1. Marilynn Tulcey
Philosophy of Education
To instruct someone... is not a matter of getting him to commit results to mind.
Rather, it is to teach him to participate in the process that makes possible the
establishment of knowledge. We teach a subject not to produce little living libraries on
that subject, but rather to get a student to think mathematically for himself, to consider
matters as an historian does, to take part in the process of knowledge-getting. Knowing
is a process not a product (Bruner p. 72).
My personal philosophy of education has been changing from the moment I
stepped into the classroom or execute an educational course. I perceive this as something
that is positive. In fact, I think that a teacher's personal philosophy of education should
forever be evolving. Teachers should continually make efforts to enlighten themselves of
new pedagogies, technology or innovations that aid to facilitate learning in the classroom.
I believe that all students have the capacity to accomplish any goal that is set for
them as long as they feel connected to what they are learning; without a link between the
students and material, the interest is lost and the learning is harder and may take more
time. According to Jean Piaget's theory of development and learning, a developing child
builds cognitive structures, or schemas, that connect previous knowledge and/or
experiences to new knowledge. This connection cultivates the student's understanding
and responding to his or her environment. Thus, as students make progress, their
cognitive structures increase in sophistication.
A teacher must also have positive expectations. This means believing in each
student and believing that the student can learn and be successful. Students only learn as
much as the teacher expects; teachers who set high expectations for their students will
receive higher achievement from their students. It is amazing to observe what students
can achieve when they know and sense that someone believes in them. It is my aspiration
as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential by establishing an environment
mtulcey@gmail.com updated December
3, 2012

2. where my students feel safe, are comfortable taking risks with new learning, and present
them with opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas.
My philosophy of education aligns itself closely to Jerome Bruner's Theory of
Constructivism as well. In the Constructivist theory, the learner selects and transforms
information, constructs hypotheses, and makes decisions; its focus is on knowledge
construction, not recitation of knowledge. Knowledge is constructed through one's
personal experiences, previous knowledge, and beliefs. For me as an educator, this means
that I attempt to encourage students to discover principles by themselves. I continuously
provide them the opportunity to dialogue among peers and with myself. My main task as
a teacher is to present information to be learned that matches or closely matches the
students, current level of learning. My curriculum is organized in a spiral manner, so that
students continually build upon what they have already learned. As the teacher, I would
also attempt to modify my teaching strategies to student responses and encourage my
students to analyze, evaluate, interpret, and predict information in the course of their
learning.
Other key educational philosophies in the field of education that I can relate to
and sometimes integrate into the classroom teaching include: Essentialism, Perennialism,
Progressivism, Existentialism, and Behaviorism (Eagan & Kauchak, 2004). My emphasis
here is progressivism, which is relevant to this ever evolving technological society. This
philosophy greatly impacts the way in which I decide to integrate technology, design and
develop a curriculum. My curriculum would focus on promoting progress and
improvement to self and society. The emphasis would focus on the learning process,
develop critical thinking skills, enhance interpersonal relationships, and meeting
students’ interest. The students would be encouraged to be creative, express their own
ideas, and appreciate the differences between themselves and others. My responsibility
would be to guide and arouse curiosity and interest in students and allow them to develop
their full potential.
An educator's personal philosophy of education is an important element in his/her
approach to instruction. The educator’s can build or destroy the students’ academically,
mtulcey@gmail.com updated December
3, 2012

3. personally and professionally. It is clear from what I explained above that I am
committed to students’ growth. It is my pledge and duty to educate others as I am long as
I am in the teaching profession. I intend to keep constructivism and progressivism alive.
mtulcey@gmail.com updated December
3, 2012