Philosophizing over education
Last year, I was required to develop my "philosophy of education." I had to write a paper in which I addressed What is the purpose of education? What should be taught? What is the student's role? and I had to provide an analogy that I felt education was like. This year, I am supposed to refine it and discuss what the teacher's role is, as well as what instructional strategies should be used? and also cut out the analogy part. And they also threw in this lil curveball--it can't be longer than two pages. My original one was 2.5 and with this new one I am supposed to talk about more stuff in less space.
I am having a very very hard time picking what to cut, because I am ridiculously proud of my first one and I feel like there isn't really much room for cutting out stuff until I start cutting out some great substance aka I don't really think there's much fluff in there!
So.
I come to ye for help! Please, if you have time, read this and let me know what parts you think can be cut out. The entire last paragraph is going because that was my "analogy" so concentrate on the first three paragraphs. Thank you!
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Philosophy of Education
What is the purpose of teaching? What is the driving force that compels us to educate our young? The simplest answer would be to befit them for when they enter the “real world” as adults. Survival in today’s society demands at least a basic knowledge of reading, writing, and for many jobs some form of technology; hence, education is required. Also, society uses education as a means to pass down its culture to the next generation. While these answers bear truth there is, in my opinion, a much deeper reason for education. As human beings, it is our capacity for complex reasoning that sets us apart from animals. We can not sit back and be lazy, becoming like our primal cousins, but rather, we should take advantage of our capabilities, stimulate our minds, and learn just for the sake of learning. This exercising of the mind will develop critical thinking skills essential to success in the real world. For my own future students, while I do want them to learn the material, even more than that, I want them to appreciate the learning process. In our education system today, everything has come to revolve around making the grade rather than the learning process which was the initial purpose of education. I will not claim that grades are not important, because they are-undeniably so, but I do believe that the actual learning process is just as important if not more so than the grade one receives in a course. I aspire to instill this love for learning in my students, which will ultimately help them to better understand the material and thereby also make a good grade.
The question of what should be taught in schools is often raised as well. Society today perceives intelligence to be aptitude in mathematics, the sciences, or linguistics. While schools must offer the fundamental “3 R’s”-reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic- classes, they must also take into account other types of intelligences, and offer classes accordingly to accommodate these students. This is particularly important for high school students as they explore their career choices. For example, more schools should begin to accommodate a vocational track. Society cannot function without its plumbers, electricians, and mechanics, and schools should take into account that college is simply not for everyone and help fit these students for their future as well. Also, schools should offer curricula in music and the arts, another type of intelligence that is often overlooked in schools today. By offering curricula that caters to all the different types of intelligence, schools will help a larger percentage of their students realize their full potential. Finally, students need to understand their world-where it has come from, its current state, and where it is going-so all students should be taught the social sciences, especially history, current events, and sociology. Simply, courses in schools should promote creating a well-rounded, societally aware, intelligent individual.
As much as teachers are responsible for in a child’s education, they cannot be held responsible for everything; the student has roles and responsibilities as well. Being a student is like a full-time job for a child, so like a worker in the adult world, students are expected to attend class and be alert so that they can perform well in their job. They must respect the teacher, because a lesson will be lost upon the student if the student does not respect or pay attention to the teacher. Also, students cannot be passive about school; it is the student’s responsibility to actively participate by asking questions and completing the homework and other assignments. Lastly, students should provide feedback to the teacher about the course-what they feel works and what does not. A good teacher will not take offense to constructive criticism and will most likely work to better herself, so students should not fear angering the teacher and offer their opinion on the class.
To me, teaching is like a road trip. It is the journey, or learning process, rather than the end, or grade, that is the more significant aspect of the trip. The teacher is the driver who must map out lessons, but lets the students direct how long they need to visit each place, or topic; the teacher must also constantly steer the students in the right direction and keep them on the right roads. Each day of teaching is different, just as each day on the road trip is different. On road trips, sometimes the most memorable experiences are spontaneous; similarly, teachers should not pass up a “teachable moment” just because it is not on the itinerary. Some teaching days may feel like the teacher and the students are running out of gas, but others will fly by as the class sings along to the radio. Teaching is a long and winding road, but with every stop, every twist and turn, new worlds are discovered and fostered in the students who will in turn, make our world a better place.
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And yes, the analogy is cheesy/dramatic but whatev. It worked. Please any help would be appreciated! This sucker is due TOMORROW!
