Philosophy of Education and Personal

Philosophy of Teaching

Lesson I. What is Philosophy of Education

1. Definition and Nature

A philosophy of education is a statement (or set of statements) that identifies and
clarifies the beliefs, values and understandings of an individual or group with respect
to education. The philosophy of education examines the goals, forms, methods, and
meaning of education.

Philosophy is wisdom; education transmits that wisdom from one generation to the
other.
Philosophy is in reality the theory of education. In other words, education is the dynamic side
of philosophy, or application of the fundamental principles of philosophy. Philosophy
formulates the method, education its process.
2. Philosophy and Education
Education and philosophy, the two disciplines, are very closely related and in some
areas they overlap each other. It is quite often said that, 'Philosophy and Education are two
sides of the same coin'. 'Education is the dynamic side of philosophy'.
Education on the other hand is the dynamic side of philosophy. It is the active aspect
and the practical means of realizing the ideals of life. Education is a sacred necessity of life,
both from the biological and sociological point of view.

Lesson II. Philosophical Foundations of Education

1. Western Philosophies
Generally, Western philosophy of education comprises two schools, which
are traditional and modern. ... Comparing both schools of thought, it can be concluded that
Westerners stress on active learning on their learners, whereas the Easterners prefer passive
learning. The modern western philosophy has not only critical about orthodox religion but
also came with ideals of secularism, humanism, scientific temperament, progress and
development.

Contributions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to Western philosophy, and how their legacies
reflected in education today
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the three most legendary ancient Greek
philosophers. Socrates is hailed today as the personification of wisdom and the philosophical
life. He gave rise to what is now called the Socratic method, in which the teacher repeatedly
questions students to help them clarify their own deepest thoughts.
Plato, Socrates’s pupil, crafted eloquent dialogues that present different philosophical
positions on a number of profound questions. Plato believed that a realm of externally
existing”ideas,” or”forms,” underlies the physical world.

Aristotle, Plato’s pupil, was remarkable for the breadth as well as the depth of his
knowledge. He provided a synthesis of Plato’s belief in the universal, spiritual forms and a
scientist’s belief in the physical world we observe through our senses. He taught that the
virtuous life consists of controlling desires by reason and by choosing the moderate path
between extremes.

a. Idealism
Idealism, the first systematic philosophy in Western thought…Socrates and
Plato, the Socratic method was dialogue. The only constant for Plato was mathematics,
unchangeable and eternal. Plato’s method of dialogue engaged in systematic, logical examination
of all points of view…ultimately leading to agreement and a synthesis of ideas…this approach
known as the dialectic.
 Plato believed education helped move individuals collectively toward achieving the
good.

 Evil comes through ignorance, education will lead to the obliteration of evil.
 Role of the Teacher: to analyze and discuss ideas with students so that students can
move to new levels of awareness so that they can ultimately be transformed,
abstractions dealt with through the dialectic, but should aim to connect analysis with
action. Role of the teacher is to bring out what is already in student’s mind:
reminiscence

b. Realism
Aristotle was the leading proponent of realism, started the Lyceum, the first
philosopher to develop a systematic theory of logic. Generic Notions…only through studying
the material world is it possible to clarify or develop ideas…matter is real independent of
ideas.

c. Pragmatism/Experimentalism
Pragmatism is an American philosophy from the 19th century…Peirce, James, Dewey.
“By their fruits, ye shall know them.” Pragmatism encourages people to find processes that
work in order to achieve their desired ends…action oriented, experientially grounded.
Rousseau… “back to nature”, environment and experience…Emile, little regard for the
education of women other than to be Emile’s companion.

2. Eastern Philosophies
Eastern education philosophy holds on to the concept of teaching. Students receive
full knowledge from the teachers inside the classroom. Students in a way receive knowledge
in a rigid way as they only seem to learn and study straightly from the teachers.

a. Hinduism
Hinduism, is a major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent and
comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual.

b. Buddhism
 Buddhism, religion and philosophy that developed from the teachings of the
Buddha (Sanskrit: “Awakened One”), a teacher who lived in northern India between
the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries BCE (before the Common Era).

c. Confucianism
Confucianism, the way of life propagated by Confucius in the 6th–5th
century BCE and followed by the Chinese people for more than two millennia.

d. Taoism
Taoism (also spelled Daoism) is a religion and a philosophy from ancient
China that has influenced folk and national belief. Taoism has been connected to the
philosopher Lao Tzu, who around 500 B.C.E.
 Daoism, also spelled Taoism, indigenous religio-philosophical tradition that has
shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years

e. Zen Buddhism
Zen is the Japanese name for a Buddhist tradition practiced by millions of people
across the world. Historically, Zen practice originated in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam,
and later came to in the West. Zen takes many forms, as each culture that embraced it did so
with their own emphases and tastes. 
 “Zen” is not an adjective
 Zen  is a Japanese transliteration of the Chinese word  Chan, which is itself a
transliteration of dhyana
 the word for concentration or meditation in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit .

Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy

Zen aims at the perfection of personhood. To this end, sitting meditation called “za-
zen” is employed as a foundational method of  prāxis across the different schools of
this Buddha-Way—which is not an ideology, but a way of living.
f. Christian Philosophy
Christian philosophy includes all philosophy carried out by Christians, or in
relation to the religion of Christianity. Christian philosophy emerged with the aim of
reconcile science and faith, starting from natural rational explanations with the help
of Christian revelation.
g. Saracen Philosophy
Origins. Saracen, in the Middle Ages, any person—Arab, Turk, or other—who
professed the religion of Islām. Earlier in the Roman world, there had been references to
Saracens (Greek: Sarakenoi) by late classical authors in the first three centuries AD, the term
being then applied to an Arab tribe living in the Sinai Peninsula.

3. Contemporary Philosophies
a. Perennialism
Why teach. We are all rational animals. Schools should therefore, develop the students’
rational and moral powers.
What to teach. The perennialist curriculum is a universal one on the view that all human
beings possess the same essential nature.
How to teach. The perennialist classrooms are “centered around teachers.” The teachers do
not allow students’ interest or experiences to substantially dictate what they
teach.

b. Essentialism
Why teach. This philosophy contends that teachers teach for learners to acquire basic
knowledge, skills and values.
What to teach. Essentialist programs are academically rigorous. The emphasis is on academic
content for students to learn the basic skills or the fundamental r’s – reading, ‘riting,
‘rithmetic, right conduct – as these are essential to the acquisition of higher or more complex

skills in preparation for adult life.

How to teach. Essentialist teachers emphasize mastery of subject matter. They are expected
to be intellectual and moral models..

c. Existentialism
Why teach. The main concept of the existentialists is “to help understand and appreciate
themselves as unique individuals who accept responsibility for their thoughts,
feelings and actions

What to teach. “In an existentialist curriculum, students are given a wide variety of options
from which to choose.”

How to teach. “Existentialist methods focus on the individual. Learning is self-paced, self-
directed. In includes a great deal of contact with the teacher, who relates to each student
openly and honestly.

d.Progressivism
Why teach. Progressivist teachers teach to develop learners into becoming
enlightened and intelligent citizens of a democratic society.

What to teach. The progressivists are identified with need based and relevant curriculum.
This is a curriculum that “responds to students’ needs and that relates to students’ personal
lives and experiences.”
How to Teach. Progessivist teachers apply experiential methods. They believe that one learns
by doing.

e. Reconstructionism
Social reconstructionism is a philosophy that emphasizes the addressing of social
questions and a quest to create a better society and worldwide democracy . Reconstructionist
educators focus on a curriculum that highlights social reform as the aim of education.
 Reconstructionism is a “strategic philosophy for transforming society.”
 Reconstructionism believes that power should be shared and should be concentrated
in the hands of just a few people.
 Reconstructionism is an educational approach that is not affiliated with any one
system of thought.
 Reconstructionism in education is an idea that has been around for a while and many
different schools of though influence it. In general, the goal of reconstructionism in
education is to eliminate any form of oppression within the educational system. This
includes racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, and more.
  Reconstructionism in Education originated fro social justice activism, which aimed to
make our society a better place for marginalized people like women and minorities. It
was not until recently when scholars began researching how these beliefs can be
applied to academia – especially public schooling.

4. Post-modern Philosophies
What is post modernism as a philosophy of education?
Post modernism includes various groups of philosophers who follow multiplicity.
Regarding postmodernist, the aims of education are teaching critical thinking, production of
knowledge, development of individual and social identity, self-creation. In postmodern
education teachers just lead students to discover new things.
Early postmodern philosophers
The most influential early postmodern philosophers were Jean Baudrillard, Jean-
Francois
Lyotard, and Jacques Derrida. Michel Foucault is also often cited as an early
postmodernist although he personally rejected that label.

