Personal Philosophy of Education, Research Paper Example

Introduction

As far as essentialism goes, I agree with the fact that character development is a large issue.  “The authority of the teacher, hard work, and discipline are important values, because essentialists believe that character development is important and that teachers instruct by example.” [1](Armstrong et al, 2004 & Colier A., 2006). It is true that teaching styles that lead by example are needed in the classroom, but in contrast with the essentialist belief, a total authoritarian way of teaching is not the best way to achieve harmony and effectiveness as such. First let’s take a brief look at some of the other philosophies of education such as the perennialism, progressivism, and postmodernism educational approaches.

Progressive Approach

The Progressive approach as stated by Dewey (2005) view education as having the insight to adapt to an ever changing society.  “Progressive philosophy is in favour of the scientific method and teaching students to solve problems relative to their social and natural environment.” (Harmon D. & Jones T., 2005).  This is taught through hands on instruction using experiments and fields trips, and other learning environment based ideas. In contrast, by way of the essentialism approach, the teacher dictates to the class information to memorize.  Progressivism is based on the idea that the purpose of education is for the development of personal style and self-assurance. Its aim is to be able to help students to function.[2](Harmon D. & Jones T., 2005). Progressivists believe that education should focus on the whole child, rather than on the content or the teacher.

Postmodernist Approach    

Postmodernists assert that the purpose of education is to improve society through the critical examination of the uses of power, racism, sexism and imperialism in institutions. The curriculum focuses on the works of marginalized and disenfranchised people.

Perennialism Approach

Perennialism focuses on the intellectual development of the children with regards to the future. Information on topics of mathematics, geography, arts, culture and others are primarily delivered by lecture and questioning. This form of teaching is geared towards highly intellectual students and would be discriminatory to average and lower intelligence children. For Perennialists, the aim of education is to ensure that students acquire understandings about the great ideas of Western civilization.

Essentialism

Essentialism in the United States started in the 1930s as a reaction against the pragmatism and reconstructionism that were popular at the time. It was first introduced by William Bagley. The approach began because educationalists’ were concerned that children were not gaining appropriate knowledge in schools. The educationalists’ feared that the techniques used were mundane and unorganized and non-essential to the promotion of education with the pure focus of the child at best. The philosophy is based on ‘idealism’ and ‘realism’. Idealism simply means to aim for perfection. Realism simply means to accept life the way it is without attempting to change it. “Essentialists become very vocal after a perceived national crisis, such as when the Russians sent Sputnik into space in 1957 or when there is a downturn in the national economy caused by greater technological efficiency on the part of other countries.”

In the field of mathematics, the essentialist approach is very well suited because dictation is needed in order to get the mathematical concepts across mainly due to the idea mathematics is a more difficult subject to grasp. Essentialism is the belief that the primary purpose of school is to preserve the basic elements of human culture and transmit them to the young.

Some educationalists’ criticize the essentialism approach stating that it is far too rigid to prepare students for life. The teacher’s goal is to teach essential knowledge to the children through means of task-oriented focused ideas. There is strong emphasis on high scholastic achievement in secondary education and the learning of basic skills in elementary learning years. [3](Robinson T., 2009). Essentialists believe that there is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic, disciplined way. “Schooling should be practical, preparing students to become valuable members of society. It should focus on facts-the objective reality out there–and “the basics,” training students to read, write, speak, and compute clearly and logically. Schools should not try to set or influence policies.” [4](Cohen L., 1999).  Educational essentialism is a theory that states that children should learn the traditional basic subjects and that these should be learned through repletion in order to learn them thoroughly.  An essentialist program normally teaches children progressively, from less complex skills to more complex. They will commence with a simple project of theory that leads to another learning progress and build on those learned skills. “An Essentialist will usually teach some set subjects similar to Reading, Writing, Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Math, Science, Art, and Music.” [5](“Educational Essentialism”).

Principles of Professional Conduct and the Code of Ethics

Principles of Professional Conduct and the Code of Ethics are maintained by educators by ‘integrity’. Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics is based in four principles of ethical conduct toward children, ethical conduct toward practices and performances, ethical conduct toward colleagues and ethical conduct toward parents’ and the community.  Educators should be ‘fully aware’ of the importance of maintaining respect and confidence of one’s colleagues and students, parents and other members of the community. The educator’s primary professional concern will always be for the student and his/her highest potential to be achieved. This is seen directly with the assertive and disciplined manner of teaching as accomplished by the Essentialist. The educator shall be devoted to the pursuit of truth, excellence and the existence in a democratic society.  This is portrayed with the highly organized and devoted philosophy of the Essentialist. The devotion to make the children learn by progressive means shows a true commitment to education and the best interests of the children.

Conclusion

Although some educators do not support epericalim because of its rigididness other do support it for it for it mundane and ethical support to teaching techniques.  The technique is dedicated towards commitment to education and the best interest of children which is shown by the Principles of Professional Conduct and the Code of Ethics.

[1] Colier A. (2006) Retrieved September 3, 2009 from, http://student.plattsburgh.edu/coll8016/philosophy.htm

[2] Harmon D. & Jones T., (2005) Elementary Education a Reference Book Retrieved September 3, 2006 from, http://books.google.com/books?id=k9K8tuKdGNAC&dq=perennialism+and+postmodernism+teaching&source=gbs_navlinks_s

[3] Robinson T. (2009) Essentialism Retrieved September 4, 2009 from, http:// edweb.fdu.edu/anyfile/RobinsonT/Essentialism.ppt

[4]Cohen L. (1999) Philosophical Perspectives in Education Retrieved September 4, 2009 from, http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/PP3.html

[5] Educational Essentialism (2009) Educational Essentialism Retrieved September 4, 2009 from, http://www.k12academics.com/educational-philosophy/educational-essentialism