PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Abigail Gutierrez
LBS 400
Instructor: Cheek
California State University Dominguez Hills
10/06/15

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
From an early age, we have been told that education is the key to our
success. Study hard! Get good grades! Go to college! This is what we grow
up knowing and attempt to accomplish throughout our lives. Education is
free and available to all children from pre-school to twelfth grade. Oakes and
Lipton (2003) discuss the idea of the common school and how it is the key to
shaping the nations economic life; children now have an equal opportunity
to an education, which will empower them to have a successful life.
The purpose of education in the past has been to prepare children for
citizenship, and cultivate a strong skilled workforce. However, I believe
education currently does not have a single purpose, children are taught a
multitude of things not only academically, but also life instances. As a future
educator, children have to be educated to make smart life decisions as they
grow into adulthood and become part of society. As the Joint Committee to
Develop a Master Plan for Education states, The primary need of every
student is to become a capable learner who can readily learn whatever
content becomes relevant to her or his life and work; therefore, we must
craft an educational blueprint that addresses this need and helps frame the
decisions we make now by anticipating the diverse learning needs of the
future.
Creating a positive environment in the classroom is the key to great
learning results. Research shows that creating learning communities give
students the opportunity to work together, productively and allows them to
learn in a psychologically safe environment (Bransford, Darling-Hammond,

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
LePage). Working in groups also allows children to collaborate and learn from
each other. I believe children learn best when they are in a safe environment
where they can express their thoughts and voice their questions without
being judged. Therefore, as a future teacher I would create a caring, warm,
and safe environment; where students form and supporting community.
Some students feel more comfortable to ask their peers when they do not
understand something, instead of raising their hand to ask the teacher in
front of the entire class.
Diversity is a major issue in classrooms today specifically in more
diverse communities. Public schools should all be held to the same academic
standards across the states. However, teachers have to be educated and
informed to help students with different cultural backgrounds succeed. As
stated by Bransford, Darling-Hammond, LePage this kind of awareness
and knowledge of how to incorporate the cultures and experiences of their
students into their teaching will help support student learning and also
encourage them towards higher education. As (Gollnick, D., & Chinn, P.)
state, as future teachers we have to create an environment that facilitates
interactions and learning experiences that encourage the acceptance and
understanding of a range of people and cultures. I believe teachers should
bring learning to life, instead of only teaching directly from the textbook.
Students are natural explorers; therefore, adding things students can see,
hear, taste and feel, will not only keep students interested but also
encourage them to study cultures they find intriguing.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
My personal belief about what students should learn and how I would
teach is similar to the article Seeing the Future (2013). Students should learn
a variety of subjects in depth to expand their knowledge. Militello (2013)
states, Its not only about students having the right answer, but more
importantly being able to justify where they found it. Teaching students the
ability to deepen their knowledge is not something they learn with
memorization. Therefore, I agree with Militello (2013) because as a teacher
we must be able to address fewer topics but demand deeper understanding,
mastery of more challenging texts, and more sophisticated problem solving
and writing skills. I believe students should learn how to work independently
and also in a group, when appropriate. The way they work depends on the
topic of the lesson, but I do believe group work helps students develop
deeper understanding, while also gaining knowledge from different
perspectives.
Effective teachers are not only responsible for great teaching; they are
also responsible for guiding and helping students prepare for their future. As
Wilson and Peterson (2006) state, teachers have to become inquirers,
asking questions and testing hypotheses about what their students know and
do not know. Effective teachers might have acquired a wealth of experience
through out the years, but I believe they have to be open to change with
every new class they teach, this will allow them to grow professionally. An
effective teacher should also be able to analyze the work of a child and
understand why they came to that conclusion. Based on this understanding I

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
believe an effective teacher should keep a daily journal where notes are
taken on what lessons or part of the lesson worked or did not work and why.
This will help plan the next lesson and also keep the teacher informed about
student challenges.
Every child is given the opportunity to be successful and it should be
something they can accomplish with the guidance, and support of great and
effective teachers. Educating our children is the key to a brighter future, and
giving them the proper tools and information will empower them to make a
difference in this world. As a future educator I will have multiple
responsibilities to help students prepare for a bright and successful future.

References
Bransford, J., Darling-Hammond, L., and LePage, P. (2005). Introduction.
In L.
Darling-Hammond, L., & J. Bransford (Eds.), Preparing teachers
for a
Changing world: What teachers should learn and be able to do.
San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass.
Gollnick, D., & Chinn, P. (1986). Multicultural education in a pluralistic
society
(2nd ed.). Columbus: C.E.Merrill.

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Wilson, S. M. & Peterson, P. L. (2006). Theories of learning and teaching
what do
they mean for educators? Washington, DC: National Education
Association.