Philosophy Statement - Philosophy of Education Is Perennialism

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1. Think about your own beliefs about teaching and learning. In writing, discuss which of the philosophies of education and the learning orientations are closest to you? Why? Which do not fit with your philosophy of education and learning? Why?

The philosophy of education is Perennialism is the closest to me. Perennialism is a philosophy drawing heavily from classical definitions of education. Perennialists believe that education, like human nature because education should focus on developing rationality. Education for a perennialist is a preparation of life, and students should be taught the world’s permanencies through structured study.

For a perennialist reality is the world of reason. Perennialists would favor a curriculum of subjects and doctrine, taught through highly disciplined drill and behavior control.  I like this type of education philosophy because the teacher interrupts the knowledge and the student receives the knowledge as a passive recipient. I would rather have my classes be all in this type of philosophy because this is the way I learn best.

The learning orientation of information processing is closest to me. Information processing is when the mind makes meaning through symbol-processing structures of a fixed body of knowledge. Describes how information is received, processed, stored, and retrieved from the mind. I like information processing because it is like memorizing terms. I am good at memorizing terms for exams.

Reconstructionism/Critical theory does not fit with my philosophy of learning. This theory emphasizes the addressing of social questions and a quest to create a better society and worldwide democracy. I like class time to be about the subject being taught. In one of my classes at Stockton University, there were three days when the professor talked about world events instead of lecturing on the chapter. I thought that was a waste of class time. I like my education to be about the subjects of the course not the world events.

The theory of humanism does not fit my learning orientation. Humanism is personal freedom, choice, responsibility. Humanism is achievement motivation towards highest levels. Humanism is control of own destiny, and child centered. I do not like choice, and would prefer the instructor to pick topics for us. Last semester on a project, the professor assigned the topic. I liked that because I have a hard time finding a topic. This semester, my new professor lets us choose the topic. I have a hard time finding a topic. I like structured order.  

1. In one or two paragraphs, discuss how the branches of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, and/or axiology) are related to the world view philosophies, philosophies of education, and learning theories (Refer to continuum chart in Part B).

The chief branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology and axiology.  Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that addresses questions of reality. A question would be what is reality? In classrooms, teachers invoke metaphysical issues regularly when they make decisions about what they should teach on any particular day. Metaphysics covers reality, the universe, and god. A reality question would be what is knowledge? The universe question is should the curriculum be structured or determined by students? A god question is should all people have access to education?