by Mieder van Loggerenberg
Love of Wisdom
The word philosophy is derived from two Greek words. The first word, philo, which means “love” and sophy, which means “wisdom”. So, philosophy means “love of wisdom”.
In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand core beliefs of themselves, the world they live in, and their relationships they have with those around them and how they interact with them.
In education, what you believe is directly reflected in your teaching and learning processes. It is vital to understand how philosophy and education are interconnected. To become the most effective teacher you must understand and recognize your own beliefs. In addition, it is vital for teachers to have a good understanding of the major branches of philosophy, and the major philosophical schools of thought in education.
What are the major branches of philosophy?
The seven major branches of philosophy are axiology, aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, political and logic.
1. Axiology: Study of the nature of value and valuation
2. Aesthetics: Study of beauty and taste
3. Epistemology: Study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
4. Ethics: Study of what is right and wrong in human behavior
5. Metaphysics: Study of the fundamental nature of reality
6. Political: Study of government, addressing questions about the nature, scope, and legitimacy of public agents and institutions
7. Logic: Study of the nature and types of logic
This can also be divided into two components namely, deductive reasoning, a process of reasoning from one or more statements to reach a logical conclusion; and inductive reasoning, a method of reasoning in which a body of observations is synthesized to come up with a general principle.
What are the major philosophies of education?
According to Thelma Roberson (2000), majority of prospective teachers have a misconception on educational philosophies where they confuse their beliefs with the ideas of teaching. Education philosophies are not what you want to do in class to aid learning, but instead focus on why you do them and how they work. Philosophies need to translate ideas into action.
The four major branches of philosophy of education are the Idealist school, the Realist school, the Pragmatist school, and the Existential schools of thought (Ornstein, 2003).
Idealism
Focuses on a subject-matter curriculum emphasizing the great ideas of the culture. You must ponder ideas to make them whole (Ornstein, 2003).
Realism
A subject-matter curriculum stressing objective knowledge and values. Reality is objective, meaning everyone should obtain the same results regardless of what he/she does or how he/she considers concepts (Ornstein, 2003)
Pragmatism
Instruction is organized around problem-solving following the steps of the scientific method – emphasizes the need to act on concepts by testing them (Ornstein, 2003).
Existentialism
Classroom dialogue stimulates awareness – each person creates an awareness gleaned from discussion and encourages deep personal reflection on his/her convictions (Ornstein, 2003).
The major philosophies of education can also be broken down into three main types namely, teacher-centered, student-centered, and society-centered philosophies.
What are the 4 most common Educational Philosophies?
Within the epistemological frame that focuses on the nature of knowledge acquisition there are four major educational philosophies used in classrooms in most countries. They are Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism, and Reconstructionism. These educational philosophies focus heavily on the curriculum and what teachers should teach.
Perennialism
Perennialism is a normative educational philosophy which focuses on philosophical thought and of factual studies about human beings and the psychology of learning. It advocates views about what education should be, what dispositions it should cultivate, why it ought to cultivate them, how and in whom it should do so, and what forms it should take. This philosophy is typically considered to be teacher-centered. Perennialists believe that the focus of teaching should be on what are of everlasting relevance to all people everywhere, and that the emphasis should be on principles, not facts.
In addition, perennialists are educationally conservative where the curriculum focuses upon fundamental subject areas, and stress that the overall aim should be exposure to history's finest thinkers as models for discovery. The three R's, reading, writing, and arithmetic are the essence of liberal or general education and students should be taught such basic subjects as English, languages, history, mathematics, natural science, philosophy, and fine arts.
Essentialism
In this philosophical school of thought, the aim is to instill students with the "essentials" of academic knowledge, patriotism, and character development through traditional or back-to-basic approaches. Essentialism ensures that the accumulated wisdom of our civilization as taught in the traditional academic disciplines is passed on from teacher to student. Such disciplines might include Reading, Writing, Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Music. Moreover, this traditional approach is meant to train the mind, promote reasoning, and ensure a common culture. Instruction is uniform, direct, and subject-centered. Students should be taught discipline, hard work, and respect for authority.
This philosophy is typically considered to be teacher-centered where the teacher is the center of the classroom, so establishing order in the classroom is crucial for student learning; effective teaching cannot take place in a loud and disorganized environment. It is the teacher's responsibility to keep order in the classroom. The teacher takes the leadership position and set the tone of the classroom with a heavy focus on classroom management.
