2. Running Head: Philosophy of Education 2
Philosophy of Education
Society is always trying to improve itself through any means possible. This urge to
improve has over time brought people who share the same thirst to form institutions of learning.
Society has consequently bonded with institutions of learning and both have helped in the
development of children.
Delivery of knowledge is important therefore in learning. My perfect idea of a teacher is one
who is able to deliver the required information to all students effectively. At the same time, as a
teacher I should depict exemplary morals and ethics to the students. Therefore to be able to teach
in a classroom, I should work on enhancing a good and friendly atmosphere in a classroom.
To be able to achieve these goals, I will first look into the different aspects that have been
put forward on the philosophy of education. But, specifically I will focus on
Pragmatism/Progressivism.
Effective teaching calls for a student centered approach. Students should find class
enjoyable. This way it encourages the student to yearn for knowledge. I will focus on the student
as the most fundamental person in the classroom. Therefore whatever I teach should go a long
way into ensuring the needs of the student are met. This can be done through various ways, but
group work seems to score highly. Reason being, other students in the group might be able to
assist the weaker student understand more. I do believe that students should learn through
experience as proposed by Rousseau. Instead of continuous lecturing, I will ensure the students
are given a chance to experience knowledge first hand and practically (Gordon & Thomas,
2007). I will use any method to enhance student participation in the classroom and improve the
student centered approach.
Curriculum is important, and I concur with pragmatism (Dewey, 1902). My purpose as
3. Running Head: Philosophy of Education 3
the tutor or instructor is to teach or train the student how to think. The mistake that teachers do is
trying to teach students what to think. This is wrong as the student will not be able to think under
different circumstances than the ones taught. Curriculum helps in producing all round students. It
furthermore assists the student to see issues differently and be able to develop different ways to
reason. As a teacher I know reasoning has got profound effects on a student. It makes a student
care and respect others according to Rousseau. This is evident because in life one has to make
decisions, and making the right decisions count. As a tutor I know for a person function properly
in society, they should be able to read and write properly.
A child’s or a student’s environment is important to their knowledge acquisition. The
environment natures a person’s personality; and there is no doubt that children or students are the
best imitators. I will ensure that the students get the care and respect they need when learning.
By doing this the same values are instilled on the child or student and they end up imitating the
same. Pragmatism expresses that when a person wants to learn they are considered exploring and
experiencing individuals. The way a child behavior is externally influenced by any one, thus a
student’s nature is created and is not instinctive.
Assessments of students should always be fair to all learners. I shall try and use a
curriculum that takes into account the interest of the learner. Furthermore it should promote
reading and writing and provide skills that are essential to the two. I will make sure that the
assessments make the students think critically and make them stimulate questions that go hand in
hand with the teachings received in the classrooms. I will use Formal and informal assessments
to capture wholly the potential of a student. Exams are more formal ways of assessments;
however, I will also use observation as informal way of assessment.
4. Running Head: Philosophy of Education 4
In order to establish and encourage student self-control, class management becomes
important. I will involve class management in order to promote the positive aspects of student
behavior and consequently a student’s achievement. Therefore my efficiency as a teacher is
inter-related with the behavior of a student. When it comes to classroom management I will
consider three major components. To begin with, I will consider covenant management.
Secondly, I will consider conduct management conduct and thirdly I will consider content
management. The disciplinary issues of a class have got a huge brunt on learning and teaching
effectiveness. The three major components of education are important, I will use covenant
management to assert the position of a class as a group. The roles that the students play coupled
with my role as a teacher will help in turning a classroom into a better if not best learning
environment. I will use conduct management to integrate my beliefs about people into a certain
philosophy. I will use Content management to emphasis on proper management of skills across
activities and subjects (Froyen & Iverson, 1999). I will use it to maintain learning activities and
encouraging student cooperation.
5. Running Head: Philosophy of Education 5
Reference
Dewey, John. [1902] 1956. The Child and the Curriculum. In The Child and the Curriculum,
The
School and Society, ed. Leonard Carmichael, 3-32. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Froyen, L. A., & Iverson, A. M. (1999). Schoolwide and classroom management: The reflective
educator-leader (3rd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Gordon, Mordechai, and Thomas V. O'Brien. 2007. Bridging Theory and Practice in Teacher
Education. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
