Yuri Montes

LBS 203

04/26/16

Philosophy of Education

As future educators, it is essential to have and articulate a fundamental understanding of

the teaching profession in order to have the ability to adapt to every students needs, so that they

can better comprehend content knowledge and learn the skills that will help shape them into

successful 21st century individuals.

Purpose

The purpose of Education is to teach students crucial skills such as, critical thinking

skills, and social skills, while at the same time help them reinforce morals/values that have been

taught at home to help prepare them for society. For instance, the 21st century standards are

higher than they have ever been, meaning the expectations are also a lot higher; citizens and

workers must have greater knowledge and skills in order to succeed (Bransford, Hammond-

Darling, & Lepage, 2005). In todays society, citizens need to have social skills in order to

resolve issues and work with others; they must also have critical thinking skills in order to make

important decisions. In addition to these skills, a citizen must also have good morals/values in

order to learn how to be respectful to others, be polite, and learn responsibility; all of which will

help them become great employees and moral citizens.

Learning Environment

Students should learn in an environment where: questions are valued over answers, where

they can work with others, and where there is constant opportunity for practice. The ideal

classroom would involve students working together in order to learn from one another and

correct each other when a mistake is made (Wilson & Peterson, 2006). When students work

together, they are able to view things from different perspectives and are more meticulous when

it comes to making decisions. Also, questions should always be valued over answers merely

because questions from students imply that they are curious and want to learn more; causing

them to go out and explore more; leading them to further questioning.

Social Justice

Social Justice Education is necessary in order to make the classroom welcoming to every

student. The classroom should be student centered and involve activities that create a safe space

for students to discuss about diversity issues (Hackman, 2005). It is important to address

diversity and social justice so that student can get a better understanding of the issues, which will

also allow them to view these issues from other perspectives. Students want to be in an

environment where they can share their views without feeling like an outcast, but instead feel

supported and safe.

Curriculum

Students should have knowledge on multiple subjects so that they can be well prepared

for their future, but, major topics, subtopics, and technical vocabulary should be reduced in order

to free valuable time, so that students learn more essential details and skills (Nelson, 2001).By

eliminating unnecessary redundancy and incorporating methods like inquiry based teaching,
students would have a deep understanding of the content being taught, which would help them

develop essential critical thinking skills. Inquiry based teaching allows students to not only work

with others, but it also provides a lot of hands on activities, which will keep them in engaged in

what they are learning.

Teacher

An effective teacher is one who does not only have the knowledge and skills necessary to

teach, but one who is also able to make complex decisions in regards to their students learning

needs(Bransford, Darling-Hammond, & LePage, 2005). Students come from different learning

backgrounds and different cultures, which is why an educator should work around that, and make

sure that every student learning; even if it means changing their teaching methods.
 References

Bransford,J., Hammond-Darling, L., LePage,P.(2005). Preparing teachers for a changing world:

What teachers should learn and be able to do. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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

excellence in education, 38, 103-109. doi: 10.1080/10665680590935034

Nelson, G. D. (2001). Choosing content that's worth knowing. Educational Leadership, 59(2),

12-16. Retrieved April 19, 2016, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-

leadership/oct01/vol59/num02/Choosing-Content-That's-Worth-Knowing.aspx

Wilson, S. M., & Peterson, P. L. (2006). Theories of learning and teaching what do they mean

for educators? Washington D.C.: National Education Association.