Day 6

One philosophy of education is Pragmatism or Experimentalism. Within this philosophy, reality is based on experience. This experience comes from interaction with the environment, and it is always changing. Knowing comes from those experiences as well and there is a focus on the scientific method. The values in this philosophy are situational and relative. There is a great focus on problem solving in the instruction.

The way we decide to teach things is based in these types of educational philosophies. I read an article on edweek.org (http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/05/26/33kiner.h30.html?tkn=PQXFH115XKNxD6%2FjhyctrlwcfYNmJqr4JtbM&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1) about Booker T. Washington School and their philosophies behind their education. They focus on love and really raise the expectations of their students. The author and principal of the school, Alisha Coleman-Kiner, said it right when she said, “After all, children rise to the expectations we set for them; they thrive on the support we give them to meet those expectations. But before we set high expectations for children, we have to love them.” This school found great progress in implementing more leadership opportunities, and they grew to realize that their jobs were to develop human beings. Pragmatism philosophy shows education through experience and for some kids, experiencing things is the best way for them to learn and remember specific information.

While looking into the details of the Pragmatism philosophy, I was reminded of the worldview questions. In the Christian worldview, we know what we know through the experiences and the faith that we gain in those experiences. However, for us, the ultimate reality of it all is God and that cannot be proven by use of the scientific method. I love the idea of the experimental process and I see great benefits in having the kids actively learning rather than taking down notes and memorizing information for test. I would rather give them the opportunities to get hands-on experience to be able to have recognition later of their senses during that particular experience or activity.

The theory behind the philosophy of Pragmatism is known as Progressivism. The goal of progressivism is to educate people based on their interests and needs. The schools that are rooted in progressivism have a lot of activities and projects for their curriculum and they have more group activities including problem solving. The teacher plays a more passive role and stands back during a lot of the learning process and they practice more progressive teaching. The idea of progressivism education is to focus on the readiness, interests, and needs of the students.

At Booker T. Washington School, they really took a step back and looked at how their school was being run and they made the necessary changes. Coleman-Kiner said, “We spend a great deal of time in education focusing on inputs and outputs as if we were monitoring a manufacturing process. Yes, I monitor student data. Yes, I try to stay on top of research to provide the best instruction and programming for my students.” The school realized that many of their students may not have been receiving a lot of love and they took an approach to give them the chance to receive it at school. With love, they support them by acknowledging the challenges in school that come from homelessness and they help them heal from abuse through the love as well. The school realizes the needs and interests of their students and they do everything they can to fill their desires to learn and get help in all areas of their lives.

I find a lot of the ideas of the Progressivism theory beneficial in the classroom. I like the idea of natural development and the experimental learning. I am not sure how much of a role the teachers should have but I do think that they should still be in control and have the respect of the students. Being too passive in the teaching could have a negative effect. I just really find a lot of benefits in focusing on the students and their needs rather than what the curriculum is demanding. I want to make sure they learn the information that they need to within the year but I think there is room for their input in what we do and how it would be done. I loved reading about the passion behind things going on at Booker T. Washington School. They really seemed to have the right mindset about the root of their problems and how to help their students. God calls us to help others and to love one another. I think that no matter the background of the students, there is a place to love them and guide them in their education and help them strive for greatness.