PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Philosophy of Education
The worlds future leaders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, amongst other
professions are being shaped in a classroom across the world every minute, every hour, everyday.
It is my conviction that quality education should incorporate a wide variety of ideas; including
but not limited to: an environment where students feel safe and free from stress, where they are
able to learn, create, and constructively criticize as argued by the philosopher Paulo Freire. An
effective teacher, like the one I aspire to become, will wake the intellectual and artistic curiosity
of students, by exposing the learner to a wide range of course work and investigation in all the
areas. As a future educator I am conscious that I will have a vast amount of responsibility, with
myself, the students, the parents, and my community.
I was raised with the ideology that education is the best weapon one can posses, no one
can strip one of their intellect. Which is why I am so passionate about becoming a teacher, I want
to educate children to become lifelong learners, to ask questions, find answers, and create new
ideas. The ideas that Horace Mann had in 1830 are very much alike the ideas on why we educate
children in the twenty-first century. Oakes and Lipton (2003) state, the common schools were to
teach the knowledge and habits, as well as the basic literacy, that citizens needed to function in a
democracy. He envisioned the common school as the great equalizer and the creator of wealth
undreamed of and hoped it would eliminate poverty and crime and shape the destiny of a wise,
productive country. We educate children because we want them to become the best versions of
themselves, and I believe that building a strong educational foundation in the elementary school
is vital for their lifelong success, both in and out of school.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

A diverse classroom is almost inevitable in most of Los Angeles, and as teachers we must
be open to different ideas, customs, and cultures that our students may have. Oaks and Lipton
(2003) state that, by the mid-twenty-first century, a majority of all American school children will
be nonwhite. Multiculturalism is simply a fact-a condition of culture. To ensure that all students
are given equal access to learning the teacher, like myself, must be open minded, open to
different ways of learning, and willing to accommodate. Teachers must be aware that not all
students learn in the same manner and should be quick to find methods that accommodate the
learning styles of all students. I strongly agree with Darling-Hammord and Bransford, Thus a
central part of being a professional teacher is commitment to help all students succeed. Educators
who have made such commitments to help every student that is in indeed possible to do so, even
in areas like mathematics, physics, and computer science where inequalities are longstanding.
Setting a positive tone in the classroom is vital for student success. I believe that students
should have an environment that promotes learning, that is nurturing, and that allows them to
express themselves. The classroom should be a place where the students feel at peace and at
home. Their work should be found everywhere in the classroom, their expectations should be
clearly posted along with a daily agenda. The teacher should not just stand in front of them and
lecture, their should be interaction, students should be encouraged to discuss their ideas and ask
questions, participate in high levels of instructional discourse, and they should be seated in
groups versus the traditional desks in a row, (Darling-Hammord, Bransford). I believe that
children learn best when they participate in discourse with their fellow peers in most subjects,
such as reading, writing, visual and performing arts, and mathematics. As supported by
Vygotsky, students need to reflect on their learning in their own words.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Effective teachers have passion for what they do. Some characteristics of effective
teachers as described by Darling-Hammord and Bransford, include but are not limited to; service
to society, a body of scholarly knowledge, engagement in practical action, hence the need to
enact knowledge in practice, the importance of experience in developing practice, hence the need
to learn by reflecting on ones practice and its outcomes, and the development of a professional
community that aggregates and shares knowledge and develops professional standards. Teachers
have the responsibility to be lifelong learners themselves and to be open to new ideas and
methods of instruction. The classroom teacher plays a very important role in the intellectual
development of their students and should always encourage, support, and challenge their
students.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

References
Hammord, D., L., & Bransford, J. Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers
should learn and be able to do.
Oakes, J., & Lipton, M. (2003) Chapter 1: Schooling: Wrestling with history and tradition in
Teaching to change the world.