Criticism of postmodernism
Criticisms of postmodernism, while intellectually diverse, share the opinion that it
lacks coherence and is hostile to notions such as  truth, logic, and objectivity. Specifically, it is
held that postmodernism can be meaningless, promotes obscurantism and uses relativism
(in culture, morality, knowledge) to the extent that it cripples most judgment calls. As it
refuses discourse, it leaves postmodern thinkers to a self-centered environment where
individual opinion is sufficient, regardless of espy or qualification.

Lesson III. Principles and Philosophy of Philippine Education

1. Article II, Section 17 (1987 Philippine Constitution)
Sec 17 • The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts,
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and
promote total human liberation and development.
2. Article XIV, Section 1-2 (1987 Philippine Constitution)
Sec 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to
all.

Lesson IV. Personal Philosophy of Teaching

A. Importance of a Personal Philosophy of Teaching
In life it is important to understand who you are as a person. People also ask why is it
important to have a personal philosophy of education?
Through philosophy, you can ensure that your student not only retains his academic
knowledge from all his completed grades but also develop a sense of humane values and
ethics. These personal values provide a better upbringing for them to cope in the later years
of their life.
 Developing a Personal Philosophy of Education: A Requisite Guide to Educational
Practices
Educational philosophy is the backbone of any efficient teacher. It encapsulates
essentially the principles, the ways of thinking and the beliefs that provide the
foundation and the framework on which teachers define, delineate, and justify
their teaching agendas, their curriculum preferences, their pedagogical styles,
their classroom organizational structures, name it.

. How to Write a Personal Philosophy of Teaching?

Your teaching philosophy is a self-reflective statement of your beliefs about teaching
and learning. It's a one to two page narrative that conveys your core ideas about being an
effective teacher in the context of your discipline. It develops these ideas with specific,
concrete examples of what the teacher and learners will do to achieve those goals.
Importantly, your teaching philosophy statement also explains why you choose these
options.
Getting started
Your reasons for writing a teaching philosophy may vary
Generating ideas
Teaching philosophies express your values and beliefs about teaching.
Questions to prompt your thinking
Your concept of learning: What do you mean by learning? What happens in a
successful learning situation? Note what constitutes "learning" or "mastery" in your
discipline.

Basically, the steps to take to write a philosophy of teaching statement are presented
as follows:
1. Consider your audience
Before you begin writing your teaching philosophy statement, begin by
considering your audience and what will be of greatest importance to them.
2. Brainstorm
When you are reflecting on what to include in your teaching philosophy,
imagine that the term is over and that your students are leaving for the summer
break.
3. Tell a story
Get the attention of readers by sharing a story of how you effectively taught your
students and accomplished your goal. Share specific examples of the teaching techniques
you regularly use in the classroom.
4. Write an introduction
Your introduction should be the statement where you share with your readers your general
belief about education. For example, you may believe that all children have the right to learn
in a safe classroom.
5. Write the body
In the body part of your teaching philosophy statement, share what you believe is the ideal
classroom environment, how it makes you better as a teacher, addresses the individual needs
of your students and encourages interactions between parents and kids. Specifically, state
your goals and objectives and what you want your students to accomplish with the help of
your teaching.

6. Write the conclusion

In the final section, discuss what your goals are as a teacher, how you've met them in
the past and intend to build on them in the future. Discuss your personal approach to
teaching and managing the classroom and include what you believe makes you unique. You
may also want to include any intentions to advance your skills through further education.
7. Cite your sources
Explain how you came to use those specific strategies in the classroom. For example,
share with your readers whether you learned them from a mentor, from something you read
online or in a book or from another source. If your strategy was something you read about
and then modified for your own purposes, share that with your audience.
For a more effective way, here are some basic tips you can use as you write the
statement of your teaching philosophy.

Use simple language. Use clear and concise sentences that are free from jargon.
Use a simple structure. Use short paragraphs and headings so that it is easy for
readers to scan the document.
Focus on how you teach. Your CV or resume should focus on what you have done,
whereas your philosophy statement should focus on how you teach.
Pay attention to requirements. Take note of whether there are any specific
requirements for length.
Proofread carefully. Proofread the philosophy statement carefully to identify any
possible typographical errors and run-on sentences.