CHAPTER 5: Educational Philosophy and Your Teaching Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional 5th Edition Don P. Kauchak and Paul D. Eggen

Philosophy, Theory, and Your Philosophy of Education In common usage a philosophy typically describes the way things “ought to be.” The medical profession should focus on treatment. The medical profession should focused on prevention. These statements represent two different philosophical positions with respect to the medical profession. Your description of the way education and your teaching “ought to be” describes your philosophy of education. Expressing the way things “ought to be” is commonly described as normative philosophy. A “theory” is a set of related principles used to explain events in the world around us. In common usage a person might say, “My theory is . . . .” This statement will usually then be followed by an explanation for some event.

Philosophy and Theory: An Application You and a friend are involved in a discussion. “This emphasis on being so careful about kids’ self esteem has set education back decades,” you assert. “We know what motivates kids. I’ve seen it over and over. When they succeed on tasks they perceive as challenging, their motivation increases. So, what we should be doing is challenging them and helping them succeed.” “That’s great,” your friend responds, “but how do you know what’s most important for them to learn? Kids need to learn how to get information on their own. Then, they’ll be equipped to function in today’s world.” Identify a statement you made that is based on theory, and then identify a “philosophical” statement. Also, identify a philosophical statement your friend makes. “When they succeed on tasks they perceive as challenging, their motivation increases,” is a statement based on theory. You are explaining why kids are motivated. “So, what we should be doing is challenging them and helping them succeed” is a philosophical statement. “Kids need to learn how to get information on their own. Then, they’ll be equipped to function in today’s world,” is a philosophical statement your friend made.

Branches of Philosophy Epistemology The branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge and questions such as, “How is knowledge acquired?” and “How do we know what we know?” The scientific method, experience, intuition, and knowledge revealed by experts, are all ways of knowing. Metaphysics (ontology) The branch of philosophy that considers what we know and considers questions such as, “What is real?” For example, is ultimate reality the outside, material world, or is it the inner, mental world of ideas, as the great Greek philosopher, Plato, believed it to be?

Branches of Philosophy Continued Axiology The branch of philosophy that examines values and ethics and deals with issues of right and wrong. Is it okay to exceed the speed limit out on the highways, for example, since most people do? Logic The branch of philosophy that examines the processes of deriving valid conclusions from basic principles. If you conclude that the Toyota Corolla is an excellent car, because you read several consumer reports indicating that it has a very good reliability record, you’re using logic. Your logic could be outlined as follows: Reliability records are a good indicator of a car’s excellence. The Corolla has a very good reliability record. Therefore, it’s an excellent car.

Branches of Philosophy in Our Daily Lives Which branch of philosophy is best illustrated in each of the following examples? 1. A small child is watching a children’s program with his dad, and they see a pack of wolves running through a forest. “Doggies,” the child exclaims excitedly. “Actually, Carlos, they’re wolves,” his dad says gently. “They’re doggies to him,” his mom smiles. 2. You’ve taken a job, and you’re talking to your mentor, a person you greatly respect, partially because in one of your first conversations he said, “I’m getting paid to help kids learn, and I’m not earning my salary if I don’t give it my very best, If they don’t ‘get it,’ it won’t be because I didn’t try.” 1. This best illustrates metaphysics. The child’s father is suggesting that a reality independent of the child’s perception exists, whereas his mother is tacitly suggesting that his perception is reality. 2. This example illustrates axiology. Your mentor is saying that he wouldn’t be acting ethically if he didn’t do his very best to help his students learn.

Branches of Philosophy in Our Daily Lives Continued 3. “You’re making that up,” you joke to a friend in a friendly disagreement. “I am not,” she asserts. “Here, look at this,” she continues as she shows you an article that supports her point. 4. “Absolutely I support same-sex marriage,” another of your friends says. “To be opposed to it is a form of discrimination, and discriminating against same-sex couples is as wrong as discriminating against someone on the basis of race. 5. “I’m eating too much,” you complain. “How do you know?” your friend wonders. “When you take in more calories than you burn, you gain weight, and I’ve gained 5 pounds in the last 6 months,” you respond. 3. This best illustrates epistemology. Your friend is suggesting that her basis for “knowing” is evidence that she found in an article. This is a form of applying the scientific method. 4. This best illustrates axiology. Your friend is taking an ethical position. 5. You’re demonstrating logic. Your thinking can be outlined as follows: Major premise: If you take in more calories that you burn, you gain weight. Minor premise: I’m gaining weight. Conclusion: Therefore, I’m eating too much. [I’m taking in more calories than I’m burning.]

Philosophies of Education Perennialism The educational philosophy suggesting that nature—including human nature—is constant and schools should teach content and topics that have withstood the test of time. Essentialism The educational philosophy suggesting that specific knowledge and skills exist that all people should possess. Progressivism An educational philosophy emphasizing real-world problem solving and individual development. Social reconstructionism An educational philosophy asserting that schools, teachers, and students should take the lead in addressing social problems and improving society.

Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. What philosophy of education is best illustrated by each of the following descriptions. 1. Standards are part of reality in today’s schools, and you will be expected to prepare your students to meet the standards. 2. To Kill a Mockingbird, an American classic novel that deals with issues of racism, discrimination, and personal relationships, among other ideas, is commonly taught in American high schools. 1. The fact that standards exist suggests that educational leaders believe essential knowledge and skills exist that students should master, so the standards movement reflects essentialist philosophy. 2. Racism, discrimination, and personal relationships are time-honored ideas, so teaching To Kill a Mocking Bird reflects a perennialist philosophy. It indicates that although much of today’s curriculum reflects essentialism, the other philosophies are alive and well.

Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. 3. You’re a science teacher, and you want your students to understand the concept camouflage. So, you take a box each of red, green, yellow, and blue toothpicks, randomly distribute equal numbers of each color on a marked off section of the school grounds and give your students 5 minutes to collect as many toothpicks as they can find. You then bring your students back into the classroom and you discuss reasons why they found different numbers of each color. 4. One of your colleagues feels very strongly about bullying, and spends considerable time in his classroom discussing examples of bullying, including cyber-bullying and why it is wrong. He uses every incident of bullying as a “teachable moment,” to deal with the issue. 3. Your approach best reflects a progressivist philosophy. You emphasize the personal growth of students, so you involve them, provide them with experiences, and promote personal and social skills through discussion. 4. Your colleague’s emphasis reflects a social reconstructionist orientation. He uses the examples as opportunities to improve the social environment of the school and classroom.

Philosophies of Education: Their Influence on Teaching Cont. 5. A fourth grade teacher gives her students a math quiz every Thursday, and they go over the results every Friday. “Practice, practice, practice,” she asserts. “They won’t get if they don’t practice. 5. This teacher’s view suggests that she believes that her students need to acquire basic and important math skills, so her approach reflects an essentialist philosophy.

Personal Philosophies of Education 1. What is the purpose of a personal philosophy of education? 2. What is the beginning point for forming a personal philosophy of education? 3. Based on what you observed in the video episode, describe what you believe Judy’s [the middle school geography teacher] personal philosophy of education might be. What might Bob’s [the teacher in the lesson on the Vietnam War] be? 4. To which of the educational philosophies is each teacher’s personal philosophy most closely related? 1. A personal philosophy of education helps us decide what kind of teachers we want to be. The philosophies guide our decisions and actions. 2. Forming a personal philosophy of education begins by examining our beliefs about students, teaching, learning, and education in general.

Personal Philosophies of Education Continued 3. Based on what we saw in the video episode Judy appears to believe that learning activities are most effective if students are involved, and she believes her role is to guide their developing understanding as they work their way through the learning activity. By comparison, Bob appears to believe that students need basic knowledge about the topic, and his role is to provide them with that knowledge, largely in the form of lecture. 4. Although most personal philosophies of education are not explicit applications of a single educational philosophy, Judy’s approach, with its emphasis on personal development—such as gathering information, finding patterns, articulating thinking, and working collaboratively with classmates—appears to be most closely related to progressivism. Because her approach also focuses on skills needed in this modern world, it also could be considered a reflection of essentialism Bob’s approach, in contrast with Judy’s, focused explicitly on a body of knowledge, which suggests that, to him, acquiring knowledge was the most important goal of the learning activity. This is most closely related to essentialism.

Discussion Questions 1-4 1. Four basic areas of philosophy are epistemology, metaphysics, axiology, and logic. Which of these is most valuable for teachers? Least valuable? 2. Technology is becoming increasingly important in society as well as education. Which of the four philosophies of education—perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, or social reconstructionism—is most compatible with applications of technology in education? Least compatible? 3. Students are becoming increasingly diverse. How well do the different philosophies of education address issues of student diversity? 4. Which philosophy of education has the most current support in the geographic area in which you plan to teach? What evidence do you have for your conclusion?

Discussion Questions 5-8 5. Of the different educational philosophies discussed in this chapter, which is most valuable in framing issues for preschool children? Elementary students? Middle school students? High school students? Does one particular philosophy fit with a content area that you will be teaching? 6. Teachers in elementary schools commonly emphasize reading, language arts, and math much more strongly than other parts of the curriculum such as social studies, art, and music. What does this emphasis suggest about the teachers’ philosophical positions? 7. How is the recent emphasis on standards related to the different educational philosophy positions? Which philosophical position is most aligned with the standards movement? Least? 8. Is having a coherent personal educational philosophy more important at certain grade levels than others? In some content areas that others? In some types of schools (e.g., urban vs. suburban) than others?