies. Which have pieces that are still used today; these scholastic theories have great controversy. The first is perennialism, this philosophy had emphasis on traditional education and spiritual growth. They believed the highest goal of education one could attain was a union with God. The second philosophy is

John Keating, a student at Welton Academy inspired his fellow classmates, to meet in caves and read challenging poetry of the past, not with flashcards, but with these words, “Now, my class, you will learn to think for yourselves again. You will learn to savor words and language. No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” Typically, students do not hear enough of this type of passion in a traditional classroom. However, a progressive classroom, be it a cave or college can inspire students to memorize facts, not because they have to, but rather because they want to for the betterment of humanity. Society desperately needs students educated in a progressive style because America needs students who realize

By design twenty-first century learning prepares students to be successful, contributing citizens in the locale of today’s global society. Twenty-first century learning requires students to understand how to learn independently and develop strong critical thinking and interpersonal communication skills (Mcleod, 2010). The principles and practices of progressive education convey a striking resemblance to the contemporary principles associated with twenty-first century learning (Little, 2013). Progressives from the twentieth century and twenty-first century educators both have focused on the particulars of schooling, teaching, instruction, and concern for the individual leaners through the curriculum (Hewitt, 2009; Little, 2013).

As an educator I need to be flexible in my teaching styles, what works one year, may not work the next, and even day to day can change. I believe that it is important that I reflect daily on what was successful and what could have gone better. I then make the adjustments to my teaching. As a whole though, my teaching approach I believe is very similar the the progressivism theory of education. “Progressivists believe that education should focus on the whole child, rather than on the content or the teacher. This educational philosophy stresses that students should test ideas by active experimentation. Learning is rooted in the questions of learners that arise through experiencing the world” (Cohen, 1999). In Knight (2008) he states that “Children have a natural desire to learn and discover things about the world around them.” (p. 104).   This couldn’t be more true in my opinion, my preschoolers are constantly asking questions about the world around them, I have had some pretty interesting meal time conversations at school based on the questions and conversations about life these littles bring up! “Children’s interest, therefore, are the natural starting point for their learning experience.” (p. 104). This past school year in my morning class are students were really into bugs-so we did a whole unit on bugs, this

After several years of study to become an educator, it is my belief that the main goal of education should be to produce responsible, functioning members of society. Our curriculums should give students practical knowledge that will not become obsolete in the next few years. Our students should be capable of using logic and reasoning to apply their education to real-world contexts. A strong grasp of basic content knowledge is what helps propel students toward success in every career field. My philosophy aligns most closely to that of essentialist and perennialist classrooms due to their beliefs on education, incorporation of technology in the classroom, variety of instructional methods, and consistent success (Braley, Layman, & White, 2003). The following discussion will help outline my essential and perennial inspired philosophy of education.

As a teacher the main focus is on the students. In the progressivist teaching philosophy, student- centered learning is the focus. The progressivist style of learning not only looks out for the student in their education but also looks out for their well-being. As a progressivist teacher, they allow the student to make his/her own experience. From this experience, teachers use this as a way to get students

Once the student knows that there is a sense of security in the classroom, a sense of guidance that exists nowhere else and in no other activity, then the actual teaching can take place. It is the basics that have helped people individually and as a country learn from the past and from mistakes. The philosophy of Essentialism could easily have the word “basics” as its key point. The word basic implies something that is stripped of everything else unnecessary and left behind and is the tool or ideas that actually work. Recently so many “extras” have been added to education

As a future teacher in today’s society and generation, I believe the educational system must accommodate the individual and the diverse needs of each child. Many factors should be thought about when forming a philosophy on education. Factors as far as the increase of single parent families and dual careers, the family structure is changing and this may play a significant part in our students. Furthermore, the issues such as teen pregnancy and drugs and much more, children are facing more complicated issues than they ever had before. A sound philosophy on education must be developed within the framework of social value systems. Our children are our future resources. All children can be guided to become well adjusted, functional and intelligent adults for their own benefit and the benefit for others in society. An educator should motivate and stimulate each child to perform to the best of their ability. Regardless of the various experiences, abilities and needs of the child. Therefore, all children must be well educated and given the opportunity