EDIT: Forgot to put it in a nice cut so that I don't take up people's entire friend page XP
EDIT 2 (12:46 am): Finished with the new edition, and I went only a little bit over into the third page. 5 lines to be precise. So I'm counting that as the paper space I lost from the MLA heading >.< Not nearly as happy with it as with the original, but at least it is DONE.
I am having a very very hard time picking what to cut, because I am ridiculously proud of my first one and I feel like there isn't really much room for cutting out stuff until I start cutting out some great substance aka I don't really think there's much fluff in there!
So.
I come to ye for help! Please, if you have time, read this and let me know what parts you think can be cut out. The entire last paragraph is going because that was my "analogy" so concentrate on the first three paragraphs. Thank you!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philosophy of Education
What is the purpose of teaching? What is the driving force that compels us to educate our young? The simplest answer would be to befit them for when they enter the “real world” as adults. Survival in today’s society demands at least a basic knowledge of reading, writing, and for many jobs some form of technology; hence, education is required. Also, society uses education as a means to pass down its culture to the next generation. While these answers bear truth there is, in my opinion, a much deeper reason for education. As human beings, it is our capacity for complex reasoning that sets us apart from animals. We can not sit back and be lazy, becoming like our primal cousins, but rather, we should take advantage of our capabilities, stimulate our minds, and learn just for the sake of learning. This exercising of the mind will develop critical thinking skills essential to success in the real world. For my own future students, while I do want them to learn the material, even more than that, I want them to appreciate the learning process. In our education system today, everything has come to revolve around making the grade rather than the learning process which was the initial purpose of education. I will not claim that grades are not important, because they are-undeniably so, but I do believe that the actual learning process is just as important if not more so than the grade one receives in a course. I aspire to instill this love for learning in my students, which will ultimately help them to better understand the material and thereby also make a good grade.
The question of what should be taught in schools is often raised as well. Society today perceives intelligence to be aptitude in mathematics, the sciences, or linguistics. While schools must offer the fundamental “3 R’s”-reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic- classes, they must also take into account other types of intelligences, and offer classes accordingly to accommodate these students. This is particularly important for high school students as they explore their career choices. For example, more schools should begin to accommodate a vocational track. Society cannot function without its plumbers, electricians, and mechanics, and schools should take into account that college is simply not for everyone and help fit these students for their future as well. Also, schools should offer curricula in music and the arts, another type of intelligence that is often overlooked in schools today. By offering curricula that caters to all the different types of intelligence, schools will help a larger percentage of their students realize their full potential. Finally, students need to understand their world-where it has come from, its current state, and where it is going-so all students should be taught the social sciences, especially history, current events, and sociology. Simply, courses in schools should promote creating a well-rounded, societally aware, intelligent individual.
As much as teachers are responsible for in a child’s education, they cannot be held responsible for everything; the student has roles and responsibilities as well. Being a student is like a full-time job for a child, so like a worker in the adult world, students are expected to attend class and be alert so that they can perform well in their job. They must respect the teacher, because a lesson will be lost upon the student if the student does not respect or pay attention to the teacher. Also, students cannot be passive about school; it is the student’s responsibility to actively participate by asking questions and completing the homework and other assignments. Lastly, students should provide feedback to the teacher about the course-what they feel works and what does not. A good teacher will not take offense to constructive criticism and will most likely work to better herself, so students should not fear angering the teacher and offer their opinion on the class.
To me, teaching is like a road trip. It is the journey, or learning process, rather than the end, or grade, that is the more significant aspect of the trip. The teacher is the driver who must map out lessons, but lets the students direct how long they need to visit each place, or topic; the teacher must also constantly steer the students in the right direction and keep them on the right roads. Each day of teaching is different, just as each day on the road trip is different. On road trips, sometimes the most memorable experiences are spontaneous; similarly, teachers should not pass up a “teachable moment” just because it is not on the itinerary. Some teaching days may feel like the teacher and the students are running out of gas, but others will fly by as the class sings along to the radio. Teaching is a long and winding road, but with every stop, every twist and turn, new worlds are discovered and fostered in the students who will in turn, make our world a better place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And yes, the analogy is cheesy/dramatic but whatev. It worked. Please any help would be appreciated! This sucker is due TOMORROW!
EDIT: Forgot to put it in a nice cut so that I don't take up people's entire friend page XP
EDIT 2 (12:46 am): Finished with the new edition, and I went only a little bit over into the third page. 5 lines to be precise. So I'm counting that as the paper space I lost from the MLA heading >.< Not nearly as happy with it as with the original, but at least it is DONE.