Michelle Lotz

4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
The Purpose of Education
When people hear the word school, many think of the place where you go
to learn information, complete assignments, and ultimately move on to the next grade
level. This idea that many in society share, creates the mindset that completion is all that
matters. As long as you make it through to the next grade or next phase in your education,
you have succeeded. The purpose of education, however, should not be the physical
diploma; it should be what that diploma represents.
The diploma you receive should symbolize that your school has not only
taught you the curriculum containing the core subjects such as math, reading, science,
and history, but also given you the tools that you need to be effective citizens such as
manners, being on time, and how to interact with people from different backgrounds.
Schools should also serve as tools for change (Sadker, 1942, pg. 278). They should foster
childrens own individual thoughts and opinions about society without pressure to
conform to the schools or teachers, and encourage them to become involved in the
world around them.
I draw my philosophy from two men from history, Horace Mann and John
Dewey. Horace Mann established the common school with the belief that Public
education should serve both practical and idealistic goals (Sadker, 1942, pg.141).
Horace Mann was an essentialist, and his common school would ensure that children
from a range of socioeconomic statuses would have common education. John Dewey on
the other hand helped to spark the progressivism movement. He established a school at
the University of Chicago in 1896 which incorporated broadening the program to include

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
health concerns, social sciences, and accepting the needs of a diverse student body
(Sadker, 1942, pg.150). I believe Manns essentialistic ideas mixed with Deweys
progressivism creates the best environment for students to learn efficiently.
As a teacher I would try my best to make the classroom as student
centered as possible as opposed to teacher centered. The reason for schools existence is
for students to learn, so lessons should be run with the students in mind at all times. If the
teacher is getting more out of the lesson than the students are, then that becomes a
problem. By keeping the lessons student centered it helps to keep the focus on the
childrens growth instead of the teachers. Since I believe that the classroom should be
student centered, I would run my classroom in a progressive manner mixed with a little
bit of essentialism. I believe that it is important for the students to learn the core
curriculum and become familiar with the material before moving onto more complex
topics which essentialism values (Sadker, 1942, pg. 185). However, I also believe that all
children learn differently and, in order for them to be able to excel to their full potential
and meet the high standards set for them, they should have the ability to choose how they
refine those techniques taught to them. This is where I would implement progressive
methods of teaching. If the students are involved in activities that are suited to their own
individual styles of learning such as experiments, projects, and presentations (Sadker,
1942, pg. 191), I believe that they have a better chance to succeed. Personally I always
felt that I learned the best when I had a choice on how to show my knowledge. Whether
that meant turning in a project, presenting material to the class, or writing a paper.

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
Curriculum: What Should be Taught and Why?
The curriculum should be determined by a variety of people and groups
combined. The federal government ought to have the most say in the curriculum. Due to
acts such as No Child Left Behind, there is funding at stake for those schools who do not
abide by the standards the federal government sets (Sadker, 1942, pg. 322). The state
government followed by the local government would have the next greatest say in what
the upcoming curriculum would include. This is because statewide, standardized tests are
given, and students whose curriculum didnt coincide with those tests would be at a
disadvantage (Sadker, 1942, pg. 321). The tests given by all the levels of government are
also what colleges and universities look at to admit students. This is important to consider
when planning your curriculum because you want your students to be prepared for their
future. Once the government sets their standards for the curriculum, the community
including teachers, students, and parents can determine the rest. This will allow for
students to learn the things that are of value to the community in which they live, but in a
way that doesnt exclude information that isnt particular to the students geography.
The curriculum should include at a minimum math, reading, history, and
science. Understanding these subjects allow students to become active members in their
community. Without being able to comprehend these subjects, it is easy to become lost in
society and many doors filled with opportunities would close. If the schools have
additional funding, the curriculum should allow for students to select an elective to take
such as gym, music, art, etc. These types of electives give students the opportunity to
explore new interests, enhance their creativity, and learn more about themselves. A

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
combination of the core classes math, reading, history, and science along with electives
gives students a well-rounded education and a more extensive understanding about the
world around them. After taking these classes students should leave with the ability to
work well independently, with others, and also have a high level of self-efficacy.
Unfortunately the curriculum most desired might not suit the needs for all
students. One example is having a school with both male and female students. If males
and females were in the same gym class it would be unfair to judge them on the same
standards due to their physical differences. There would have to be a different set of
standards for the different groups of students. Another example would be Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) students. Reading literature such as Romeo and Juliet
or practices such as selecting a homecoming king and queen makes the assumption that
everyone is heterosexual (Sadker, 1942, pg. 64). Practices such as these can lead to
students who dont fit that mold feeling left out or excluded. Expanding the curriculum to
include literature from LGBT viewpoints or altering social events so that they allow for
LGBT inclusion are just some of the ways that schools can make all of their students feel
safe and respected.

