In order to be a successful and effective teacher it is important to have your own philosophy of education. Reading and reviewing the theories and practices of previous educators and philosophers as well as sociologists and psychologists can heavily influence the feelings and beliefs of new teachers. The work of Howard Gerbner incorporated multiple intelligences into the classroom while the work of Horace Mann used the Prussian model of education to make a new model for American education. It is the work of previous educational theorists to whom the successes and flaws of the current educational system is owed. Although their models and theories have not always proved beneficial, it is possible to use these theories to better our own teaching philosophies.
John Dewey was a philosopher, a social reformer, and an educator who brought the Progressive Movement to American schools. Dewey believed that schooling was not solely about learning facts but also about learning social norms and correct behaviors. Students were supposed to learn lessons that were relevant to their lives and to the job market they would most likely enter in the future. He incorporated a new teaching style that included more of an open classroom where the teacher facilitated conversation and interaction among students rather than commanding the attention of the entire class.
Considering Dewey’s contributions to the field of education, the ideal classroom would be a room of free thought and ideals as well as the ability of students to openly voice their opinions. Students should be able to walk in and immediately feel as though the class is not ruled by one person, like a dictatorship, but governed by the whole class, like a democracy. Classroom rules will be set by the class and will follow a democratic model. The teacher will always have the ultimate power in the classroom but it is important for the students to understand that they can have opinions too.
K. Lomawaima is a Native American raised on a reservation who fights for the equality of American education. Lomawaima and McCarty argue that the key to education is to embrace our cultural backgrounds as opposed to neglecting them and failing to let them shine through in our schooling and education. Lomawaima and McCarty believe it is important to include diversity into the American schooling system. Education should not be centered on standardization and tests, but rather learning from one another and learning valuable information for the future.
Our nation has a problem with acceptance. Early educational experiences in elementary school and middle school can have a heavy impact on the way children act later on in life. With the correct information they can be much more accepting and learn to stay away from stereotypes. It is the job of educators to prepare students for life, not just tests. The standardization of schools based on testing tends to eliminate any rooms for cultural learning. If we begin teaching about human diversity instead of constantly repeating the same math problems (which some children will never use in their adult lives) we can teach acceptance and understanding.
In her book, Dividing Classes, Ellen Brantlinger demonstrates how social class status reproduces educational inequality. She finds that the middle class yields tremendous power in shaping public education for all children. She also finds that working class children have the outcomes they do because their parents are realistic. They are aware of their children’s limitations and have lower expectations for educational achievement (2003).
It is the role of the educator to change the social and economic inequality between students. Granted this change cannot take place without some help from other sources, but educators can take the first steps. These inequalities should not play a role in the educational attainment of a child. Because a parent does not believe their child cannot attain high educational achievement does not mean they should not be pushed to do so. It is the job of those in the school system to take time to help students and push students toward their goals. Spending extra time to help students work to their fullest potential and achieve their goals should never be a burden to a member of the teaching profession; it should be a priority.
My dream classroom is a learning environment, filled with enriching materials and resources. It is a place where children can learn, grow and flourish. Students will feel like they are heard and their opinions are encouraged and valued. As an educator I believe it is my responsibility to both my students and myself to make my classroom a place where students not only feel comfortable but they feel alive, ready to learn, and able to make a difference.
John Dewey was a philosopher, a social reformer, and an educator who brought the Progressive Movement to American schools. Dewey believed that schooling was not solely about learning facts but also about learning social norms and correct behaviors. Students were supposed to learn lessons that were relevant to their lives and to the job market they would most likely enter in the future. He incorporated a new teaching style that included more of an open classroom where the teacher facilitated conversation and interaction among students rather than commanding the attention of the entire class.
Considering Dewey’s contributions to the field of education, the ideal classroom would be a room of free thought and ideals as well as the ability of students to openly voice their opinions. Students should be able to walk in and immediately feel as though the class is not ruled by one person, like a dictatorship, but governed by the whole class, like a democracy. Classroom rules will be set by the class and will follow a democratic model. The teacher will always have the ultimate power in the classroom but it is important for the students to understand that they can have opinions too.
K. Lomawaima is a Native American raised on a reservation who fights for the equality of American education. Lomawaima and McCarty argue that the key to education is to embrace our cultural backgrounds as opposed to neglecting them and failing to let them shine through in our schooling and education. Lomawaima and McCarty believe it is important to include diversity into the American schooling system. Education should not be centered on standardization and tests, but rather learning from one another and learning valuable information for the future.
Our nation has a problem with acceptance. Early educational experiences in elementary school and middle school can have a heavy impact on the way children act later on in life. With the correct information they can be much more accepting and learn to stay away from stereotypes. It is the job of educators to prepare students for life, not just tests. The standardization of schools based on testing tends to eliminate any rooms for cultural learning. If we begin teaching about human diversity instead of constantly repeating the same math problems (which some children will never use in their adult lives) we can teach acceptance and understanding.
In her book, Dividing Classes, Ellen Brantlinger demonstrates how social class status reproduces educational inequality. She finds that the middle class yields tremendous power in shaping public education for all children. She also finds that working class children have the outcomes they do because their parents are realistic. They are aware of their children’s limitations and have lower expectations for educational achievement (2003).
It is the role of the educator to change the social and economic inequality between students. Granted this change cannot take place without some help from other sources, but educators can take the first steps. These inequalities should not play a role in the educational attainment of a child. Because a parent does not believe their child cannot attain high educational achievement does not mean they should not be pushed to do so. It is the job of those in the school system to take time to help students and push students toward their goals. Spending extra time to help students work to their fullest potential and achieve their goals should never be a burden to a member of the teaching profession; it should be a priority.
My dream classroom is a learning environment, filled with enriching materials and resources. It is a place where children can learn, grow and flourish. Students will feel like they are heard and their opinions are encouraged and valued. As an educator I believe it is my responsibility to both my students and myself to make my classroom a place where students not only feel comfortable but they feel alive, ready to learn, and able to make a difference.