Running head: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT OF EDUCATION 1

My Philosophy Statement
Jeff Horton
Instructor: Carol Billings
Education 201
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT OF EDUCATION 2
My Philosophy Statement
All students want to learn. Its the job of the teacher to pass their knowledge on to the
student. A teacher is like a hunting guide who is taking out a hunter for their first hunting
experience. The guide doesnt just leave the new hunter out in the field to fend for him or herself.
The guide will provide them with the tools to become a successful hunter by showing them
where to look for animals and what to do once they have found the animal. Students are just like
the first time hunter. Handing them a textbook and telling them to do the work, would be like
putting the first time hunter into the wild with no help. The teacher needs to be the guide that
provides the student with the tools to do the work.
My philosophy of education is heavily impacted by the concept of the Theory of
Experience by John Dewey which is based on the idea that learning should involve real life
situations. An example of this is when learning things that do not connect to real life situations
are not as valuable. Personally, I would have to agree with Dewey when he said I believe that
education, therefore, is a process of living ant not a preparation for future living (Dewey, 1938,
p 25). I want children to have the ability to think for themselves and to be able to use problem
solving skills in real life situations. Deweys Theory of Experience is also apparent in the
facilitator approach. I want to be the type of teacher who can use their skills to introduce new
ideas to the students in a way that is intriguing to them. The reasoning behind the facilitator
approach is student centered, meaning that it revolves around the students interest. Therefore, my
role as an educator is to bring that student into whatever the topic is by arousing their interest.
The next part of my philosophy of education is the belief in a strong discipline plan. The
best discipline system should include a list of written rules that are very easy to understand and
are in a place where they can be easily seen by the students. To accommodate the list of rules
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT OF EDUCATION 3
should be what the consequences will be for violating the rules. A good discipline system should
be one that is fair to all the students, and needs to remain consistent. For example, the rule of
talking without permission; the first time that the student violated this rule would result in their
name being written on the board. A second occurance would be a check by their name resulting
in a loss of recess time. The third time would be a second checkmark being placed next to their
name along with a referral to the office.
In conclusion, the philosophy that I would follow revolves around the child. I feel it is
our duty as educators to somewhat cater to the students interest and needs. Good teaching means
being open with yourself and your students, so they can in turn open up to you along with
themselves. Teaching should not be looked at as a job, but as an opportunity to participate in
helping shape lives of so many, to expand the learning horizons and to help the students grow
and mature through the attainment of knowledge.