Personal Belief Essay
Victoria Moore
11/02/2013
Personal Belief Essay
Dr. Padgett
EE524
The overall aim of education is to allow one to continuously seek knowledge, which in turn capacitates growth. In searching for educational aims, finding a subordinate outside of the educative process is not the main concern. According to John Dewey (1916), “Because aims relate always to results, the first thing to look to when it is a question of aims, is whether the work assigned possesses intrinsic continuity” (p. 118). Dewey (1916), also listed three things that qualify an aim as being appropriate for education in a democracy: (a) “the aim must be founded upon the intrinsic activities and needs of the given individual to be educated, (b) the aim must be capable of translation into a method of cooperating with the activities of those undergoing instruction, and (c) educators have to be on their guard against ends that are alleged to be general and ultimate” (pgs. 126-127). Taking these three criteria into deep consideration, I believe challenging/encouraging students to meet their full potential, providing a well-balanced and appropriate curriculum, and the implementation of technology to increase instructional management, student learning, staff development, and administrations are important aims for public schools in a democracy, as they all work together.
First and foremost, students need to be challenged and encouraged and in order to do so, we as educators have to be a motivating force. If we are motivated and our students see this, it becomes easier to challenge and encourage. From students with learning disabilities to students who are advanced, they all need to be encouraged and challenged. In challenging our students, we provide them with the chance to exceed beyond grade level. We are preparing them for everyday life and to be conducive citizens. If students are not challenged/encouraged, learning becomes boring and repetitive. Students lose interest and learning does not
11/02/2013
Personal Belief Essay
Dr. Padgett
EE524
The overall aim of education is to allow one to continuously seek knowledge, which in turn capacitates growth. In searching for educational aims, finding a subordinate outside of the educative process is not the main concern. According to John Dewey (1916), “Because aims relate always to results, the first thing to look to when it is a question of aims, is whether the work assigned possesses intrinsic continuity” (p. 118). Dewey (1916), also listed three things that qualify an aim as being appropriate for education in a democracy: (a) “the aim must be founded upon the intrinsic activities and needs of the given individual to be educated, (b) the aim must be capable of translation into a method of cooperating with the activities of those undergoing instruction, and (c) educators have to be on their guard against ends that are alleged to be general and ultimate” (pgs. 126-127). Taking these three criteria into deep consideration, I believe challenging/encouraging students to meet their full potential, providing a well-balanced and appropriate curriculum, and the implementation of technology to increase instructional management, student learning, staff development, and administrations are important aims for public schools in a democracy, as they all work together.
First and foremost, students need to be challenged and encouraged and in order to do so, we as educators have to be a motivating force. If we are motivated and our students see this, it becomes easier to challenge and encourage. From students with learning disabilities to students who are advanced, they all need to be encouraged and challenged. In challenging our students, we provide them with the chance to exceed beyond grade level. We are preparing them for everyday life and to be conducive citizens. If students are not challenged/encouraged, learning becomes boring and repetitive. Students lose interest and learning does not
References: Dewey, John (1916). Democracy and Education. New York: The Macmillan Company. Dewey, John (1964) John Dewey on Education: Selected Writings. New York: Random House. Hansen, David T. (2006). John Dewey and Our Educational Prospect. New York: State University of New York Press.