Kelsie Glass

November 14, 2017

My Philosophy of Education

Of the five main education philosophies that we have discussed in class, my ideas mostly

align with Progressivism. Progressivists believe curricula should be built around the interests and

experiences of students. They believe in the power of group work and collaboration.

Progressivist teachers support student learning by providing opportunities for them to ask

questions and create their own experiences in order to find an answer (Sadker & Zittleman, 2016,

p. 167).

One famous Progressivist is John Dewey, who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries. Dewey

wrote a series of pieces showcasing his beliefs on education. In these writings, he said how

learning is an interactive process and that students should be encouraged to experience and

interact with their peers and curriculum. He believed people learn best from social interaction

and hands-on activities. He saw education as a way to apply new material to real-life

experiences, and believed that students should master the scientific method, a way to keep up

and seek understanding with the constantly changing world (Sadker & Zittleman, 2016, p. 168).

On the other end of the spectrum, some of my opinions align with Essentialism.

Essentialists put an emphasis on a core knowledge of traditional academic topics, such as Math,

English, History, etc (Sadker & Zittleman, 2016, p. 162-163). I believe that these topics are areas

knowledge that are necessary to shape informed members of society. Without a basis of

knowledge in these subjects, students do not have the foundation that is needed in higher

education or the real world.

 After having been in school for 15 years, I have learned what type of learning works for

me. When I am interested in a topic, I am significantly more motivated to learn more and work

harder to become more knowledgeable in that area. Regardless of my interest in a subject, if I

participate in hands-on activities where I can try and work something out, I will eventually

understand. This is the same for group work. I have found that when I am able to collaborate and

share ideas with my peers, I am quicker to understand the material. In my future kindergarten

classroom, I plan to implement ideas from both Progressivism and Essentialism, as these theories

have greatly impacted the progression of my education.

The Purpose of Education

Public schools across America generally have a set curriculum with guidelines for each

grade level. Whether this be the Common Core State Standards (which has been adopted by 42

states and four territories), or state created standards (Virginia Standards of Learning), there are

clear objectives present of what a student should learn by the end of the academic year

(Corestandards.org, 2017). Generally, these goals are what the school’s curriculum’s revolve

around. There is a large emphasis on math, reading, science, and history- something that

Essentialists refer to as essential knowledge or core classes.

While I still believe that students should learn more about their interests and experience

real-world problems, this is where some of my essentialist ideas come into play. Regardless of

whether or not a student is particularly interested in certain subjects, I believe that it is still

necessary for them to strive to become more knowledgeable about those topics. Since I was in

elementary school, I have never been interested in learning history, and my grades in all of my

history classes reflect that. However, as much as I would like to never take another history

course, I believe it is important for me to be knowledgeable about past events.

 I think that it is important for students to be taught a basis of every subject, so that they

are able to find their interests and build on them. In order for a student to become interested in

something, they must learn about it first. Even in a classroom where there is an emphasis on core

academic topics, progressivist ideas can still easily be utilized, whether it be through group work

during math or the students planning a field trip for history.

What Should Be Taught and Why

I do not believe that there is one particular area of knowledge that is of most worth. I

believe that the area of most worth varies from individual to individual, and is based on personal

preference and interest. This is why it is important to encourage students to find interest in

learning and school. This statement can easily be demonstrated by looking at college students

and their chosen majors. Some students choose to be math majors, because they see math as most

beneficial, while some students choose to be English majors, because they see English as most

beneficial. I see the value in teachers, so I chose to be an education major.

When someone is “well-educated,” it means that they are knowledgeable about a wide

variety of topics. Being knowledgeable means being able to explain why something is the way it

is, not just being able to memorize facts. When I become a teacher, I will use the given

curriculum in a way that will teach my students why, not just what. I will create lessons made to

benefit all of my students and their learning types. I will plan activities that will be interesting

and appropriate for various learning types and student interests.

My thoughts on what should be taught most aligns with progressivist ideas, as I think

individual ideas and opinions are very important and should be encouraged. Progressivist

classrooms lead the student to discover why the solution works, not just what the solution is.
Throughout high school and college, I have found that I do best in and enjoy classes where I am

encouraged to work with other students to understand how and why the answer is correct.

The Nature of the Learner

I strongly believe in the Effort Based Intelligence Theory or a “growth” mindset, which

says that students must care and put in effort in order to continue learning (Glen, 2010). While

teachers have a large role in making students interested in learning, I believe knowledge and

academic success is based on how much effort the student puts in. While it is crucial for the

teacher to support and teach to the best of their ability, it is the student’s responsibility to reach a

deeper understanding of the material, rather than just a surface memorization (Schulte, 2002).

