By Glen Schultz, Ed.D.
wh at s h ap e s y our
philoso ph y of e du cation?
O
NE’S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION is of
utmost importance because it drives every-
thing that takes place in the educational process.
Note that I didn’t say the school’s philosophy, but
the individual teacher/parent’s philosophy is of
utmost importance. The school’s philosophy of
education is basically determined by the philoso-
phy of education held by its teachers more than
what is written in a handbook, policy manual, or
accreditation self-study.
When most people hear the word philosophy,
they think about a deep and dry subject that is
full of big words that are hard to understand.
Most philosophy classes talk about epistemology,
ontology, axiology, etc. Even when one reads the
definitions of such terms, he can find himself more
confused than before. So how can we address the
issue of education from a philosophical perspective
that is easy to understand and evaluate?
Through the years, I have come to realize that how one
answers two questions will shape that person’s philosophy
of education. Every person has to answer these questions
in one way or another. Everything we do in our attempts
to educate our children and youth is driven by how we
answer these questions:
1. What is ultimate REALITY?
2. What is ultimate TRUTH?
Over 20 years ago, I was given a chart at an ACSI
administrator district meeting. This chart was not
only easy to understand, but it also made perfect
sense. It shows how education has been shaped over
time by how individuals and educational systems
determine what is real and what is true (see pg. 14).
Instead of using difficult terms, the author simply
states that what is considered ultimate reality and
ultimate truth determines what is valued or desired
to be produced through the educational process. I
believe that Stiles captured how reality and truth
have shaped education in the United States over
time. Things have definitely changed. However, the
changes that have taken place have not been good
but have been quite destructive.
What is real?
Looking at this question, it is evident that God and
Jesus Christ are no longer considered ultimate reality
when it comes to the current philosophy of education.
Since we live in a postmodern era, reality is determined
by whatever an individual wants to be real. Society now
believes reality is that which can be verified in the science
lab. But even more dangerous is the fact that society now
says that whatever you feel to be real is so—even if it goes
against science. This is evident in the fact that we are
currently debating who can use what restroom or locker
room in a school.
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