The hardest part of writing a research paper is gathering research! Gathering sources to complete my Philosophy of Education paper was a no brainer. In the next few posts I'm going to share my Personal Philosophy of Education and some of the resources I've used along the way that have been very beneficial for me as I homeschool my children.
Part I
Introduction and The Purpose of Education
Education
has been a hot topic through the generations since the inception of the public
school system in America. The need and
desire for learning is even more important in our era and has led to a plethora
of technological advancements from which we have benefited. The philosophies of education continue to
change over time in an effort to meet the needs of an ever changing
culture. The worldviews that influence
how children are educated have varied over generations, each one being used
until it is no longer producing the results desired by those who control the
system. One form that has always been an
effective way of educating children is home-based parent-led instruction, also
known as homeschooling. The decision to
homeschool a child is not made without first some kind of philosophy of
education and an end goal in mind, similar to public school. The reasons for homeschooling may differ from
one family to another, but each one has a particular philosophy about why
children should be educated, whether or not they are capable of articulating
that philosophy. A philosophy of
education is directly associated to and influenced by one’s worldview. The underlying perspective by which a person
interprets the world, drawing from a collection of beliefs about life makes up
a worldview. My personal philosophy of
education may be quite different than other educators, but is directly
influenced by a Biblical worldview and a personal conviction to not only teach
my children but to disciple them in the faith, morals, and values that make up
my worldview. Glen Schultz once said
“The end result of all education is a worldview….That worldview is either
man-centered or God-centered”, and this is why my particular philosophy of
education most resembles that of idealism, neo-Thomism, and ecclesiastical
perennialism. I believe the best and
most effective way to achieve this end is through the means of privatized
education, and I also believe that this form of education would greatly benefit
America as a whole as opposed to government controlled education. Privatized education, specifically
parent-led home-based education, is the best form of education for America.
The
Purpose of Education
The
overall purpose of education is to learn how to best utilize and appreciate
creation for the ultimate purpose of serving God. I believe that modern day schools exist
because the State has a vested interest in all children for the purpose of
eventually serving the State. The only
way that education should be universal is if the same worldview is shared by
all. Since that is not the case, I do
not believe that education should be the same for all. I also believe that one of the purposes of
education is to instill a worldview and a set of presuppositions that answer
the fundamental questions of the purpose for our existence. When a philosophy of education is determined
by each individual, this inevitably will influence the type of curriculum used
and the type of instruction implemented. Since the State has a distinct
interest in the children of America, this curriculum is somewhat universal as
far as the morals, values, and beliefs that permeate through the chosen
curriculum and form of instruction.
Homeschooling allows for the parent to choose the curriculum that most
compliments their own philosophy of education and worldview, while having the
ability to tailor how that curriculum is taught which best fits the child’s
individual learning style.
The
techniques and methods for educating children continue to change within the
public school system, and often do not yield the end result in scholastic
achievement. Samuel Blumenfeld describes
that the products of the public school system are “ignorant, apathetic,
rebellious, drug-addicted, [and] semiliterate kids” (1997, p.11). The rate of parents who have chosen to
homeschool continues to increase, which allows the parent to decide the
worldview their child will be taught.
Regardless if the parents realize it or not they are in essence
exercising a philosophy about education that drives them to make educational
choices for their children.
Blumenfeld,
S. (1997). Homeschooling: a parents guide to teaching children. Replica Books,
NJ:
Bridgewater.
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