Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Key Questions … What are your core beliefs about the nature and purpose of education? How do these beliefs manifest themselves as values? What have been the beliefs and values of others?

Objectives …  Explain and evaluate the values and attitudes of individuals towards education (schooling – schools)  Provide examples of educational beliefs and attitudes – theorists  Explain and exemplify the concept of reflection in practice

Concepts and terminology Concepts Terms used to classify, interpret, describe, explain and evaluate, e.g. education may be defined using ‘instruction’, ‘creativity’, etc., but not everyone will agree; authors therefore tend to stipulate what they mean by the conceptdescribestipulate Perspectives Set of concepts? Selected facts, values and assumptions are used to create a screen for viewing events

Concepts and terminology Theories and models Explanatory and often evaluative accounts Bundled related concepts Theories – coherent system of connected concepts Models – small bundle of concepts and their relationship to each other Theories/models may or may not be informed by research or experience Metaphors A way of describing one thing by reference to another Assumptions and ideologies Taken for granted System of beliefs, attitudes and opinions L. Poulson and M. Wallace, Learning to Read Critically in Teaching and Learning (London: Sage, 2004)

What is education for? Intrinsically valuable Preparation for life Preparation for work Socialisation Indoctrination Diversity To create opportunity Or …, …, …, …?

Activities 20 mins: Whole group discussion Definition of terms: What do we understand by …? What do others understand by …? 20 mins: Small group discussion From the readings … outline the history of the philosophy of education: Why has it changed? What are its problems? 60 minutes: What do you believe is meant by ‘education’? What do others believe? How do these beliefs manifest themselves as values? How can you defend your viewpoint?

In school … Examine the handbook/prospectus in your first placement school and try to identify the values/attitudes and beliefs about education it exemplifies …

Readings … Plato, Republic: To educate people to bring about a just society – ‘child farming’ […] ‘turning towards what is good’ (p. 228) […] ‘educators will notice that some youths are suited by temperament’ ‘Authoritarian’ or ‘child-centred’ (p. 229) Francis Bacon: ‘truth about nature would be manifest to the individual’ Locke: Moral aspects of education Rousseau: Emile (1762) – child-centredness – learning by doing Dewey: Child’s social experience A. O’Hear, ‘History of the philosophy of education’, in T. Honderich (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 228–31

Readings … Hirstian liberal education: Logical forms of knowledge – logical patterns of reasoning, e.g. mathematics, history physical sciences – each with its own unique concepts and ‘truth’ … Educational aims in liberal society: Liberal democratic society – creating autonomy. What is ‘personal’ well-being? Education and politics: Education for ‘Work Society’ or ‘Activity Society’; Concept of Citizenship … Children’s minds and learning: Child development J. White, ‘Problems of the philosophy of education’, in T. Honderich (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 231–4