Edu 215module 7 Education Philosophy

Students will experience many types of philosophies of education throughout his or her years while attending school. This is because teachers take his or her personal beliefs and experiences in developing their personal philosophies of education. I conducted interviews with five veteran teachers: C. Scott has been a third elementary teacher for 22 years; M. Watson has been a high school Mathematics and Physics Teacher for 16 years; V. Nicholson has been teaching fifth graders for 11 years, K. Corbin has five years of experience as a junior high school Social Studies Teacher, and A. Davis is going into his fourth year of teaching 12th grade History. From the interviews, I found that my philosophy of education was similar to those of my interviewees with very little differences.

Similarities and Differences Philosophies of Education

Within my philosophy of education, I am a firm believer of focusing on needs of students. This can be said to be student-centered philosophy, which means it is base totally on the student. From the responses of my interviewees, Scott, Watson, Nicholson, Corbin, and Davis their philosophies are also based on the needs of their students. All my interviewees including myself base our focus on the student and not base on the focus on us, the educators, which is called teacher-centered philosophy.

Scott (2011) response to questions asked in an interview:

Not being able to actually teach what my students really need to survive beyond third grade is my greatest challenges as an educator.” She goes on to say, “I have ceased to teach to mastery and the individual needs of the students are really not considered when it comes to the politics that is integrated in the changing roles of teaching in my many years in education.

Watson (2011) responses that refers to student-centered philosophy:

When I see my student use hand-on activities to solve problems, using critical thinking in their problem solving process and take more responsibilities on...