Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
5/21/08
Block Iota
The Purpose of Education
How is education defined in this society? How does the philosophy of education
affect our schools? The idea of an educational philosophy deals with a number of things;
it ranges from the broadest school system to an individual’s way of thinking and each of
these factors contributes to society. My philosophy of education is to be educated for the
purpose of improving/developing oneself in their mental thought process in regards to
learning. I believe in this philosophy about school because as a learner it is important to
have the ability to gain knowledge and be educated. In this society, it requires education
to become successful. There should be times when the learner is able to educate
himself/herself not based on obligation, but for one’s own interest. I believe that everyone
has the ability to learn what he or she wants and everyone has his/her own way of
learning. I also believe that everyone face challenges and that they are able to overcome
it, which will also serve as a way of learning.
Over these four years at CAT I developed what it means to be educated. Being
educated doesn’t necessarily mean to do assignments and getting it over with. It means to
understand what the goal of the assignment is and how I could still learn from mistakes or
by making further additional changes. I know that what I learn now will be use for me in
the future, in which I could apply in college. For example, the math concepts that I
learned, like trigonometry, will help me in college because I have prior knowledge, which
I could apply in addition to further learning.
I think attending a small school like CAT is a something that I prefer when it
comes to learning because I am able to get help when needed. My middle school had a
large amount of students, which was something that changed once I came to CAT. CAT
has a smaller amount of students compared to other high schools, which made it possible
to focus on learning and getting the proper attention from teachers. Since the community
is tightly knitted, the whole class divisions are able to discuss the positives and the
feedbacks of the school. The community is able to solve problems on a better basis
because of a small and a close community. In some ways this creates a successful school.
From the article A Study in Size by Ryan Blitstein, Blitstein states that, “By 2000, there
were about 3,000 small schools nationwide. Not all of them succeeded, but they did
produce a compelling body of research showing that, in the majority of cases, small
schools improve student grades, test scores, attendance, and safety, and reduce levels of
violent behavior and drug abuse” (A Study in Size, 5/19/08). Being at a small school
impacted me in a way that I am able to focus on my learning in addition to getting the
attention I need. Exploring different learning environments, like the size of the school,
helps me realize how I learn best. The learning environment creates an impact on one’s
education because how someone learns best accounts for how well someone is educated.
In addition, I believe that everyone their own method of learning. Setting out
priorities and goals is my way of being able to accomplish what I want to get done. My
way of learning is being able to organize myself in a way where I am on top of things. I
don’t want assignments piling on top of me until the point where I have no control. I am
also a visual learner, so I prefer thinking/brainstorming and visualizing what I should do
before working on a project.
Furthermore, there should be no limitations in what a person can learn. People
should be allowed to be educated and not be held back because of other students. Gifted
students should be able to learn more and above expectations. If someone were willing to
learn it should be that he/she would be given the chance to learn without being restrained.
Setting limitations on a learner’s education does not help a person become successful.
The No Child Left Behind Act is something that doesn’t necessarily fit my idea of being
able to learn to one’s full extent. This act is meant to benefit those students who are
behind in learning, but it doesn’t help those who are above the learning standards. It puts
less focus on advanced students and more on behind students. In the article When Every
Child Is Good Enough by John Tierney, he states that, “The No Child Left Behind Act
was an attempt to put more rigor into the system by punishing schools whose students
don’t pass standardized tests, but it has had unintended consequences for high achievers.
Administrators have been cutting funds for giftedstudent programs and concentrating
money and attention on the failing students” (When Every Child Is Good Enough,
5/19/08). Although this act is meant to equal out the educational gaps, it leaves further
conflicts in society based on the unequal attention given to different learners.
Education is valuable in society and if it were taught right and practiced then it
would be something that will lead to a personal fulfillment. I came to believe in the
importance of education and that it is necessary in life because I know that not everyone
is able to learn due to financial factors and limited resources. There are unfortunate
people who want to learn, but cannot afford going to school or afford learning materials.
Then there are those who don’t take advantage of their learning and they end up putting it
off. As for myself I have the choice in making the decision of my education. The idea of
reaching my educational goal is something that will stay intact as I move onto college.
Through my future I will continue to build upon my philosophy, as it would be something
that I would guide my learning. As I continue to follow my goal I know that I am capable
of succeeding in college and in my career.
Bibliography
1.) Blitstein, Ryan. "A Study in Size." Village Voice Media 3 May 2006 15. 19 May
2008 <http://www.sfweekly.com/20060503/news/astudyinsize/5>.
2.) Tierney, John. "When Every Child Is Good Enough." The New York Times 4 Nov
2004 12. 19 May 2008
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/21/weekinreview/21tier.html?_r=1&sq=&oref
=slogin>.