PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Philosophy Of Education

Philosophy of Education

Introduction

Education philosophy is a term popularized by John Dewey (1859-1952) to signify a study of the fundamental principles of the theory of education, as distinguished from the "science of education," i.e., the empirical study of the educational process, and from the "art of education," i.e., the techniques or methods of teaching practice. For Dewey, the philosophy of education dealt principally with the values or goals of education. The history of scholastic thought indicates that fundamental questions of a rational type are present concerning (1) the nature of man as he is capable of getting education, (2) the goal or the character of the truly educated man, (3) the trained abilities that man acquires in achieving this goal, and (4) the agents by which man is educated. In this context, the term "education" should not be limited to merely academic training, but rather taken in its widest sense of the development of all facets of human personality—physical, moral, and intellectual—in their individual and social aspects. This paper discusses my personal philosophy of education and how it may be applied to setting up an exemplary school. My education philosophy is Catholic education philosophy and the philosopher I will follow is Elizabeth Seton.

A Mission Statement

The general basis of education will remain liberal and humanistic in the traditional sense but with all studies integrated through Christ.

Discussion

For some people, Catholic education philosophy may be a fantasy in the modern era but I feel it is an idealistic approach. In close agreement with traditionalist views, Catholic educational commentators, such as Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), William Cunningham, CSC (1885-1961), and William McGucken, SJ (1889-1943), emphasize that belief in a personal God is essential to all Catholic thinking on any phase of human activity, including formal education. The general basis of the curriculum remains humanistic and liberal in the traditional sense but with all studies integrated through Christ. The contemplation of truth begins in this life but reaches perfection only in the next. Only when education provides the individual with a vision of the eternal and supernatural as well as an appreciation of the temporal and natural will he understand the purpose of his life on earth and realize his destiny in the life to come. For the Catholic, then, any education that attempts to achieve less than this is incomplete. (Archambault, 2005)

Elizabeth Seton's Life and Philosophy of Education

Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City on August 28, 1774, the second of three girls to Dr. Richard Bayley, New York's first public health officer. Elizabeth studied music, drawing, French, literature, sewing, dancing, and housekeeping. The schools started by Elizabeth Seton were not the first Catholic schools in the United States. As we have seen, missionaries founded schools in the early 1600s in Florida, Texas, and California (which were not part of the United States when Elizabeth started her schools). (Elaine, 2003)

Elizabeth Seton's philosophy of education placed an entire educational program under the guidance and inspiration of religion. She believed in religious and moral training in a religious atmosphere with ...