Educational Philosophy

John Dewey once said, Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
This is something that I strongly agree with and helps to reinforce my personal philosophy of
education. The purpose of education in society is to create a curiosity for understanding life and
to spark a desire in children to gain knowledge, in hopes of making the world a better place. I
also believe in three major themes that define my teaching values: the benefits of educating the
whole child, the importance of community/family engagement, and the idea that humans are
lifelong learners. Together, these factors influence my passion for education and motivate me to
inspire every student to learn.
It is my opinion that every child is entitled to an education. Students have the right to a
school that is safe, supported by caring professionals, and that challenges children to learn.
Although content areas in the curriculum are important, I think its also essential for educators to
remember that students are humans. Everyone has needs and basic rights that have to be
fulfilled, and schools can help provide some of these. The whole child approach ensures that
students are healthy, secure, engaged, aided, and challenged for the future. This idea
encompasses the fact that children should be developing cognitively, emotionally, physically,
and socially. Also, due to my background in psychology, I find it extremely pertinent that
students receive a well-rounded education that encourages all forms of growth.
Furthermore, the whole child ideology can relate to the importance of community/family
engagement as well. In order for the basic needs of students to be met, there should be an
appropriate balance of community and family. According to psychologist Jean Piaget, children
create schemas to organize knowledge and use prior experiences to make sense of the world. He
believed that students construct their own knowledge by actively experiencing and exploring on
their own. Psychologist Lev Vygotsky had a similar theory that places more of an emphasis on
social interactions and culture. He believed that learning was more of an enculturation into a
community. Both men thought that students use their individual social experiences with family
and community to create units of knowledge about the world. The interaction between
community/family and school is an influential aspect of learning. Students who have more
involved family members and ties to their community can make learning meaningful. They can
feel more comfortable, supported, and this collaboration also correlates with higher academic
performance.
In addition, we are all lifelong learners. The human race is inevitably on a quest for
higher knowledge. Students are constantly experiencing new things, testing out ideas, and
gaining an understanding of the world. I hope to encourage this curiosity and love for learning
when Im a teacher. I want my students to ask questions and inquire about everything. I want
them to appreciate the ongoing influx of stimuli that facilitates investigation. We will never
stop learning and that is such an important part of education.
Moreover, to use my personal life as an example, all three of these philosophical themes
have shaped who Ive become. When I was in sixth grade, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4
inoperable lung cancer that metastasized to his brain. Being a young student facing family
hardship was extremely difficult. Fortunately, I had teachers, coaches, friends, and many other
people who came into my life that helped me get through it one day at a time. I was able to grow
and develop as a whole child due to countless community/family experiences. My neighbors
cooked dinner for us to stay healthy, teachers took time to ask how I was feeling and offered any
help they could to make me feel safe and loved. My family and friends provided emotional
support and encouraged me to not give up; I challenged myself to learn from this experience and
become a better person. I am constantly learning about life and I know I will forever be a
learner. My dad is still here today, and through his struggles, Ive learned about patience, trust,
and communication. I know that my life sets me apart from others, but I have taken what Ive
gone through to create a philosophy of education based on all areas of development, societal
interactions, and the continuing acquisition of knowledge.