Mary Payne developed a philosophy of education based on over 40 years of experience working in early childhood education. She believes in respecting each child's culture and family, and sees parents as integral partners. Her philosophy is rooted in progressive education theory, which emphasizes building on children's early experiences to support future learning. She teaches to inspire children and partner with families, and to help bridge the gap between children's early and future educational experiences.

1. PowerPoint Presentation: Step 2
Mary Payne
EDU 623
Dr Sandra Page
July 30, 2012

2. My Philosophy of
Education
• A desire to know more about how children
learn, grow and development has been the
driving force that has helped me to develop
a “Philosophy of Education.”
• This journey began over forty years ago
when I enrolled my first child in a local Head
Start program.
• The last thirty two years I have worked as a
center supervisor, but for the last seventeen
years I have worked in this capacity at the “
Bayou La Batre Head Start Center, in an area
that has a very diverse population and this
experience has helped me to rethink and re-
define my personal philosophy.

3. My Personal Beliefs
• I believe that as a teacher, I must support and demonstrate through
actions a genuine respect for each child’s family, culture and life style.
Therefore I must provide an environment that reflects the cultures of all
children in an integrated and natural way.
• My personal beliefs are rooted in the “ Progressive Education Theory,” in
as much as it allows for the child’s early experiences to help them acquire
the knowledge needed for future success in the classroom ( Wiles ,2012).
• I also believe that the gains made by a child must be built upon and
supported by the family, as parents are integral partners in the processes
of planning and implementing curriculum, as they can share knowledge
about their children.

4. My Personal Beliefs contd.
• To inspire children and to reach families is my ultimate goal.
• When I was a teacher my main goal was to provide a child with a
day that would help to develop their social and intellectual
needs, as well as providing an environment that reinforced their
social experiences. I believe that all children can learn with proper
nurturing and guidance.
• Adopting the Dewey and progressive education concept proved to
be a good choice for me to construct my teaching philosophy.
According to Wiles ( 2012) John Dewey and progressive education
became very popular during the time the American society was
searching through and discarding turn of the century. An ethical
twist on concern for the individual associated Dewey with
humanism, as it related more closely to Maslow’s theory of
development toward self actualization.

5. Why I Teach
• It was not until I became a head
start parent that I became
interested in studying how to
teach young children. It was not
until then that I realized that
children start learning long before
they are six years old. I never
thought of learning as a process
that all children must go through
to reach their maximum
potentials.
• Throughout my teaching career
, I have observed many changes in
the children I have taught. They
come with their own unique
styles of learning and cultural
differences.

6. Why I Teach contd.
• The children also come from various economical
backgrounds and communities. All of these play a
major role in how much the children know and what
type of educational experiences they have had.
• I teach because I realize that all parents regardless to
differences they have similar goals for their children(
Barbour et.al,2011).
• Finally I teach because I can help bridge the gap
between a child’s early years and their future
experiences in education.

7. References
• Barbour,C., Barbour, N., & Scully ,P., Families
Schools and Communities: building
partnerships for educating children 5th.ed
Pearson( 2011)
• Wiles, D, Dewey and progressive education:
Retrieved from http://www.albany.edu/~
dkw42_dewey_progr.html July 30,2012