How does philosophy affect a classroom? This is a question I have found quite interesting this past week, as we have been studying the roots of educational philosophies through the given readings. While reading, it has become quite apparent that teachers all have their own reasons for wanting to teach, and the manner by which they morally strive to teach often lines up with a philosophical group. In my opinion, the most important philosophies to abide by while teaching at the elementary age are the philosophies of realism and humanism.
Realism was founded by Aristotle, who sought to investigate the real world around him. He was taught by Plato (an Idealist), and believed it was more important to see the world one was living in than to strive for an ideal world. I agree with Aristotle because it is important to teach kids about their surroundings, and if they are taught that an ideal world exists, they will constantly find themselves being disappointed when the world does not turn out to be such a Utopia as they were taught to believe. Within the Philosophical Perspectives of Education, the author explains that realism introduced a lot of science and math as a means to explain the world, and uses the example of a rose to explain the philosophy.
Teaching students about the world they live in is incredibly important, but as a teacher of elementary aged students, it is also important to advocate respect and kindness toward everyone, as a Humanist would. The Humanists support classes in the liberal arts that help you develop psychologically. These classes are supposed to help "mold your mind" and help you grow as a person; to develop your morals. As an elementary aged teacher, it is equally as important to teach the kids how to be good people as it is to teach them the subject matter on the curriculum. They are at such an impressionable age it is essential to use a combination of the educational philosophies of realism as well as humanism to help them grow.
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