PHILOSOPHY

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Questions to Consider:

What is Plato's conception of curriculum? How can its elements be brought into modern curriculum construction?

Plato regards education as a means to achieve justice, both individual justice and social justice. According to Plato, individual justice can be obtained when each individual develops his or her ability to the fullest. In this sense, justice means excellence. Meanwhile, social justice can be achieved when all social classes in a society, workers, warriors, and rulers are in a harmonious relationship. Plato believes that all people can easily exist in harmony when society gives them equal educational opportunity from an early age to compete fairly with each other. Without equal educational opportunity, an unjust society appears since the political system is run by unqualified people; timocracy, oligarchy, defective democracy, or tyranny will result. Thus, to achieve justice, modern society needs the Platonic theory education, for Plato's philosophy of education will provide a comprehensive vision to solve those problems in education.

Sources from: Lee, Myungjoon, "Plato's philosophy of education: Its implication for current education" (1994). Dissertations (1962 - 2010) Access via Proquest Digital Dissertations. AAI9517932.

https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations/AAI9517932

Nowadays, the government, specifically in the Philippines, promotes "Education for all" and provides free education for elementary and high school learners and even deserving undergraduate students in the tertiary level. With the elements and idea of education presented by Plato, we can say that it brought so much influence of today's education.

Do you think philosophical basis is inherent in modern Philippine education, specifically the K-12 Curriculum? Discuss and cite your experiences as a teacher.

Yes, I think philosophical basis is inherent in modern Philippine education. In the new curriculum, the K-12 program, years in the basic education were added 2 additional years aiming for more years of experience. Many philosophers developed various philosophical foundations and views about education. To name a few, we existentialism, essentialism, progressivism and even realism. These philosophical views aim to center the learning to the students by being active in the teaching-learning process. In these days, as a teacher it is important that my students will not only know and be familiarize with the knowledge I impart to them but also to apply it in their daily lives and in the real world. With 2 years of teaching experience, I realized and learned many things. There are situations that you cannot solve with the knowledge you have learned in the books but allows you to make judgement to deal it.

How important is the study of philosophy of education for a teacher? How does it help to solve the day-to-day problems that the teacher faces in the classroom?

Studying philosophy of education is important to all educators with the reasons that it serves as our guide in dealing teaching and learning situations, it can be the basis of beliefs in educating our students and to help us solving problems faced in the classroom.

Moreover, studying philosophy of education give us, teachers, the general ideas on how to deal various situations and conditions tp the entire teaching-learning process. It also enable us to make fair and sound judgement and decisions during tough situations.

Collect material on the life of eminent philosophers, and analyze how their ideas and thoughts have been affected by their circumstances.

Visit the site to refer the "Life of Eminent Philosophers" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lives_and_Opinions_of_Eminent_Philosophers)

The Seven Sages

Thales is recognized for breaking from the use of mythology to explain the world and the universe, and instead explaining natural objects and phenomena by naturalistic theories and hypotheses, in a precursor to modern science. 

Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens

Chilon of Sparta also said the famous Ancient Greek proverb: "less is more", or "brevity is the soul of wit", or "brevity is a way of philosophy", which means that the best way of being a philosopher is through brevity and describes the Spartans' way of thinking and attitude.

Pittacus was a native of Mytilene and son of Hyrradius. In consequence of this victory, the Mytilenaeans held Pittacus in the greatest honour and presented the supreme power into his hands. After ten years of reign, he resigned his position and the city and constitution were brought into good order.

Bias was born at Priene and was the son of Teutamus. He is said to have been distinguished for his skill as an advocate, and for his use of it in defence of the right. One of the examples of his great goodness is the legend that says that Bias paid a ransom for some women who had been taken prisoner. After educating them as his own daughters, he sent them back to Messina, their homeland, and to their fathers.

Cleobulus was the son of Evagoras and a citizen of Lindus in Rhodes. Cleobulus is said to have lived to the age of seventy, and to have been greatly distinguished, for strength and beauty of person.

Based on the materials I have collected about the life of the eminent philosophers, most of them contribute greatly on the success and well-being of their nation. But some of them, because of the short victory they achieved, they abused their power for their own benefit. Because of the contributions of these philosophers, many of their followers accept their teachings and wisdom to create a more fair society.

How much is experience important for the education and the educator? Is experience the basis of all knowledge and learning?

Experience is said to be the best teacher of all. In education, experience plays an important role in learning is more meaningful and purposeful. As an educator I believe that if the students will be able to relate their learning to their past experiences the more they will be able to learn the subject/lesson easily.

As a teacher, what do you feel would be the optimum philosophical combination for modern teacher-learning situation?

 I believe that the optimum combination for modern teaching-learning situation is that as a teacher you need to provide equal and good opportunity for your learners so that they will be a holistic individual in the future. As a teacher who is guided by his/her teaching philosophy will be able to reflect on his/her duties and responsibilities. A teacher who is guided in the teaching-learning process or situations will be able to achieve his goal by providing the students with meaningful experiences that will help them to be a better individual as they go or enter the real world.

Image taken from: https://philosophy.as.uky.edu/where-can-philosophy-take-me