Philosophy

Philosophy


We took a test in class to determine our philosophy style; I found out that I am a pragmatist. I do agree with most of the concepts of pragmatism such as truth is determined by function or consequences. I have very strong beliefs that education should be student centered. The curriculum should be engaging and involved. Students should also be able to relate to their curriculum on a personal level. I also fell that there should be a connection between the subjects or classes that the students attend so that they have a better understanding of how the subject matter relates to the world as a whole.
The teacher’s role for a pragmatist relates closely to what is expected of a teacher in my profession. I will be modeling different types of thought processes for my students to help them grasp overall concepts and encourage them to question their previous assumptions and knowledge. Often times in Special education it is a matter of directing the thought process in a different direction, one that the student can better understand and relate to as an individual.
As a teacher I want to bring back the why for my students. When a child is young and having new experiences every day and learning from them they are asking “Why?” They often do this as a constant repetition, which as adults and teachers we lose patience with. By bringing the why back I hope to encourage my students to want to explore and grater vast reams of knowledge to answer the why for them as an individual.
My second philosophy style was existentialism. I believe that the reason I related to this style is because an existentialist feels that every student is an individual that is capable of authentic and reasonable choices. By helping my students make the better choices and showing them that they can achieve their goals academically, I feel that they will succeed in life as well. I also identify with the more personal teacher-student relationship. I will have a better chance to get to know my individual students and interact with them as people. This will allow me to direct them toward the connection they need to make with their education as a life long learner.