In my future classroom, I expect to have all different types of learners. Based on my

experience as an intern in a kindergarten classroom and a tennis instructor, I have learned that

students range from being visual, auditory, verbal, or physical learners.

During class and group work, I will expect my student’s to express their opinion and ask

any questions that they may have. It is the student’s responsibility to bring any confusion or

problems to the attention of the teacher. In my future classroom, I will implement a lot of group

work, and I will expect my student’s to work together in order to find the correct answer. In

Progressivist classrooms, there is a large emphasis on group collaboration and the importance of

students working to find a solution, rather than getting it handed to them.

The Role of the Teacher

I hope that when I become a teacher, I will have good relations with everyone involved in

the student’s learning. I would love for the parents to be involved in their child’s learning as

much as possible. With administrators, I would like to be able to discuss curricula and have my
opinion valued and taken into account. With my fellow teachers, it would be ideal if we could

work together to create lesson plans and activities for our students.

It is my responsibility, as the teacher, to support the learning and development of my

students. Back to the Effort Based Intelligence Theory, I believe that I should allow the student

to make their own assumptions about various topics. Teachers should never directly tell the

student the correct answer or opinion, but instead support their learning through group work and

creating an approachable demeanor so that students will feel comfortable asking for guidance.

Teachers should allow students to explore all possibilities and determine on their own what

makes the most sense for them as an individual. I believe it will be my responsibility to

individualize and differentiate between students’ learning types in order to help each student

reach their highest potential.

The role of a teacher in a Progressivist classroom is to guide students through activities

so that they are able to find meaning and relevance in what they are learning. This will be my

goal as a teacher. I do not believe that teachers should directly tell the student what to know and

memorize, but that teachers should help the student reach the answer on their own and develop

an understanding of why it is the correct answer.

Teaching Methods (What Should be Used and Why)

My future classroom will be an open and positive space, with tables rather than desks.

This way, students will easily be able to collaborate when I give them a group work activity. I

will make sure that students feel comfortable coming to me with questions or concerns. I will

teach by introducing an activity, and then allowing students to work independently or with

groups, always giving them the opportunity to ask questions. A Progressivist classroom is filled

with group work, and the teacher does not stand in the front of the classroom giving direction,
unlike most classrooms today. While I do plan to implement group work and some progressivist

ideas in my kindergarten or first grade classroom, I believe that students this young need more

guidance and direction. Because of this, I will have some aspects of an essentialist classroom,

such as leading and giving directions on activities that deal with traditional academic topics.

In my experience, I have found that when a teacher puts more responsibility on me, as a

student, to learn the material, it is very difficult to understand everything. My calculus class in

high school was a flipped classroom, where the students would watch the teacher’s lecture

videos at home, and would work on the homework during class. My teacher was not very

approachable and would never be standing in front of the class giving direction, something that I

was not very fond of. While I see the benefits of giving students more responsibility for their

own learning, I believe that there should be a lot of guidance in the classroom.

Progressivists believe that curricula should be flexible and centered around student

interest and need. It puts an emphasis on learning by doing, or a more hands-on approach.

Essentialists believe in the importance of traditional academic topics. I believe that it is very

important for students to be taught a basis of every subject, so that they are able to find their

interests and expand on them. There is no one area of knowledge that is of most worth, it varies

individual to individual. The effort based intelligence theory says that teachers should support

the learning and growth of students; however, it is ultimately up to the student how much effort

they want to put in to reach success. As a teacher, I plan to expand on each of my students’

interests and needs, something that I will do with both Progressivist and Essentialist ideas.
References

Corestandards.org. (2017). About the Standards | Common Core State Standards Initiative.
[online] Available at: http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/ [Accessed 24 Oct.
2017].
Educational Philosophies Definitions and Comparison Chart. (2006). Retrieved from
http://ctle.hccs.edu/facultyportal/tlp/seminars/tl1071SupportiveResources/comparison_edu_
philo.pdf [Accessed 24 Oct. 2017].
Glen, D. (2010). Carol Dweck. Retrieved from:
http://learningandtheadolescentmind.org/people_01.html
Sadker, D. M., & Zittleman K. R. (2016). Teachers, Schools, and Society. New York, NY: Mc-
Graw Hill Education
Schulte, B. (2002, December 03). Grading for Intelligence With an E for Effort. Retrieved
November 13, 2017, from
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with-an-e-for-effort/5de92742-d8fc-4a1a-82bd-
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