Voices of Educational Pioneers Article

Given the pages and pages of educational philosophies within this article, I feel as though I do not have to time or brain strength to summarize my reflection at this time. Having just read the article, I am going to list the parts I related to, agreed with and feel are important. I can later bring my thoughts on all the topics into true feelings for my philosophy paper.

Characteristics of Teacher:
Teacher's academic freedom to think, question and teach (Socrates)
Expert, knows developmental levels of children
Respects children.
Teaches with methods that motivate and stimulate students.
"Teacher of all" (Jesus)
Fair and compassionate.
Kindness and Fairness
Encouraging
Open to all learners
Variety and practicality
Non-coersive
Moral integrity and diligence
Pedagogic efficiency

Role of Teacher:
"transmitter of knowledge" ( Confucius)
Draws knowledge out of student (Socrates)
Ask questions in a way that students discover knowledge within -leading questions
Relating curriculum to needs/interests of students.
Know what students already know and build on that knowledge.
Debate with students to help discover knowledge.
Variety of teaching instructional methods
Make learning enjoyable
Integrate curriculum
Student-centered curriculum
Create an emotionally secure environment
Character formation
Group instruction
Reflection
"Students develop a moral code that will guide their life." (Herbart)
Create responsible members of society.
Teach the process of thinking
Know student understanding and teach to it. -individualized instruction.
"What is the purpose of teaching, what are you teaching and how are you teaching it?" (Freire)
Creating an environment where students will teach themselves through interacting with it.


Role of Education:
Teacherless Education- draw out knowledge
Student growth and development of character and ability to do good. (Plato)
Promote citizenship and leadership (Plato)
Encourage thinking, reflecting and practice. (Aristotle)
Successive stages of education based on physical and psychological developments.
Allow students to create their own perceptions, not being persuaded by previous opinions.
Character development- providing students the opportunities to make good choices. (Aquinas)
Developing responsibility in youth
Universal education for all-Everyone should have the same opportunity to learn anything and everything.
Holistic development of student
School and family work together
Create in children healthy habits of minds and body.
Promote equality of men, no matter their race, religion, or habitat.
"Education as the only hope to reach not only skills but to change attitudes to improve morality." (Jefferson)
"Providing students with free and intelligent choice between alternates and engaging them in meaningful interactions with their environment- the subject matter, the teachers, and peers." (Dewey's)
Purpose= think, discover and create



Child/Student:
Social, physical and emotional potential.
Stages of learning (Aristotle)
Their function is to reason- (Starter- Child's most common word = why?)
--Inquisitiveness of children.
Natural endowment, instruction and practice (Luther)
Learn through experience
"Adults in the making" not youngsters
Direct contact with nature without inter-mixture of opinions = form own idea.
"Given freedom, children would play, participate, observe, and learn new knowledge through self-activity at their own speed of learning.


Good quotes:
"Know thyself. The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates
Fortune Cookie quote- "Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist."