Philosophy of Education 1

Philosophy of Education

Dalton Phillips

Paris Junior College

EDUC 1301.200

Dr. Marian Ellis

10/06/2019
Philosophy of Education 2

Philosophy of Education

Being a student and learning new things is fun and all, but being able to see and

experience the things I’m learning like a lab, video, or a field trip. Being able to see everything

that was being taught to me gave me a different view and more in depth of that certain subject. I

remember one specific field trip in elementary for Social Studies class, and we went to a

museum about indians and being able to tour the museum and our teacher pointing out things we

read and talked about in the classroom. To me teachers are here to teach kids what they need to

succeed not only on tests and school but for life and society. Teachers nowadays are too focused

on what the States want like the STAAR, EOC, etc., In those situations I do not believe that

students have learned everything they need for their life outside of school.

One of the Philosophers that I agree with is John Dewey. He believed that you learn by

doing and through social interactions in the real world. Dewey also believed in applying older

experiences into new problems. John Dewey was the founder of progressivism one of the

student-centered philosophies today. I believe in Dewey’s philosophy because whenever I was a

student I learned well like this, but especially in baseball I was very good at being told how to do

something, being shown, and then immediately doing it and grasping onto it.

To me, everyone would like to be some type of teacher. Either it be some type of

volunteer coach for baseball or football team or being a teacher in the classroom. No matter what

it is I believe that these teachers need to be successful at creating a generation that is capable in

believing in themselves and able to make good life decisions in their future. We as teachers need

to create a strong group of people that can look at any situation and make good decisions for the

problem.
Philosophy of Education 3

Teacher should add in methods to teaching that includes the students more and more into

the classroom that gives them opportunities to be more and more involved in every lesson. In my

classroom I plan to give every student an opportunity to be involved in each lesson as much as

possible by giving the background surrounding a lesson before teaching it then asking their

opinions. Then I will ask what they personally think about the topic and see if they change their

mind or keep the same mindset. To me, involving the students as much as possible at any age

level keeps them into the lesson and pays attention more and possibly make them believe their

opinions do matter, which it always does.

Students look at teachers and observe what they do, especially with older students in high

school. In high school, these kids are at point in life where they are growing into the person that

they are going to be. In my opinion, teachers need to have a nice and well kept classroom. They

need to have everything organized and neat so the students can feel somewhat organized

themselves while they are in there. Especially in school, no one wants to feel uncomfortable

while they are there so teachers should not make them feel that way while in the classroom.

I do not think my thoughts on how I want to teach in the future will change too much as I

go through school and start my life as an educator. In my beliefs I would like to get rid of the

STAAR, EOC, etc., but at the end of the day that is something students will have to face each

year until the States get rid of the tests themselves. If these tests were approached differently

than with a requirement that you must pass to move on, then we would see more kids pass and

not fear these state required tests. High school students are especially effected because on top of

these tests, students are stressed over their grades in their classes and these tests only add on to
Philosophy of Education 4

the stress. I feel there is more to learn in a classroom than what the states are currently requiring,

but if I am a successful teacher to my students then they will be prepared for those tests.

In the end, if we are able to bring students into the classroom and allow them to

be themselves, be apart of the lessons and have critical and independent thinking on certain

topics then they will be more successful than just the basic learning requirements. We can show

them the real world and their opportunities in it. This should be the end goal for all teachers to

help and guide them each year and open doors for the world we live in today.