PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION 1

Philosophy of Education

Celina Frausto

California State University Dominguez Hills

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Philosophy of Education

Since I was little, my biggest dream was to become a kindergarten teacher. I have always

wanted to be a teacher, because I enjoy helping people and I want to help students to become

successful in life and inspire them to go after their dreams, because everything is possible if you

believe. I would like to change people’s lives and make a difference in a positive way. I want to

inspire students the same way my teachers inspired me with their dedicated work. I would like to

give them advice and serve them as a role model if they do not have any. I want to prepare

students for their futures. I want to be an effective teacher. However, there are several categories

that need to be fulfill to ensure that students receive the best education possible. These categories

are: purpose of education, learning environment, commitment to social justice, curriculum, and

characteristics I should have as a teacher.

We educate children because they are the future. They are the ones that will be leading

the world, and we want them to make the best out this society. As children become adults we

want them to be good critical thinkers, and have the knowledge that they need to compete in a

global economy. Additionally, F. Dana, B. Burns, and M. Wolkenhauer claim that “advances in
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technology have greatly accelerated the pace at which knowledge is created as well as the pace

that anyone with a computer can access that knowledge” (Fichtman et al., 2013, p.4). In essence,

as technology progresses, more knowledge is required, and “the types of jobs available and skills

they require have also dramatically changed” (Fichtman et al., 2013, p.4). Therefore, due to

advances in technology, jobs require different skills, and we want “students to be able to

critically think, problem solve, collaborate, adapt, show initiative, communicate effectively,

through written and oral language, access and analyze information, and use their imagination and

curiosity” (Fichtman et al., 2013, p.5). Thus, I believe that the purpose of education is to prepare

our children for college and workforce.

I believe that children learn best when they are taught under certain conditions. The best

conditions for a learning environment are an organized classroom, plenty of space, and stress-

free environment. For instance, in ​Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers

should learn and be able to do​, John Bransford,​ ​Linda Darling-Hammond, and Pamela LePage

stated that “Organizing a classroom for learning is extremely important to safeguard valuable

time and to create a positive environment for teaching and learning” (Bransford, et al., 2005,

p.37). In essence, if the classroom is organized, students will know what, how, when, and where

to do something. They will know how to behave and be able to perform their tasks easily. If the

classroom has enough space, students will be able to get everything done and stay organized. If

the classroom is a stress-free place, students will feel comfortable and ask questions without the

fear of being ridiculed. Students will also have opportunities to have fun, and interact with their

classmates by playing educational games. Being aware of these conditions and maintaining them

will ensure an effective learning environment.

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In order to ensure that all students are given equal access to learning, teachers should

make curricular decisions that consider and connect to students’ lives. For instance, in ​Why I

Dropped Everything and Started Teaching Kendrick Lamar’s New Album​ by Brian Mooney,

Mooney connected Kendrick Lamar’s album, ​To Pimp A Butterfly​ (2015), with a Toni

Morrison’s novel, ​The Bluest Eye​. Mooney connected ​The Bluest Eye​ with the type of music that

students liked, and it made it easier for students to understand and remember the main points

from the novel. Thus, if teachers connect classroom content to students’ lives, students’

motivation for learning will increase, and students will be more likely to remember and

understand the given information. Teachers should also understand that children learn

differently. For instance, “some students interpret the film ​The Patriot​ differently from the way

their friends do. All of us, in school and out, shape and sculpt the information we encounter,

“constructing” our understanding” (Wilson & Peterson, 2006, p.117). In essence, students

understanding of concepts are different because they create them out of what they already know.

Lastly, teachers should be aware of who is in the classroom, what effect the content will have on

students, and how students are going to process the information. For instance, “in an all-white

classroom situated in an all-white community, the content presented regarding racism and white

privilege will be different than it would be in a classroom with diverse racial identities, which is

different again, from a classroom with all students of color” (Hackman, 2005, p.108). Hence, as

a future educator, I would make sure that the lessons accommodate all students’ needs.

I believe students should learn about various subjects (literacy, literature, history, science,

math, visual and performing arts, health, physical education). I believe all these subjects are

fundamental to students’ lives. If students know math, they will know how much change they
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will receive, if they pay with a twenty dollar bill. If students know science, they will know how

things around them and even inside them work. If students take a physical education class, they

will know how to stay fit. Hence, to teach these various subjects, I would connect concepts of

these subjects to students’ lives. In other words, teachers should connect class content to things

that students like. For instance, when teaching math, I would explain problems in the sense of

money, since that is what most students are interested in. Also, when teaching history or a piece

of literature, I would assign a certain event or piece of literature to a group of students. Then,

they would have to act it out, and someone would have to record it. I believe that by making

them perform a certain event or piece of literature, it will make it easier for them to remember

and motivate them. For instance, when I was in high school my AP Spanish teacher would make

us perform certain pieces of literature, and that helped me remember about the stories.

Additionally, in ​Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers should learn and be

able to do, ​John Bransford, Linda Darling-Hammond, and Pamela LePage claim that “to make

content accessible to learners, teachers need flexible understanding of subject matter married to

an appreciation for how students learn” (Bransford, et al., 2005, p.36). In other words, teachers

should also have a deep understanding of the subjects being taught. Thus, when teaching various

subjects I need to have a deep understanding of each subject, and be able to relate class content

to students’ lives.

As a future educator, I believe that effective teachers should be patient, caring,

supportive, motivating, encouraging, creative, and have a desire for knowledge. Effective

teachers should be patient because working with children is not an easy task. For instance, a few

months ago, I was tutoring math in one of Compton’s high schools. I was supposed to help
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students with their geometry homework, but I ended up teaching them the basic math. Students

did not know how to subtract or multiply, so I decided to teach them as much as I could the basic

math because how they were going to understand geometry, if they did not know the basic math.

Thus, I had to be very patient with them. I had to motivate them by telling them to keep on trying

because they could do it. I also had to be supportive by sharing with them all my knowledge on

the concepts that they were working on. Therefore, I believe effective teachers should act as role

models for students, and have a desire for knowledge. I believe teachers should be passionate

and willing to learn so that they can better serve the needs of their students.

References

Bransford, J., Darling-Hammond, L., and LePage, P. (2005). Introduction. In Darling-Hammond,

L., & Bransford, J. (Eds.). ​Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers should learn

and be able to do ​(p. 1 -39). San Francisco, CA:Jossey-Bass.

Hackman, H. W. (2005). Five essential components for social justice education. ​Equity &

Excellence in Education​ 38, p.103-109.

Mooney, B. (2015). Why I dropped everything and started teaching Kendrick Lamar’s new

album. ​In Hip Hop Ed, Reflections, Teaching & Learning​, p.1-12.

Nancy, F.D., Jamey, B.B. and Rachel, M. W. (2013). The Common Core and Inquiry. ​Inquiring

into the Common Core​ (1-13). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Wilson, S. M., & Peterson, P. L. (2006). ​Theories of Learning and Teaching What Do They

Mean for Educators? ​Washington, D.C.: National Education Association.

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