Your personal philosophy of education statement will center on the intersections and interactions of historical themes, current practices, relevant theory and philosophy, and personal identity in education.
This reflective piece, 6-8 pages long, summarizes your educational position on the purpose, process, nature, and ideals of education.
Your personal education philosophy explains the beliefs and ideas that underlie your thinking and regulate your actions and the philosophical and historical theories and themes behind them. Your statement should include numerous references to the philosophies and philosophers that have informed your thinking. APA format required.
• Briefly describe your K–12 education (2 paragraphs). What philosophical ideas did your education exemplify? How did this approach influence your ideas about teaching and learning?
• In your view, what is the purpose of education? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (2-3 paragraphs)
• How do you define your role as a teacher? What is the role of the student? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (3-4 paragraphs)
• What are your objectives for student learning and development? What knowledge, skills, and attitudes are important? What are you preparing students to do or become? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support your response? (3-5 paragraphs)
• How will you address the needs of special needs learners in your classes? What specific teaching strategies do you endorse for exceptional learners? What philosophical ideas and historical developments studied in class support this view? (3-4 paragraphs)
Early Educational Influences
My K–12 education was a landscape defined by two distinct philosophical paradigms. The early years, particularly through elementary and middle school, were heavily steeped in Essentialism and elements of Perennialism. Instruction was largely teacher-centered, relying on direct instruction, rigorous textbook mastery, and standardized assessment. There was a clear, prescribed curriculum of core subjects—reading, writing, arithmetic, history, and science—seen as the foundational knowledge necessary for cultural literacy and future success. This approach, which mirrors the push for academic rigor following post-Sputnik concerns in American education, emphasized discipline, effort, and the transmission of an established cultural heritage. This period, while sometimes rigid, instilled a profound respect for the mastery of foundational skills and the structure inherent in core disciplines.
Sample Answer
A Progressive-Humanist Framework for Democratic Education
Introduction
A personal philosophy of education serves as the bedrock for all pedagogical decisions, reflecting deeply held beliefs regarding the purpose, process, nature, and ideals of learning. This statement articulates an educational position that is fundamentally rooted in the principles of Progressivism, tempered by the enduring value of Essentialist rigor, and uplifted by the core tenets of Humanism. The philosophy detailed here is shaped by the recognition of education as a social, political, and personal enterprise, demanding that the process cultivate critical, empathetic, and civically engaged citizens prepared not just to adapt to the world, but to reconstruct it for the better. The succeeding sections explore the historical roots of this position, the definitions of teacher and student roles, the objectives for learner development, and the specific commitment to inclusive, equitable practices.