Educational Philosophy

It is a mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain an idea without accepting it. ~ Aristotle.

The foundation of education in the western world is built upon the Socratic Method. Plato quotes Socrates saying, "The only thing that I know is that I know nothing." This fundamental truth states that all teachers are pupils and should be learning along with the students. This practice is ground breaking and continues to challenge our educational system today.

Aristotle builds on this idea with the concept of universal discipline, logical deduction through the medium of moderation, and the constant seeking of self-improvement. In the 'Nichomachean Ethics' Aristotle argues "there is only one good, knowledge, and there is only one evil, ignorance." Through this, Aristotle is making the statement that the only way to ensure a good life is through the discipline of education.

It is important to note that until the 19th century most philosophers and religious authorities thought that education was a natural phenomenon that heredity played a role in determining the education of an individual. John Amos Comenius, the father and champion of the natural approach to education, developed a general theory of education. His contribution to education was a more systematic approach to assist the student in their studies. This philosophical idea states that the education of a child should be incremental to the child's development.

Contrasting with Comenius, David Hume formulated the statement that education is not a priori and that education is a process that develops over time. Not fully conflicting with Comenius's idea, Hume's argument states that a student's potential is contingent on the educational environment and not heredity alone.

Carl Rogers built upon Hume's idea and believed that the student has an inherent desire to be educated. Carl Rogers' theory of unconditional positive regard has made its way into the classroom; he has been able to progress the idea a non-judgmental educational environment.

My personal philosophy is an integration of all these thoughts. It is imperative that I as the teacher remember that I am also a student learning along with my classroom. Taking the interests of my students and nurturing their inquisitive minds. By interacting with the students on ground level, the teacher is able to foster creative thinking and problem solving at a very young age. The Socratic Method perfectly illustrates this process with the foundational position of questioning everything.

Aristotle's moderation and universal discipline is a good counter-weight to the Socratic Method. With the Socratic Method it is easy to get sidetracked on bunny trails and it remains an absolute importance that the teacher must guide the class and know when to move on to another topic. It is a teacher's responsibility to oversee the education of the pupils and not let the class get out of hand.

Comenius offers the best vehicle for Aristotle's educational philosophy by providing structure to the educational process. In this respect, Comenius fulfills Aristotle's philosophy by applying age appropriate