RUNNING HEAD: PHILOSOPHY

Robyn Oliphant
Personal Philosophy of Education
Salt Lake Community College

PHILOSOPHY

Through viewing and reading about different educational philosophies, in

my classroom and through teaching I would use more of a progressivist and
perennialist approach. Working towards understanding and focusing on the
students intellect; and helping students develop skills that are necessary to
solve problems in their life. Along with other life skills that are useful to them.
Students take their education into their own hands to learn what is necessary
for them to grow into successful individuals in life and society.
Progressivism, a philosophy emphasizing real-world problem solving and
individual personal development. (Kauchak, Eggen. 2017. pg. 159) Students
focus on problems socially that interest them, and problem solve and make
decision to help the social problem at hand. The best way for a student to learn
and grow is by taking their education into their own hands and learning from
first-hand experience, we do this by learning and guided experiences
(Kauchak, Eggen. 2017. pg.167) and putting what they learned into real life
situations. Students will grow into well-rounded adult and understand more
than just the curriculum at hand, and into an individual that society needs.
Being physically, intellectually socially, and emotionally developed (Kauchak,
Eggen. 2017. pg.159) to help in any problem, and situation at hand. All from the
skills they learn in the classroom from the experience they have. The point of
learning in the classroom should be to help them in the real world with the
knowledge they obtain. I find most important that in progressivism the focus is
not just on the curriculum and subject matter but more importantly it is on the
interests of the student. When learning about the interests of a child and
showing them how it affects them the student tends to apply what they learn
more into their own lives. Putting progressivism into the classroom would be
giving students hands on experience to learn the subject. Take decimals in math
for example, when we shop in a store and have $5 to spend, we need to know
how to add decimals. By integrating a money system in the class and being
able to buy things it becomes important knowing how to add and subtract
decimals. We cant buy $5.72 if we only have $5 to start with.
Going into perennialism it has a different outlook of that of progressivism,
perennialism is training the intellect and the mind to develop reasoning.
(Kauchak, Eggen. 2017. pg.158) The overall goal is for students to understand
the great ideas of Western civilization, that, once acquired, will help them solve
problems in a variety of areas. (Kauchak, Eggen. 2017. pg. 158) This is more of
use when an important topic comes into play that needs to be hit and hit hard,
usually done through a lecture. The main focus of such is on academics and
strong focus on work that the students do so they understand the subject more
thoroughly. By teacher-leading it helps students understand the big concept and
leads them to start thinking out of the box on their own. The main importance of
this concept is the knowledge of an important idea. It takes the western
civilization ideas and helps us apply them into real world applications. In the
classroom using perennialism in science experiments, Newtons laws of motion.
How things are directed and then can be redirected. We would do this by
placing a golf ball on top of a basketball and dropping them at the same time to
the floor. They start by going in the same direction but then the golf ball goes in
the opposite direction after impact. This application can be explained as why we
use seat belts in cars or brace ourselves when riding a school bus, our bodies

PHILOSOPHY

continue forward and these techniques and devices protect us from such. The
initial idea was talked about years ago but is still in place and used today.
Between progressivism and perennialism I consider my personal teaching
philosophy one of behaviorism and constructivism. Using teacher led strategies
by lecturing but also using social strategies of giving students hands on
experiences. Letting them take their education into their own hands, by
learning what interests them and taking these experiences and applying them
into their own lives. It makes the students excited to learn, and motivated to
put in their best effort.
REFERENCES
Kauchak, D., & Eggen, P. (2017). (6th. ed.). Pearson. Teachers and Students.
Introduction to Teaching.