I am a Pragmatist

After re-thinking and our class discussion, I have re-examined my philosophical standpoint.

The four philosophies of education, realism, idealism, pragmatism, and existentialism, all, at some point, contribute to the person that I am the teacher I am becoming. From these four philosophies I can, after educating myself further and with help from my peers with discussion, I have found myself to be a pragmatist. I initially thought of myself to be an existentialist but have discovered that my personality and teaching style follow that of a pragmatist. I find myself, however, still relating to the other three philosophies in varying ways. In idealism stressing the importance of great works, great leaders, and great ideas as a way to learn and grow from our history and past. But it must go beyond these things, in an ever changing world we must accept alternate ideas, “truths” and technologies. Within realism I can relate and agree with teachers having specific knowledge in order to teach subjects and or topics rationally. I also allow myself to relate to the student and the teacher being learners in order to further educate both parties. While I don’t believe that being rational or logical is the ultimate goal, I do believe in moderation it greatly serves the classroom as well as materials and subjects.

Within existentialism, the individual is important and is seen as having total freedom with choice and work situations. Although I firmly believe in reaffirming the rights and the importance of the “individual” , their lives, culture, and history, within each student, allowing only for personal truth or individual work does not serve the classroom in a beneficial light. Social interaction is crucial for not only social development but academic development as well. Although, I relate to existentialists in denying the use of standardized testing, measurement and tracking, I do not believe that students need to only learn and grow as an individual, they must do so as well with others. Coming to the fourth philosophical idea, pragmatism, I find myself drawn to the core values here. The world, cultures, society, and children in the classroom change constantly and acknowledging and educating about these changes and diverse topics leads to the idea of what it means to know. Experience is emphasized here and as a hands-on learner I find myself relating to being able to learn through experience and integrate reason. As a pragmatist giving students the opportunity for success in the community, social or academic, can lead to self learning, re-thinking, and re-examining the world around them. Experience through learning can help to create the well rounded student, a “good citizen” of the classroom and of society. Having a collaborative, interactive environment with a question based learning technique allows students to apply knowledge to many facets of their lives. As a teacher and a pragmatist, modeling reflective thinking, presenting the factual information and then allowing my students to question it, allows them to develop not only as an individual but as a learner.