Progressivism
Progressive education can be traced back to the works of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, both forerunners of ideas that would be developed by theorists such as John Dewey. Locke believed that “truth and knowledge… arise out of observation and experience rather than manipulation of accepted or given ideas”. He further argued the need for children to have concrete experiences in order to learn. Rousseau deepened this line of thinking, where he argued that demotion of students to teachers and memorization of facts would not lead to an education.
This philosophy is typically considered to be student-centered. Progressivists believe that education should focus on the child rather than the subject matter. The students’ interests are important, as is integration of thinking, feeling, and doing. Learners should be active and learn to solve problems by experimenting and reflecting on their experience. Schools should help students develop personal and social values so that they can become thoughtful, productive citizens. Because society is always changing, new ideas are important to make the future better than the past.
Most progressive education programs have these qualities in common:
· Emphasis on lifelong learning and social skills
· Group work and development of social skills
· Collaborative and cooperative learning projects
· Education for social responsibility and democracy
· Integration of community service and service-learning projects into the daily curriculum
· Strong emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking
· Emphasis on learning by doing -- hands-on projects, experiential learning, expeditionary learning
· Understanding and action as the goals of learning as opposed to memorization
· Integrated curriculum focused on thematic units
· De-emphasis on textbooks in favor of varied learning resources
· Assessment by evaluation of child's projects and productions
· Selection of subject content by focusing on skills that that have real-life application
Reconstructionism/Critical Theory
Reconstructionism is an educational philosophy that views schools as tools to solve social problems. Social reconstructionists argue that, since all leaders are the product of schools, these schools should provide a curriculum that fosters their development. Reconstructionists not only aim to educate a generation of problem solvers, but also try to identify and correct many important social problems a country faces, with distinct targets including those experiencing inequity and inequality because of sex, race, ethnic origin, age, or physical disability. Rather than a philosophy of education, reconstructionism may be referred to as more of a remedy for a society that seeks to build a more objective social order.
The reconstructionist classroom has a teacher who involves the students in discussions of moral dilemmas so as to understand the implications of one’s actions. Students individually select their objectives and social priorities and then, with guidance from the teacher, create an action plan to make the change happen.
Why have a teaching philosophy?
It is vital for an educator to identify their own philosophy of education to understand their own system of values and beliefs so that they can easily describe their teaching style to potential employers.
In addition, teachers who perform with a goal will find themselves more focused, invigorated, and excited. Through the various highs and lows, a teaching philosophy helps an educator stay true to their core beliefs.
What should be included in a teaching philosophy statement?
While writing your teaching philosophy statement, it is vital to address several key components, such as:
· Why do you teach?
· What do you teach?
· How do you teach?
· How do you measure your own effectiveness?
· How do I think?
· What is the purpose of education?
· What is your viewpoint on education?
· What is the role of the teacher?
· What is the role of the student?
Reflecting on core values and beliefs about education and the role of educators can bring life and direction to any statement. Great teaching philosophy statements include specific examples of course topics, assignments, assessments, and strategies drawn from actual courses and curriculum. These examples demonstrate the range of expertise and illustrate objectives, methods, and approaches. Supporting documents, such as class syllabi, assignments, projects, exams, and evaluations may offer additional insights.
Additionally, these four tips can help enhance a teaching philosophy statement even further:
· Include your core beliefs of how education works best for you (avoid following the latest educational fads).
· Avoid jargon. Use clear and concise language.
· Highlight your personal strengths and indicate how in contributed to your success as an educator.
· Be honest.
In conclusion, understanding the philosophy of education will teach educators and so their students the need to know the whys. It will help them to better view and analyze student’s viewpoint and so understand why students behave in a particular way and know how students perceive their actions. This in turn helps teachers to adapt better teaching strategies and guidance, eventually resulting in more effective teaching.
Knowing how you teach, what you teach and being able to categorize your teaching philosophy will give you the means and ways to develop yourself even further.
#AjarnMieder #EducationalPhilosophy #PhilosophyofEducation #Idealism #Realism #Pragmatism #Existentialism #Perennialism #Essentialism #Progressivism #Reconstructionism #CriticalTheory
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