1. Carriger 1
Philosophy of Education
Cooper P. Carriger
Educating for Social Justice & Cultural Competency
I believe that one of the roles of education is to help the student acknowledge and
develop his/her understanding of justice, inequality, and societal realities. As an educator I would
strive to teach students to not only know the values of other cultures and identities, but to
acknowledge the intrinsic worth of diversity (Taylor). By implementing a curriculum that
highlights multiculturalism and diversity, my students will be able to further develop mutual
understanding and respect for different identities. I would aim to help students cultivate empathy
through my curriculum and classroom community (SEL). It will be my responsibility to create a
space that is safe for students to develop their own identity. I will do this by finding the median
of being both difference-blind and recognizing the particularity of the individual student in my
professional decision-making (Taylor). This accommodates both the values of the classroom and
the individual student.
Due to the societal implications of ascription, I also would help students build a positive
perception of their identities so that they could further obtain access to a flourishing life; the
student knowing that his/her identity is a source of empowerment, not constraint (Taylor). I want
a student to leave the classroom loving who they are, and who they might become. By creating a
space where diversity is celebrated and alienation seldom, students will be able to grasp the
larger picture: when society doesn’t value diversity and social equality, injustice occurs.
It is my role as an educator to foster the connection between the student’s understanding
of social justice and creating justice in our inequitable, democratic, society. One of the roles of
education is to promote the understanding of justice so that he/she will be inspired to atone
injustice in his/her daily life.
Educating for Societal Engagement & Distributive Justice
As part of a democratic education, a vital role is to empower students to be well-informed
and participatory members of a democratic society. Democracy yields the most just and equitable
policies when everyone has a voice at the decision-making table. If only certain groups
participate in the decision-making process, then the marginalized will have the “good life”
defined for them by the dominant group (Gutmann). Thus, distributive justice cannot occur and
inequity prevails. There is a constant struggle between accommodating the values of the greater
community while still recognizing the particular groups that make up the community. Society
most effectively resolves this complexity through democratic participation. It is incredibly
important to my role as an educator to help students to become aware of this reality.
My classroom procedures would be modeled after democratic principles in which all
students have equal access to participate. This engagement will enable him/her to have the
greatest range of choosing what is the good life according to his/her own perceptions (Gutmann).
Classroom democratic processes, such as collectively determining rules and classroom meetings,
not only lead to the flourishing of others, but also the individual student participating
(Brighouse).

2. Carriger 2
It is my goal as an educator to take these democratic values of the classroom and help
students realize that they are in control of their education and lives; that he/she has the power to
create change that benefits every individual through democratic participation. I will be able to do
this more wholly by practicing impartiality and fairness in my professional and classroom
decision-making, despite my personal biases.
Educating for Autonomy & Flourishing
Above all, I am educating students for their individual flourishing; that they will be able
to choose a life that that provides deep and meaningful fulfillment. Flourishing is multi-faceted
in its development; it is a product of identity realization, relationships, meaningful work, and
leisure among others (Brighouse). In my classroom individual flourishing will be developed by
fundamentals, such as: cultivating skills, interpersonal relationships, and autonomy.
Equal access to an equitable education is the inherent component to flourishing. Without
it, students can only partially develop the fundamentals to flourishing. It is my commitment as an
educator to do everything in my power to eliminate the negative effects of inequitable
distribution of educational opportunity.
As an educator I will help students grow their capacity of skills, and challenge him/her to
cultivate the skills and activities that provide fulfillment. In order to do this, I will incorporate a
variety of learning mediums that expose students to areas of their interests. Also, I believe it is
not the goal of a true education to educate for economic productivity. But, in contrast, to educate
my students to be able to navigate complex economic system; so that they might be able to
provide for themselves and be in control of their own wellbeing (Brighouse).
It is my role to facilitate the development of student autonomy. Autonomy enables for
flourishing because it allows the student to independently make judgments that will enable
him/herself to lead a flourishing life. I will do this in the classroom by giving students more
freedom in choosing how he/she individually learns. I believe that each student should be a part
of his or her education plan, not a product of it. By giving students considerable autonomy in the
classroom, they will be able to discern what wellbeing truly means to him/her and how to obtain
it.
Part of flourishing is the rich rewards that we receive from meaningful relationships with
others. By creating a safe space in the classroom and focusing on values-based education,
students will be able to experience healthy, fulfilling, relationships with their peers and teachers.
As an educator, I believe concentrating on social emotional learning and empathy-development
will give my students the capability to foster the social interactions necessary for flourishing.
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