teaching profession

1. CELESTE D. OLEGARIO, LPT
Instructor

3. LESSON 1: YOUR PHILOSOPHICAL HERITAGE
EXPECTED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
list at least seven ( 7 ) philosophies of education
• discuss the different educational philosophy
• draw the implications of educational philosophies to teaching-
learning process
• formulate your own philosophy of education
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
We are heirs to a rich philosophical heritage. Passed on to us are
a number of philosophies of various thinkers who lived before us.
These thinkers reflected on life in this planet. They occupied
themselves searching for answers to questions about human existence.

4. What is an education philosophy?
A philosophy of education is a statement (or set of
statements) that identifies and clarifies the beliefs, values
and understandings of an individual or group with respect
to education. Defined in this sense, it may be thought of as
a more-or-less organised body of knowledge and opinion on
education, both as it is conceptualised and as it is practiced.
A philosophy of education may influence what subjects
or topics are taught, how they are taught, and perhaps
more importantly, the supporting beliefs and values that are
taught, both implicitly and explicitly, within and around the
core curriculum.

5. The seven Philosophies of Education:
1. ESSENTIALISM
Why Teach? – This philosophy contends that teachers teach for learners to acquire basic
knowledge, skills and values. Teachers teach “ not to radically reshape society “ but rather “
to transmit the traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge that students need to
become model citizens. “
What to teach? – Essentialist programs are academically rigorous. The emphasis is on
academic content for students to learn the basic skills or the fundamental r’s – reading, ‘
riting, ‘ rithmetic, right conduct – are these are essential to the acquisition for higher or more
complex skills needed in preparation for adult life. It includes the “traditional disciplines such
as Math, Natural Science, History, Foreign Language, and Literature. Essentialists frown upon
vocational courses or other courses with ‘ watered down ‘ academic content. The teachers
and administrators decide what is most important for the students to learn and place little
emphasis on students interests.
How to teach? - Emphasize mastery of subject matter. Teachers are expected to be
intellectual and moral models. They are seen as “ fountain of information “ and as “ paragon
of virtue “. To gain mastery of basic skills, teachers have to observe “ core requirements,
longer school day, a longer academic year. “ Teachers rely heavily on the use of prescribed
textbooks, drill methods, lecture method. There is heavy stress on memorization and
discipline.

6. 2. PROGRESSIVISM
Why Teach? – Progressivists teachers teach to develop learners into becoming enlightened and intelligent
citizens of a democratic society. This group of teachers teaches learners so the may live fully NOW not to
prepare them for adult life.
What to teach? – Identified need-based and relevant curriculum. A curriculum that ‘responds to
students’ needs and that relates to students’ personal lives and experiences.
Progressivists accept the impermanence of life and inevitability of change. Everything else
changes. CHANGE is the only thing that does not change. Concerned with teaching the learners the skills
to cope with change
The subjects are “ natural and Social Sciences “. Teachers expose students to many new
scientific, technological, and social developments, reflecting the progressivist notion that progress and
change are fundamental. Students solve problems in the classroom similar to those they will encounter
outside of the schoolhouse.
How to teach? - Experiential methods. Learning by doing according to John Dewey who was the most
popular advocate of progressivism. Another method is problem-solving.
Other “ hands-on-minds-on-hearts-on “ teaching methodology used are field trips. Teachers also
stimulate students through thought-provoking games and puzzles.

7. 3. PERENNIALISM
Why Teach? – We are all rational animals. Schools should, therefore
develop the students’ rational and moral powers. According to Aristotle, if
we neglect the students’ reasoning skills, we deprive them of the ability to
use their higher faculties to control their passions and appetites.
What to teach? – Curriculum is universal one on the view that all human
beings posses the same essential nature. It is heavy on the humanities, on
general education. A general curriculum.
Philosopher Mortimer Adler claims that the “ Great Books of ancient and
medieval as well as modern times are a repository of knowledge and
wisdom, a tradition of culture which must initiate each generation.
How to teach? -Centered around teachers. The teachers do not allow the
students’ interests or experiences to substantially dictate what they teach.
Students engaged in Socratic dialogues, or mutual inquiry sessions to
develop an understanding of history’s most timeless concepts. “

8. 4. EXISTENTIALISM
Why Teach? – Help students understand and appreciate themselves as unique
individuals who accept complete responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions. “
“ Existence precedes essence. “ – teacher’s role is to help students define their own
essence by exposing them to various paths they take in life and by creating an
environment in which they freely choose their own preferred way. It demands the
education of the whole person, not just the mind.
What to teach? – Students are given a wide variety of options from which to choose.
The humanities are given tremendous emphasis to “ provide students with vicarious
experiences that will help unleash their own creativity and self-expression. Moreover,
vocational education is regarded more as a means of teaching students about
themselves and their potential rather than of earning a livelihood.
How to teach? – Focuses on individuals. Learning is self-paced, self-directed. It includes
a great deal of individual contact with the teacher, who relates to each student openly
and honestly. Teachers employ values clarification strategy. The teachers remain non-
judgmental and take care not to impose their values on their students since values are
personal.

