Personal Philosophy Of Education Research Paper

My Personal Education Philosophy A teacher's personal philosophy of education is an essential part of his/her approach to guiding students in their educational experience. There are several distinctive philosophies in the field of education, the most influential being essentialism, perennialism, progressivism, existentialism and behaviorism. Each belief system offers valuable insights for anyone in the field of education and my educational philosophy is a mixture of various aspects of each philosophy. In my opinion, creativity, knowledge of the subject matter, and classroom management skills are required of an effective teacher. The three major philosophies that create the foundation of my philosophy are essentialism, progressivism and
behaviorism. The first, American essentialism, is grounded in a conservative philosophy that accepts the social, political, economic structure of American society. Essentialists believe that teachers should focus on traditional American virtues (respect for authority, duty above self, etc.) and subject matter (math, science, literature, etc). The instructor is to model these values for the students and academic expectations are rigorous and uncompromising. I believe discipline and respect for one’s community are important values to impart on students but this philosophy does not leave a great deal of room for students as individuals. That is where progressivism comes in. The focus of progressivism is respect for the individual. This philosophy is baed on the belief that people are social animals who learn well through active interplay with others and that learning increases when one is engaged in activities that have meaning for the learner. In a progressivist classroom, teachers plan lessons to arouse curiosity and push the student to a higher level of knowledge. Students are encouraged to learn by doing and to interact with one another. This develops social virtues such as cooperation and tolerance for different points of view. In addition, students solve problems in the classroom similar to those they will encounter outside school, which provides them with the tools needed to become flexible problem solvers in preparation for adult lives. Progressivists believe that this approach to education provides a foundation that will contribute to a lifetime of intellectual growth. Academic knowledge is essential for a teacher to be effective but will be of little value without a firm grasp of classroom management. That is where the philosophy of behaviorism comes into place.
Skinner, the father of behaviorism, believed that proper motivation does not come from within, rather it is the reinforcing opportunities of the environment that serve to strengthen or reduce behaviors. The skill of the teacher creates an environment where appropriate reinforcers contribute to learning and establish acceptable behavior within the classroom. By positive reinforcement, students will behave well toward one another, sit quietly and listen, and participate when needed. These behaviors are just as essential as learning the curriculum (something I can certainly attest to from my experience as a teacher). My educational philosophy is a mixture of the various major educational philosophies. Attention to curriculum, individual student needs, and the ability to effectively manage classroom behavior, are the main staples of a good teacher as well as the understanding that all students can achieve some level of success as long as they are encouraged and nurtured in various types of progress and achievements. Creating a community of respect, founded on tolerance and openness is a key element of a successful classroom. My experiences as a teacher have allowed me to utilize my educational philosophy and helped me gain a greater understanding
of these important aspects of education.