Educational Philosophy: The Intellectual Foundations of American Education

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Educational Philosophy The Intellectual
Foundations of American Education

• ED 1010

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What is Philosophy?

• The investigation of causes and laws underlying
  reality
• Inquiry into the nature of things based on
  logical reasoning rather than empirical methods
• A system of values by which one lives

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Educational Philosophy

• A philosophy about education requires systematic,
  critical thinking about educational practice.
• A teachers educational philosophy helps the
  educator interpret, find meaning, and direct the
  daily work of the classroom

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Philosophy and Teacher Professionalism

• All professions have philosophical underpinnings.
• Educational philosophy is one important aspect of
  teachers professional knowledge.

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Traditional Schools of PhilosophyEducational
Philosophies have roots in these schools

• Idealism
• Asserts that because the physical world is always
  changing, ideas are the only reliable form of
  reality
• Realism
• The features of the universe exist whether or not
  a human being is there to perceive them.
• Pragmatism
• Rejects the idea of absolute, unchanging truth,
  instead asserting that truth is what works
• Existentialism
• humanity isnt part of an orderly universe
  rather individuals create their own realities.

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Philosophy and Cultural Minorities

• The philosophies that we embrace are influenced
  by the cultures we live in.
• Western philosophy heavily emphasizes
  individualism and rational thought.
• Other world cultures place greater relative
  emphasis on the wisdom of elders, feelings and
  personal relationships, and harmony.

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Basic Philosophies of Education

• Perennialism
• Essentialism
• Behaviorism
• Progressivism
• Existentialism
• Postmodernism (Critical Theory)

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Perennialism
One should teach things that one deems to be of
everlasting importance to all people everywhere

• An educational philosophy suggesting that nature,
  including human nature, is constant.
• Roots in both Idealism and Realism
• Rigorous intellectual curriculum for all
  students, classic works

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Essentialism
Children should learn the traditional basic
subjects and these should be learned thoroughly
and rigorously.

• An educational philosophy suggesting that a
  critical core of knowledge and skills exists that
  all people should possess
• Roots in Idealism and Realism
• Back to basics movements
• Standards, testing, cultural literacy
• What is essential can change

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Behaviorism

• Behaviorism is a theory of animal and human
  learning that only focuses on objectively
  observable behaviors and discounts mental
  activities. Behavior theorists define learning as
  nothing more than the acquisition of new
  behavior.
• Used by teachers when they reward (reinforce) or
  punish behaviors

http//www.funderstanding.com/content/behaviorism
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Progressivism

• An educational philosophy emphasizing curricula
  that focus on real-world problem solving and
  individual development.
• Roots in Pragmatism
• Constructivism
• John Dewey
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vopXKmwg8VQM

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Existentialism

• A educational philosophy built on a viewpoint in
  which school curriculum and instruction should
  encourage deep personal reflection on ones
  identity, commitments, and choices.
• Focuses on the existence of the individual and
  individual responsibility
• People are responsible for defining themselves
  through their choices
• Educations most important goal is to awaken
  human consciousness
• Education should focus on both cognitive and
  affective dimensions

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Postmodernism (Critical Theory)

• An educational philosophy contending that many of
  the institutions in our society, including
  schools, are used by those in power to
  marginalize those who lack power.
• Roots in Existentialism
• History / Classics examined for power issues,
  struggles of marginalized groups
• Criticized for using schools for political
  purposes

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Practice

• Evaluate your own educational philosophy
• Graphic organizer What would a teacher say,
  think, and act?
• Evaluate the educational philosophy of the
  following teachers
• http//www.davis.k12.ut.us/staff/sbaylis/speech2.h
  tml
• http//www.davis.k12.ut.us/staff/mharrison/
• http//www.rmjr.weber.k12.ut.us/teacherpages/jacks
  on.htm
• http//www.wsdstaff.net/spotokar/video/index.htm

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Standards and Essential Knowledge

• The current emphasis on standards is based
  largely on essentialism, the belief that there is
  a critical core of knowledge all students should
  master.
• Advocates of standards (and essentialism) believe
  that the major role of schools should be to
  ensure that all students master a core of
  knowledge.
• Critics of standards (and essentialism) respond
  that most crucial knowledge is learned through
  rote memorization, soon becoming forgotten or
  inert, and fails to influence students current
  or future lives.

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Philosophies of Education in Urban Environments

• Because of the challenges involved in urban
  teaching, developing a coherent philosophy of
  education is even more important.
• Beliefs, both positive and negative, about urban
  learners can have profound influences on urban
  teachers and the way they teach.

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Developing Your Philosophy of Education

• Philosophy can guide practice and help you
  explain and defend your educational goals.
• The process of developing a philosophy begins
  with examining your own beliefs about teaching,
  learning, and students.
• An analysis of educational philosophies can
  assist teachers in forming their own personal,
  and probably eclectic, personal philosophy.

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Reflection Paper 2 Your own philosophy of
education

• Develop your own philosophy of education based on
  your own educational experiences, a critical
  examination of your personal perceptions related
  to teaching, and information learned in class
  about educational philosophies
• Be sure to include
• Your perceptions of how education should be
  conducted
• How that relates to the educational philosophies
  learned in class
• Personal examples to illustrate each
  philosophical element