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Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

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Page 1: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby
Page 2: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach?

Neil Denby

Page 3: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Key Questions …• What are your core beliefs about the nature

and purpose of education? • How do these beliefs manifest themselves as

values? • What have been the beliefs and values of

others?

Page 4: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Objectives … Explain and evaluate the values and

attitudes of individuals towards education (schooling – schools)

Provide examples of educational beliefs and attitudes – theorists

Explain and exemplify the concept of reflection in practice

Page 5: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Concepts and terminologyConcepts• Terms used to classify, interpret, describe, explain and evaluate, e.g.

education may be defined using ‘instruction’, ‘creativity’, etc., but not everyone will agree; authors therefore tend to stipulate what they mean by the concept

Perspectives• Set of concepts?• Selected facts, values and assumptions are used to create a screen for

viewing events

Page 6: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Concepts and terminologyTheories and models• Explanatory and often evaluative accounts• Bundled related concepts• Theories – coherent system of connected concepts• Models – small bundle of concepts and their relationship to each other• Theories/models may or may not be informed by research or experience

Metaphors• A way of describing one thing by reference to another

Assumptions and ideologies• Taken for granted• System of beliefs, attitudes and opinions

L. Poulson and M. Wallace, Learning to Read Critically in Teaching and Learning (London: Sage, 2004)

Page 7: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

What is education for?

• Intrinsically valuable• Preparation for life• Preparation for work• Socialisation• Indoctrination• Diversity• To create opportunity• Or …, …, …, …?

Page 8: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Activities

20 mins: Whole group discussionDefinition of terms: What do we understand by …?

What do others understand by …?20 mins: Small group discussionFrom the readings … outline the history of the

philosophy of education: Why has it changed? What are its problems?

60 minutes: What do you believe is meant by ‘education’? What do others believe? How do these beliefs manifest themselves as values? How can you defend your viewpoint?

Page 9: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

In school …

• Examine the handbook/prospectus in your first placement school and try to identify the values/attitudes and beliefs about education it exemplifies …

Page 10: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Readings …

• Plato, Republic: To educate people to bring about a just society – ‘child farming’ […] ‘turning towards what is good’ (p. 228) […] ‘educators will notice that some youths are suited by temperament’

• ‘Authoritarian’ or ‘child-centred’ (p. 229)• Francis Bacon: ‘truth about nature would be manifest to the

individual’• Locke: Moral aspects of education• Rousseau: Emile (1762) – child-centredness – learning by doing• Dewey: Child’s social experience

A. O’Hear, ‘History of the philosophy of education’, in T. Honderich (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 228–31

Page 11: Educational philosophy What is education? Why do you want to teach? Neil Denby

Readings …

• Hirstian liberal education: Logical forms of knowledge – logical patterns of reasoning, e.g. mathematics, history physical sciences – each with its own unique concepts and ‘truth’ …

• Educational aims in liberal society: Liberal democratic society – creating autonomy. What is ‘personal’ well-being?

• Education and politics: Education for ‘Work Society’ or ‘Activity Society’; Concept of Citizenship …

• Children’s minds and learning: Child development

J. White, ‘Problems of the philosophy of education’, in T. Honderich (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 231–4