My Teaching Philosophy
February 23 ,2002
The six teaching Philosophies, Perennialism, Progressivism,
Behaviorism, Essentialism, Existentialism, and Social Reconstructionism, have
many similarities and differences. I do not think that I can pick just
one philosophy to describe my own personal teaching philosophy. They
each have certain strengths that I would use to help form the ideal classroom
environment and curriculum. I think that I would use a part of each
of the philosophies in my future teaching.
The purpose of schooling in my eyes is to help convey
both knowledge and moral values that will help students become educated citizens.
I feel that the Essentialism and Social Reconstructionism philosophies both
communicate this idea. Proponents of the Essentialist philosophy believe
that schools should transmit traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge
that students need to become model citizens (class notes, 2/18/02).
I believe that teaching moral values along side intellectual knowledge will
help develop a more rounded student. Proponents of the Social Reconstructionism
feel that students need to not just learn subject matter but they should understand
the world and society (class notes, 2/4/02). I agree with this because
just learning the facts in school is not enough to survive and be productive
in the real world. Students need to learn what is out there before
they are just tossed into it. Knowledge and moral values taught in
schools will help lead to knowledgeable citizens.
A classroom environment that is favorable to learning
is one that would be open for children to explore. Children need
to be interactive with their environment to gain as much as they can from
it. To a Progressivist, the ideal classroom environment would stimulate
participation, involvement and the democratic process and it would also be
active and self-directed (Webb, p 99). I feel that it is important for
students to do hands on learning. I know that I personally learn better
when I am actively involved in learning. This active learning would
entail field trips, science experiments and classroom stations. Active
learning would help create an environment that would be conducive to learning.
The curriculum covered in schools is very important.
I agree with the Perennialism philosophy when it comes to the curriculum.
The primary curriculum of a Perennialist would include subjects such as math,
history, languages, fine arts and literature (Webb, p 115). I feel that these
core subjects are very important in forming a well-rounded student, especially
at the elementary education level. I also feel that a curriculum
should include lots of problem solving that is applicable to the real world.
The Progressivism philosophy has an emphasis on problem solving and critical
thinking in the classroom. If you problem solve in the classroom then
you will problem solve in society as an adult (class notes, 2/18/02).
I think that problem solving should be applied to core subject such as math,
history, languages, fine arts and literature.
The way the classroom is handled and managed is important
for making a classroom favorable for learning. Proponents of the Behaviorism
philosophy feel that using a rewards system and establishing rules are important
in a classroom (Webb, p106). I feel that an awards system can help students
repeat desired behaviors and not repeat undesirable behaviors. A classroom
with an established set of rules will help keep students in line. If
students know what is expected of them it will be easier for the teacher to
handle the classroom.
It may sometimes be hard to know when students are learning.
Essentialist believe that standardized achievement tests, performance based
competency tests and diagnostic tests are important in evaluating what a student
has learned (Webb, p 110). I feel that some sort of testing is needed
to evaluate how much a student has learned. I do not think that the
teacher should teach to the test. The tests should be used to evaluate
what the student has learned, not how good a teacher is teaching the student.
I would use bits and pieces of all six philosophies in
my future classroom. The purpose of schooling in my eyes is to help
convey both knowledge and moral values that will help students become educated
citizens. The classroom that the students learn in should be one that
would have hands on activities where children would be free to explore.
The curriculum covered should include the basics such as math, history, languages,
and fine arts. Classrooms should have a set rules system used along
with a rewards system to keep the most control. Student’s abilities
should be tested using standardized tests. I feel that all six philosophies
have their strengths and weaknesses. My personal philosophy would include
a part of all of them.
cEmily Hess
Personal Teaching Philosophy Paper
February 23, 2002
The six teaching Philosophies, Perennialism, Progressivism,
Behaviorism, Essentialism, Existentialism, and Social Reconstructionism, have
many similarities and differences. I do not think that I can pick just
one philosophy to describe my own personal teaching philosophy. They
each have certain strengths that I would use to help form the ideal classroom
environment and curriculum. I think that I would use a part of each
of the philosophies in my future teaching.
The purpose of schooling in my eyes is to help convey
both knowledge and moral values that will help students become educated citizens.
I feel that the Essentialism and Social Reconstructionism philosophies both
communicate this idea. Proponents of the Essentialist philosophy believe
that schools should transmit traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge
that students need to become model citizens (class notes, 2/18/02).
I believe that teaching moral values along side intellectual knowledge will
help develop a more rounded student. Proponents of the Social Reconstructionism
feel that students need to not just learn subject matter but they should understand
the world and society (class notes, 2/4/02). I agree with this because
just learning the facts in school is not enough to survive and be productive
in the real world. Students need to learn what is out there before
they are just tossed into it. Knowledge and moral values taught in
schools will help lead to knowledgeable citizens.
A classroom environment that is favorable to learning
is one that would be open for children to explore. Children need
to be interactive with their environment to gain as much as they can from
it. To a Progressivist, the ideal classroom environment would stimulate
participation, involvement and the democratic process and it would also be
active and self-directed (Webb, p 99). I feel that it is important for
students to do hands on learning. I know that I personally learn better
when I am actively involved in learning. This active learning would
entail field trips, science experiments and classroom stations. Active
learning would help create an environment that would be conducive to learning.
The curriculum covered in schools is very important.
I agree with the Perennialism philosophy when it comes to the curriculum.
The primary curriculum of a Perennialist would include subjects such as math,
history, languages, fine arts and literature (Webb, p 115). I feel that these
core subjects are very important in forming a well-rounded student, especially
at the elementary education level. I also feel that a curriculum
should include lots of problem solving that is applicable to the real world.
The Progressivism philosophy has an emphasis on problem solving and critical
thinking in the classroom. If you problem solve in the classroom then
you will problem solve in society as an adult (class notes, 2/18/02).
I think that problem solving should be applied to core subject such as math,
history, languages, fine arts and literature.
The way the classroom is handled and managed is important
for making a classroom favorable for learning. Proponents of the Behaviorism
philosophy feel that using a rewards system and establishing rules are important
in a classroom (Webb, p106). I feel that an awards system can help students
repeat desired behaviors and not repeat undesirable behaviors. A classroom
with an established set of rules will help keep students in line. If
students know what is expected of them it will be easier for the teacher to
handle the classroom.
It may sometimes be hard to know when students are learning.
Essentialist believe that standardized achievement tests, performance based
competency tests and diagnostic tests are important in evaluating what a student
has learned (Webb, p 110). I feel that some sort of testing is needed
to evaluate how much a student has learned. I do not think that the
teacher should teach to the test. The tests should be used to evaluate
what the student has learned, not how good a teacher is teaching the student.
I would use bits and pieces of all six philosophies in
my future classroom. The purpose of schooling in my eyes is to help
convey both knowledge and moral values that will help students become educated
citizens. The classroom that the students learn in should be one that
would have hands on activities where children would be free to explore.
The curriculum covered should include the basics such as math, history, languages,
and fine arts. Classrooms should have a set rules system used along
with a rewards system to keep the most control. Student’s abilities
should be tested using standardized tests. I feel that all six philosophies
have their strengths and weaknesses. My personal philosophy would include
a part of all of them.