Nature of the Learner:

I believe that all learning in the classroom should be students centered.
Assuming that the teacher is doing all they can to provide the proper resources and
instruction on assignments, the rest of the students learning falls on the students
themselves. There is a saying that goes You can lead a horse to water but cant force him

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
to drink. A student will only learn as much as they are willing to put in the work. Give
the students the information, the resources, and the help that they desire and the student
should be able to succeed as a result of his or her effort. This means if the student does
not do well on a test after the teacher has presented the information, given assignments on
the topic, and allowed adequate time to study, the blame then falls on the student. On the
other hand, if the teacher/instructor does not give their students a sufficient amount of
instruction or practice on the new material it cannot be expected that the student will
succeed.
During the school day there are constant interactions between students and
peers, teachers, and administrators. The students should recognize that encountering
people who are at different levels in the hierarchy of the school require means acting
differently towards each. A student might joke around and talk about things with his peers
that might not be appropriate if they were interacting with a teacher. For example talking
to ones best friend about the party that they went to on the weekend is one thing, while
talking to your teacher about it is inappropriate. When dealing with teachers, students
should recognize them as authority figures and be respectful. This means omitting
language that could be seen as offensive even if their friends are okay with it, or
following the rules and guidelines set in the classroom. In addition, teachers should
realize that even though they are in charge of the students in their classroom, they are still
people and should not be looked down upon or treated as less of a person than himself or
herself. When students interact with administration they should be just as cautious about
what they say and how they say it as they would around their teachers or parents. And

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
just as teachers should maintain control but in a non-demeaning way administration
should do the same.

Teaching Methods that should be Used and Why:

In order to build the most beneficial learning environment, I would create
a classroom that encourages exploration and movement. As someone who believes in
learning by doing, I feel that it is important to make sure that the students have as many
opportunities as possible to participate in active learning. A classroom filled with
different stations to allow for hands on learning and kinesthetic experiences would make
not only the curriculum, but the physical classroom student centered as well.
Nonetheless, this type of classroom can only be successful if certain
factors are implemented. It requires a clear mission statement for what needs to be
accomplished and what the expectations are (Sadker, 1942, pg. 305). In a setting where
kids feel like they have control over their own learning it needs to be made clear that
there is a goal that they need to be working toward otherwise it is very easy to get off
track. In addition to working towards a goal, the students progress should be closely
monitored (Sadker, 1942, pg. 306). In a classroom where the students are working on
projects and assignments that may seem unorthodox, it is necessary that the teacher is
making sure that the students arent just doing the projects to pass the time but instead,
doing the projects and really learning from them, and ultimately reaching their goal. All
of these things can only be accomplished if everyone involved feels safe. This means that

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
everyone involved is treated with respect and feels welcome in the classroom (Sadker,
1942, pg. 305).

The Role of the Teacher:

Even when a curriculum is student centered that doesnt mean that the
teacher doesnt play a vital role in the school. The teacher has relationships with all types
of people and each relationship is a little bit different. Beginning with administrators,
teachers should feel comfortable enough to approach them with any questions they have
or to ask for help they may need. On the other side, administrators should be able to
check in on teachers to make sure they are accomplishing what they need to, but do so in
a way that isnt micromanaging their staff. Teachers also have relationships with the other
teachers that they work with. Teachers should be able to go to their colleagues to discuss
things going on in their classroom or to ask for advice in how to present material or how
to handle certain situations. You should be able to look to your colleagues for support but
at the same time be able to thrive independently as well. Parents/ guardians are others that
the teacher should be able to contact when need be. A teacher should be able to contact
parents about their childs classroom behavior and grades as well. From a parents
perspective, they should be able to reach the teacher if they have any concerns about their
childs progress or other questions that they have about what goes on in the classroom.
The relationship that first comes to mind when you think about teachers is
how they interact with their students. The teachers role when it comes to their students is
much more than just providing an education. Many students spend more time at school

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
with their teachers than they do interacting with their own parents. Because of this it is
important for teachers to not only be educators but also role models. They should make
their students feel comfortable in the classroom so that if the student has any concerns
they know that they can talk to their teacher about it. This is especially true in elementary
school. This is the time that students develop skills and ideas that can continue
throughout their life, so the teacher must be able to aid in developing these skills that will
help them to succeed later on (Cox, n.d).
A teacher at all grade levels should work to encourage their students to be
respectful and accepting. Students recognize school as a place to learn so if the teacher
emphasizes the importance of being courteous and tolerant, they will take that as
something just as important as one of their lessons. This goes the same for if a teacher
allowed misbehavior and bullying. If a student sees this happening with no consequences,
they will take it as a lesson that this is an acceptable way to act towards others. This
means that in addition to educating their students, a teachers job also includes teaching
their students about manners and kindness as well.

Ongoing Professional Development:

Continuing my professional growth is something that I will always be
striving for. In addition to being more observant of how the classes I am enrolled in now
are being run and the students reactions towards it; I also look forward to taking classes
and seminars specifically about different educational philosophies. In addition to taking

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
classes I can also sit in on different classes and observe, allowing me to gain personal
experience in the classroom which will allow me to see what works and what doesnt.
As a teenager I still embody many qualities that I will need to get rid of
before I step into the classroom. The most important one would probably be my sarcasm.
Especially in the younger grades when the kids dont understand it, I could come off as
offensive and even worse the kids could take me seriously. On the other hand there are
also qualities that I will need to obtain, the big one being becoming more aware of my
surroundings. It is very easy for me to become fixed on one task and forget about things
happening around me. As a teacher I need to be conscious of everything going on in and
around my classroom for educational and safety issues. When I become a teacher I hope
that I keep my eagerness to learn new things. If I can continue this willingness to gain
new information, I can only hope that it will rub off on my students.

Michelle Lotz
4/13/15
My Philosophy of Education
Sadker, M. D., & Zitttleman, K. R., (1942). Teachers, Schools, and Society: A Brief
Introduction to Education. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cox, J.(n.d). What is the Role of a Teacher? Retrieved from
http://k6educators.about.com/od/becomingateacher/f/What-Is-The-Role-Of-ATeacher.htm