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Which educational philosophy do you most closely identify with and why?
The educational philosophy that I identify with would be existentialism. The existentialism philosophy appeals to me for three reasons. First, existentialism is student centered, something I prefer in regards to education. I personally believe that the classroom should be focused on the students and not what the teacher or school districts believe should be taught. If majority rules then it could be said that in classroom students outweigh teachers, with that said the classroom should be centered on the students and what they want and need. Second, existentialism promotes students to explore and discover themselves as an individual. In the words of Dr.Seuss “There is no you youer than you.” It is obvious to us that no one person is identical so why would we as educators treat our students as such. Nurturing a young mind and giving it a place that it is free to grow without judgment or restriction is the only way my classroom could be run. Imagine how many adults walk around unhappy with their life because they were never given a chance to discover themselves in a carbon copy classroom setting. The third reason I support existentialism would be because it does not make learning a race. With this educational philosophy student are able to set their own pace. If education is rushed there is no way that it is thoroughly absorbed.
What should be the guiding purposes or goals of formal education?
As a future educator, I personally believe that the goals of formal education should be much like the existentialism purpose of education which is to help children find the meaning and direction in their lives. I believe that educators should guide students in their quest to discover themselves. If we can guide students to understand their selves, it opens the door to them understanding others. Education should be about opening a young mind before it is closed by the narrow materialistic ideals of society. If we as educators help students find their direction in life in our classrooms we build a path for that student to follow. Most adults today took what society handed them without a second thought, I want my students to know what they want in this world and not settle for anything less.
What is the school’s obligation to society?
The schools obligation to society is to produce enlightened citizens. I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our youth understands the importance and value of morals, responsibility, equality. respect, patriotism, and kindness. To produce citizens who are able to see the impact that their words and actions are capable of. To truly know right from wrong. To be humane to all. We as educators are obligated to show students not the way they have to be living but the way that they should. Contributing to society is more than paying taxes and voting, contributing to society is leading a life that reflects values and enlightenment.
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I think that schools and teachers should promote social change through service learning projects. I find that many students have only been exposed to one lifestyle, their own. Service learning projects takes students out of their own lives and spend time helping making a change in this world and begin to see things from a different perspective. Seeing the effect that they could have on society promotes students to evaluate their thoughts, ideals, opinions, and truths. The moment we stop seeing life through our own eyes and take a view from the eyes of another, we implement social change and social awareness.
