Brittney Guyer

My Philosophy for Education: Essentialism

In a classroom that focuses on respect, high standards, and mastery of skills,
their attention is on the philosophy of essentialism. In my classroom, this philosophy
will be applied. It is important for students to learn the critical, basic knowledge
they need to know in a structured enironment. I beliee that an emphasis should
be put on the basic sub!ects and that students should master the basics before
moing on to harder more comple" things. #he more challenging material will be
more easily learned and understood in the basic concepts are $rst grasped by the
student. Essentialism is a practical philosophy that should be incorporated into
eery classroom.
%s applied in the classroom, there are many parts to make an essentialist
teacher successful. #hese consist of high e"pectations, heay curriculum, respect,
mastering skills, and non&ade'uate content. It is important for students to learn and
e"cel in these basic e"pectations to thrie in an essentialist classroom. I beliee
that without these fundamentals of behaior, a child will not be prepared to enter
the real world or the work force. I, as a teacher, must be the primary e"ample of
these behaiors in order for my students to learn by e"ample.
Essentialist curriculum for elementary education includes computer, writing,
measuring, and reading. Essentialist curriculum for secondary education includes
math, science, foreign language, literature, and history. #his ensures a well&rounded
education and makes sure the children are prepared for the ne"t leel ()auchak*.
+tudents are e"pected to master skills that start o, easy and slowly moe towards
more adanced skills and knowledge. If the students do not master these skills,
they will not moe to the ne"t leel (%lbear*. I see the core, basic sub!ects as
essential. -ithout complete mastery of these skills, students will struggle in higher
leel courses.
.lassroom management means haing strong core alues of discipline and
great morals. #he strict enironment of an essentialist classroom causes students to
learn to be well&behaed. /espect is especially a ery important aspect for the
classroom. -ithout respect in the classroom, it would create a challenging
enironment for both the teacher and the student. Essentialists hae high
e"pectations of e"cellent behaior. #hey try to implement traditional morals and
'ualities such as respect for authority, determination, loyalty, consideration of
others, and realism. +chools that use essentialism are academically challenging for
fast and slow learners. -ithout a challenge, students are not taught to oer achiee
and set goals for themseles. .hallenging a student shows them what they are
capable of achieing when they set their mind to it.
Essentialist teachers beliee that teachers are student0s role models both
intellectually and morally. #hey beliee that students should sit 'uietly and listen
respectfully while they teach. 1sually teachers will not use any class discussion or
any kind of pro!ects. Essentialism classrooms are best suited for the student who
learns best by independent work. Group pro!ects are not encouraged in the
essentialist classroom. 2or students like myself, they will en!oy the independent
work and make better grades my challenging themseles and setting personal
goals.
#he philosophy of essentialism has many adantages that help better the
students. Because of the focus on learning core sub!ects and the igorous work
load, students learn the alue of hard work. +tudents are taught to be disciplined
when it comes to completing their assignments. %lso, in the classroom, students are
taught respect through obeying their teacher and haing proper manners. +tudents
are placed in an organi3ed, non&chaotic learning atmosphere (Philosophical*. #hey
also learn to hae motiational attitudes through the emphasis on essentialism.
#he essentialist classroom focuses on the indiidual mastery of each student.
4o matter what the student0s ability, eery student will hae a core curriculum at a
mastery leel before moing on to new sub!ects. #he philosophy teaches morals
and 'ualities to guide students through their life which includes respect towards
authority, loyalty, and determination. #he teacher is iewed as a role model for the
students. #he philosophy of essentialism teaches the basic core sub!ects and allows
students to learn them at a mastery leel. #hough this philosophy may hae some
5aws such as no group work and hands on work, for many students, it is a
challenging philosophy. If children master the basics and build their morals and
character, they will hae the tools needed to establish themseles in their future
lies and careers. %spects of essentialism will always taught to my students and be
seen through my teaching philosophy.
-orks .ited
%lbear, G.6.. 7Essentialism .7 Essentialosm Educational Powerpoint. Eastern Illinois
1niersity , n.d. -eb.
8 %pr. 9:;<. www.library.eiu.edu=ersdocs=>>8?.pdf.
)auchak, 6on , and Paul Eggen . 7Educational Philosophy: #he Intellectual
2oundations of %merican
Education.7 Introduction To Teaching . fourth addition ed. Boston: Pearson,
9:;;. 9:<&9:>. Print.
7P@IAB+BP@I.%A PE/+PE.#ICE+ I4 E61.%#IB4.7 Oregon State University. 4.p., n.d.
-eb. > %pr. 9:;<.
Dhttp:==oregonstate.edu=instruct=ed>;E=PP<.htmlF.