Maricruz Armenta

Professor Teri Abbott

LBS 400
1 October 2014
Philosophy of Education
Purpose of Education:
Education is the foundation of a progressive and unified society. Children are educated so
that they can all gain knowledge and skills that will be necessary later on when they choose a
career path. For instance, we cannot expect a person to become a surgeon simply because they
want to. There is much knowledge and skills that need to be learned before someone can take on
a career. Of course, these are things that people learn later on in their lives when they are in
college, but the reason why children are educated is because they begin to learn things that set a
foundation for what they learn later on. The California Curriculum Frameworks state that
"Achievement gaps still exist in our country, college remediation rates are too high, and some
students are unprepared to perform and thrive in the workforce". A greater emphasis must be
placed on education to close the achievement gap that exists in this country. In addition,
educated children will be equipped with things they will need as part of a unified and functioning
society. We want children to become critical thinkers with ideas that push society forward when
they become adults.
Learning Environment:
The best learning environment for children is one in which they feel comfortable and
safe. One of the Principles of Effective Instruction, formulated by Abraham Maslow, states that
"A positive and supportive climate for learning must be established and maintained in the

classroom". This means that the classroom will be welcoming to the students. If students feel
welcomed, they will feel relaxed because they know that they are there to learn and not to be
attacked or put down. A child who feels safe will definitely learn best because they will not be
afraid to participate in the lesson or ask questions. Inquiring minds are learning minds. In
addition, students who feel safe and comfortable will not be afraid to make mistakes meaning
they will be more likely to at least try even if they are not sure how to do something.
Commitment to Social Justice:
Being an educator means encountering many different people every school year. There is
not a specific type of child that is a student because everybody is different meaning they have
varying needs, learning styles, and personalities. As educators I think it is a responsibility to look
beyond a difference in race, nationality, economic status, or whatever it may be because those
things are completely irrelevant to the curriculum. Children attend school to receive an education
regardless of what their circumstances may be. The only thing that should concern educators is
teaching the children because that is the whole reason they are sent to school. The Standards for
the Teaching Profession says that teachers should "modify instructional plans to adjust for
student needs". Understanding that students are different is important because this means that
they will not all learn the same way.
Curriculum:
The introduction of the Common Core Standards to California will definitely be
beneficial to students now and in the long run. They are based upon teaching students to think
and discover things on their own rather than handing them answers all the time. Theorists
Benjamin Bloom and Barry Beyer developed one of the Principles of Effective Instruction which
states: "Tasks and questions should require higher levels of cognition instead of memorization to

increase retention and understanding". This goes hand in hand with the Common Core Standards
because it means that students should be asked questions that require them to think, not just
memorize meaningless things. This brings me to my next point. Deciding how intelligent a
student is based upon a test score that only requires memorization is ludicrous. In addition I
believe that it is important to teach other subjects such as art, history, and science instead of
focusing just on math and language arts. A well rounded student should have an understanding of
other subjects.
Teacher:
The greatest characteristic that all educators share is a love for teaching. If teachers like
their occupation they are more likely to be more effective in the classroom. Effective teachers
will walk around and work one on one or in groups with students. They will not sit at their desk
all day. Also, effective teachers will care about their students' success. That being said, even if
someone has been teaching for years, it is necessary to understand that there can never be enough
professional growth. According to the CSUDH Teacher Performance Index (TPE), practice can
be improved "through reflection on feedback regarding planning and teaching, and subject matter
knowledge". This means teachers should always be willing to try new methods in their
classroom in order to improve their own effectiveness.