9. 5. BEHAVIORISM
Why Teach? – Concerned with the modification and shaping of
students’ behavior by providing for a favorable environment, since they
believe that they are a product of their environment.
What to teach? – Behaviorists teachers teach students to respond
favorably to various stimuli in the environment.
How to teach? – Behaviorists teachers “ ought to arrange
environmental conditions so that students can make the responses to
stimuli. Physical variables like light, temperature, arrangement of
furniture, size and quantity of visual aids have to be controlled to get
the desired responses from the learners. Teachers ought to make the
stimuli clear and interesting to capture and hold the learners’ attention.
They provide appropriate incentives to reinforce positive responses and
weaken or eliminate negative ones. “

10. 6. LINGUISTIC PHILOSOPHY
Why Teach? – To develop communication skills of the learner because the ability to articulate, to voice out the
meaning and values of things that one obtains from his/her experience of life and the world is the very essence of
man, Teachers teach to develop in the learner the skill to send messages clearly and receive messages correctly.
What to teach? – Learners should be taught to communicate clearly- how to send clear, concise messages and how
to receive and correctly understand messages sent.
Communication Takes Place in Three Ways:
Verbal – this refers to the content of our message, the choice and arrangement of our words. Can be oral or written
Nonverbal – refers to the message we send through our body language
Paraverbal – refers to how we say what we say – the tone, pacing and volume of our voices
Learners should be taught to use language that is correct, precise, grammatical, coherent, accurate so that they are
able to communicate clearly and precisely their thoughts and feelings.
There is need to help students expand their vocabularies to enhance their communication skills.
There is need to teach the learners how to communicate clearly through nonverbal means and consistently through
paraverbal means.
Teach them to speak as many languages as you can. The more languages one speaks, the better he/she can
communicate with the world. A multilingual has an edge over the monolingual or bilingual.
How to teach? –Experiential way. Make learners experience sending and receiving messages through verbal,
nonverbal and paraverbal manner. Classroom should be a place for the interplay of minds and hearts. The teacher
facilitates dialogue among learners and between him/her and his/her students because in the exchange of words
there is also an exchange of ideas.

11. 7. CONSTRUCTIVISM
Why Teach? – To develop intrinsically motivated and independent learners adequately
equipped with learning skills for them to be able to construct knowledge and make meaning
of them.
What to teach? – Learners taught how to learn. They are taught learning processes and
skills such as searching, critiquing and evaluating information, relating these pieces of
information, reflecting on the same, making meaning out of them, drawing insights, posing
questions, researching, and constructing new knowledge out of these bit of information
learned.
How to teach? – teacher provides students with data or experiences that allow them to
hypothesize, predict, manipulate objects, pose questions, research, investigate, imagine,
and invent. Classroom is interactive. It promotes dialogical exchange of ideas among
learners and between teacher and learners. Teacher’s role is to facilitate this process.
Knowldege is constructed by learners through an active, mental process of development;
learners are the builders and creators of meaning and knowledge. Their minds are not
empty. Their minds are full of ideas waiting to be “midwifed “by the teacher with his/her
skillful facilitating skills.

12. LESSON 2 FORMULATING YOUR PHILOSOPHY
Your philosophy of education is your
“window”to the world and “compass” in
life.Your philosophy of education is reflected in
your dealings with students,colleagues,parents
and administrators.Your attitudes towards
problem and life as a whole has a underlying
philosophy.

13. Here are some example:
My Philosophy of Education as a Grade School Teacher
I believe that every child
does not have an empty mind, rather is full of ideas and it is my task to draw
this ideas.
can be influenced but not totally by his/her environment.
Is an embodied spirit.
I believed that my task as a teacher is to facilitate the development of every
child to the optimum and to the maximum by:
helping every child master the basic skills on f reading, communication in
oral and written form, arithmetic and computer skills
providing every child activities meant to develop the body, the mind and the
spirit.
Making every child feel confident about him/herself through his/her
experience of success in the classroom.