Running head: EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES

Educational Philosophy
Bella Waters
Salt Lake Community College

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES

Educational Philosophy
There is so much more than one would think about being a teacher than just actually
teaching. I mean, how are you going to teach? What standards are you going to have in your
classroom? What teaching approaches are you going to take? I found myself leaning mostly
towards Social Reconstructionism and Perennialism for my educational philosophies. Both of
this philosophies are very reflective in my personality and I agree pretty strongly about both. I
think involving more than one teaching style in my classroom would be great. It would keep my
kids entertained and engaged in their learning.
Social Reconstructionism is the philosophy that schools, teachers, and students should
take the lead in addressing social problems and improving society (Eggen & Kauchak, 2017). An
American philosopher named Theodore Brameld who was highly influenced by World War II
believed that the human race had the power to create a good or bad society by the use of either
violence or compassion. His ideals on social reconstruction influenced many other philosophers.
The artificial environment in schools was miseducative in that the youth of the country because
they were not prepared to see and understand the values and issues which would confront them
as they became adults (Zuga, 1992). When I am a certified English educator I want to not only
focus on literature that has historical content, but also bring in real life social issues into my
classroom. My students will be reading news articles, magazines, and discussing the impacts
these issues have on their future. Students shouldnt be sheltered into learning things that dont
prepare them for the real world. Social justice is an educational movement that ties into
reconstruction and it emphasizes human rights and equality. I think that social justice is very
important especially right now in society. I want my students to understand whats going on and
for them to feel like they can make a difference.
Perennialism is an educational philosophy suggesting that schools should teach content
that has withheld the test of time. Our country's founding fathers had perennialist views and
believed that historical content is valuable (Eggen & Kauchak, 2017). With that being said, this
educational philosophy has been important in our country for a long time. Because I am an
English major I think that this teaching style is often over exposed. I dont agree that
Shakespeare should have to be a part of the core curriculum. Every year we had to read Romeo
and Juliet and I just honestly didnt get much from it. Reading about Gatsby and his American
dream and learning about the beauty of friendship from Steinbeck. Those are great examples of
Perennialism that I experienced in school and I would love to share that with my students. I want
them to read books that were so amazing and relevant to society in the past that still are now. A
Perennialist approach I think for students would offer more wisdom on how things came about
and why they are so important to history.
Social Reconstructionism and Perennialism focus on two completely different things. I
found it odd that I was compatible most with two opposite things. But now after learning more
about these educational philosophies I couldnt agree with combining the two more. I think the
mash-up would keep my kids engaged in their learning and excited to be in my classroom. In my
classroom I think it would be very beneficial for my student to see and experience more than one
approach on teaching. If I were to use these two philosophies in my classroom, my student would
be excited to learn. I want my kids to love being in my classroom and really see why being a
teacher is the best job you could have.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES

References
Kauchak D. and Eggen P., (2017), p. 158, Educational Philosophies, Improving Perennialism.
Kauchak D. and Eggen P., (2017), p. 165, Educational Philosophies, Social Reconstructionism.
Zuga K. F., (1992), p.1, Journal of Technology Education, Social Reconstructionism Curriculum,
https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v3n2/pdf/zuga.pdf