Christine Pearson

December 11, 2014

Introduction to Education :EDU221

Fall 2014
Instructor: Professor Dick Percy
Philosophy of Introduction to Education
1. Evaluate current statistics and trends in the field, and personal motives when
considering education as a career. (I, II) The number of public school teachers have
increased do to the increase in public school students. Parents are now leaning toward the
public school option for their children because it is more cost effective. Students are also
given more opportunities for extra-curricular activities to broaden their talents and interests. I
personally would like to have the opportunity to teach in a private school, preferably a private
Christian school. Although a public school would have been a cheaper option for my parents,
they chose a Christian school so that I would receive the best education possible while being
in a safe and clean atmosphere. There are 30,861 private schools in the United States, serving
5.3 million PK-12 students. Private schools account for 24 percent of the nation's schools and
enroll 10 percent of all PK-12 students. The National Center for Education Statistics
periodically administers the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to test the
knowledge and skills of the nation's students in grades 4, 8, and 12. Students in private
schools consistently score well above the national average. At all three grades a significantly
higher percentage of private school students score at or above the Basic, Proficient, and
Advanced levels than public school students. My mother has taught at a private school for
fifteen years now. She is my role model for teaching. I have seen students do well in a private
school because of the one on one interaction they get with the teacher.
2. Analyze the political and economic influences on education at the federal and

state levels. (III) National policy has unquestionably influenced the education system. The
most visible way that politics has influence education is by the No Child Left Behind law.
More Americans think No Child Left Behind has made education in the U.S. worse rather
than better. The law was an initiative of the George W. Bush administration, requiring
standardized testing of students and a system of school penalties for low test scores.
Unfortunately, this is a big component of private schools. Most private schools use the
standardized testing, and then base the students intelligence or lack there off of these tests. I
want to break this mold and make sure that I understand each childs individual strengths and
weaknesses.
3. Identify and explain the current issues confronting public education,
including legal and ethical concerns. (IV) Every parent of a child knows that it is hard
enough to keep their child safe at home, but a whole new set of challenges may arise when
the child goes off to school. Some fear their child may be bullied or harassed; while others
fear their child's sense of privacy or free speech may be jeopardized. There are a growing
number of lawsuits arising out of some school's failure to keep students safe while on school
property. It is important for a child to feel safe and secure at school to further their growth
and development. Ethical concerns may include race, religion, special education, drugtesting, etc. No matter what school I may teach at, I know that some, if not all of these will be
an issue. At this point in my education, I am not completely comfortable confronting all of
them yet. I do know that I want my classroom to be a place where everyone feels loved and
safe. My students should never have to be fearful when coming to school.
4. Analyze historic events in education and their importance and impact on
education today. (V) There are so many events in history that have made education what it
is today. One of the main events that I think about is Brown vs. Board of Education. This

decision reversed Plessy Vs. Fergusson, ruling that separate is not equal and outlaws
segregation. I believe that this truly brought a closeness between schools and students.
Teachers could then start teaching that we are all equal, and should treat everyone with the
same amount of respect no matter the color of their skin. This is something that I firmly
believe in. I want my students to know that I love everyone equally, and they should as well.
I know that there are some parts of the United States that still have segregated school. I am
not sure where I will be teaching some day, but I just hope that I can make a difference
wherever I go, and that I may be able to change the hearts of some people about racial
diversity as well.
5. Evaluate the major philosophies of education and describe your personal
philosophy of education. (VI) Philosophy, according to Websters Dictionary is a pursuit
of wisdom; a search for truth through logical reasoning; an analysis of the grounds of and
concepts expressing fundamental beliefs. The Greek define philosophy as the love and
pursuit of knowledge and truth. My passion is Christian education. A Bible-based
philosophy of Christian education presents the Bible as the foundation of all knowledge.
Every aspect of education must be integrated into Gods truth. Christian education is to instill
in a child the knowledge of God; guide him in the development of his personal faith, and help
him in the establishment of his Christian worldview. A pupil-related philosophy of Christian
education focuses on what God intends every child to be. A pupil-related, philosophy of
education prepares a student to impact society and bring glory to the Lord. I would find
teaching in a public school difficult because I could not incorporate God or any religious
beliefs. That being said, I believe that if I do work at a public school, God has me there for a
reason. I will be willing to respect the guidelines given by the school. No matter the ethnicity
or religion of my students I will treat them all as equals.

6. Explain how national and state standards influence curriculum development,

assessment, accountability, and classroom practices. (VII) The Common Core was the
most significant change to American public education in a generation. Was this really for the
better? When the Common Core standards were first offered, we heard promises about how
these guidelines and their associated curricula and tests would transform and modernize
education. Tests have become more central to the work of educators and affect their
relationships with students. Based on a single exam, students can be told they are below
grade level, and schools and their teachers might be considered failures. Common Core
also limits a teachers creativity. My mentor teacher this semester told me that she feels like
she comes into the classroom everyday and reads a script to her students. She is such a
creative person, but cannot showcase that in her own classroom. This relates back to my
quote: The best teacher teaches from their heart to the childs heart, not from a book for a
test.
9. Analyze instruction, relationships, and classroom management strategies
observed in your 30-hour field experience. (VIII) My time helping in the second grade
classroom this semester was truly eye opening. Although the teacher said that she struggled
being creative in the classroom due to new laws, I viewed her classroom as full of life and
creativity. She knew each of the childrens unique interests and learned how to cater to them.
Each of the students had their own jobs throughout the day. This made them all feel needed.
Handling twenty two seven year olds seems like an impossible task, but my mentor teacher
made it look so easy. The biggest thing that I noticed was that she loved her job. She was a
teacher because she loved children, and just wanted to make a difference. This is what I want
to do as well: just make a difference.