I think that Aristotle has a very good point, how you as a teacher approach education depend heavily on several factors. How you view the youth you are working with. Whether it be, future workers or individuals who deserve to find their own place in the world. How empowered you are by your district to teach in the style you think best. Also what your students bring to the classroom will greatly affect the style in which you teach.
According to the survey I took, I lean heavily towards existentialism. I scored seven points in this category despite wavering on several of the key questions. After reading the description of existentialism I believe that I do tend to follow many of the main strains of thought. In a free democracy humans should be exposed to the kind of material that allows them to think for them selves and make their own path in life. Equality of opportunity is also a guiding principle of democracy and as such I have always felt that education is the primary tool for this. This is kind of where I stray from existentialism and fall close to progressivism. I believe whole-heartedly that “Education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform” (Dewey, 1897). As educators we are responsible not only for our students in the “hear and now”, but also in their futures and the future of humanity. I know that these are lofty ideals but even more today each student needs to be taught about how they fit into the world around them. In that way we not only teach students to make decisions for them selves but also to figure out the best path for humanity.
One of the main points of existentialism that I disagree with strongly is the mention of math and science being cold and dry. Without creative thinkers in these fields such as Darwin and Da Vinci, we would not have some of the amazing discoveries that they have given to humanity. I just think you need to present these subjects with a more constructivist approach. For instance
I would like to set up my future math class as a more exploratory science. Helping students rediscover pi on their own or exploiting the strength of triangles to build better bridges.
I would also like to borrow from the reconstruction philosophy in encouraging students to get involved with shaping what they are learning and the general focus of education. By making connections between what they are going through in their own lives to what is happening around them in the world they should be better prepared to find the place in society that they can contribute the most. I also think that students learn better when they make connections between what they are learning, their interests and the goals they have for themselves.
In short I have always believed that the primary function of our schools is to teach students how to learn. Only when they can find their way on their own can a student reach their full potential.
