Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Philosophy of Education
Felicia A. Short
Ferris State University
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Human nature is defined as the general mental characteristics, feelings, and behavioral
traits of humankind, viewed as shared by all humans. I believe humans are born neither good nor
bad, but more as a blank canvas in which there surroundings will gently add to it, good and bad,
too. This does not mean parents are to blame for bad children; children are very easily shaped
and can be affected by small things in their surroundings. Is morality due to the influence of
society or was society only created as a guideline to our morality? However, the only way
society could have ever existed is with the unity of people and inherent goodness within us.
It is the passion for teaching that I have for this profession that will better serve the needs
of my students. One of the reasons that have brought me to the possibility of a teaching career is
to not just educate a student about a subject but to help shape them as an individual and insure
the future generations are well-rounded citizens. By taking an interest in a students life it can not
only affect their views on education but life which will meet the personal needs I wish to fill by
becoming a teacher.
Are individuals called to be teachers? This was the main idea the article, Teacher
Dispositions as Predictors of Good Teaching discussed. The article intrigued me right away
when the author began with asking teacher education students, How many of you feel you were
called to be teachers, in the same manner in which ministers are called to the ministry?. This
question made me think about whether I felt if I was called to be a teacher. No teacher,
professor or even friend has asked me this question. I feel I was not called to be a teacher. After,
continuing to read the article I took the author as saying teachers who are called or disposed to
teach make better teachers. This was discouraging to me. However, the quote the author used,
Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. It requires long
hours, patience, and care. showed me you do not have to be called to teach as long as you
care.
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
The many philosophies of education that were discussed in the book School by Edward
Ebert and Richard Culyer, I found one that fits with my own thinking and can integrate into my
personal philosophy. I am much like the teachers that focus on society and its future, believing
that societies need citizens who share a common set of values and who see the world in a
coherent and evolving way.
Education and democracy is alike because they both are essentially about empowerment.
Democracy and education both give the partakers the ability to lead their experiences. However,
the instructor must create an environment in the curriculum by which the learner has freedom.
The environment is responsible for what each student learns about learning.
The way that teachers inspire arises from their own efforts in creating the subject matter
relevant to the students. The best curriculum is planned around helping students make sense of
their world. I have learned this strategy in my education classes. When I am teaching I will
remember this: Cultivating the desire to learn is the single most important objective for any
instructional strategy.
The main idea of the article, Democracy and Education was the authors last sentence:
As teachers in a democratic society, we should cultivate a learning curriculum by empowering
students to make sense of their world. The author stressed the changing mind sets of students as
they believe they have the freedom and responsibility to make choices and direct their learning
experiences. Learning is self-directed by individual choice and action.
As with the individual teacher, many factors can affect the quality of the school and
overall educational experience. However, we can look to the quality of the teachers within a
school as an indicator of the consistency of a students experience with school.
Children learn best under certain conditions. Fundamental beliefs can cause implications
for the teaching and learning process. Religion can affect students outlook in school and cause
what a teacher can do in a classroom. I will conduct classes completely free of any religious
influence over the curriculum or perspectives.
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Besides religion, laws can cause implications for the teaching and learning process. As
School states many laws are based on good intentions but have not been adequately funded. I feel
it will be my responsibility to provide instructional materials and supplies (within reason) on my
own when the district is unable to make the purchase. Students may be denied an appropriate
education because of lack of funding and be a lack for provision of basic educational services
and special services.
The laws will not affect my own work in my classroom as a teacher. However, my own
perspective on society surely could be affected by laws. I believe my students should decide
how they feel about certain laws or events happening around the world. It is my job as a teacher
to provide my students with both perspectives of the situation and my personal opinion should
not affect my students opinions.
Teachers should be expected to accommodate some of the special needs of students. For
example, I believe it would be very hard for teachers to accommodate a student because he/she
grows up in a single parent household. However, it is required to accommodate a student with a
disability and that should be expected of a teacher.
I think the line cannot be defined as to how far a teacher can or should go in attending to
a students need from an ethical standpoint. Every persons ethics are different so every line is
going to be different as well. The purpose of school is to educate students to reach their
individual abilities educationally.
In my classroom I would establish it as a socioeconomic-status free zone that places all
students on an equal footing by just being fair. Being fair to all students could mean things like
all students answering questions, distributing time, giving respect, and equal opportunities. My
career as a teacher will affect the direction that education takes in the future by shaping it. With
every new generation of teachers we are making history.
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
References
Ebert, E., & Culyer, R. (2007). School: An introduction to education. Belmont, OH: Thomson
Wadsworth.
Garrison, W. (2008). Democracy and Educaction. Phi Delta Kappan. (36), 347-348. Retrieved
from https://fsulearn.ferris.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-58716-dt-forum-rid3946677_1/courses/81161.201408/10495.201201_ImportedContent_20120105122243/D
emocracy and Education.pdf
Helm, C. (2006). Teacher Dispositions as Predictors of Good Teaching. The Clearing House,
117-118. Retrieved from https://fsulearn.ferris.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-58717-dt-forum-rid3946673_1/courses/81161.201408/Teacher Dispositions.PDF
