Running head: Philosophy of education

Professor Samuel Smith- EDUC 504

Developing Christian
Servants and Leaders
for the Future
The Neo-Scholastic and Essentialist Way of Education in Search for the
Deeper Meaning in Life

Jennifer Leigh Strout

4/13/2012

Running head: Philosophy of education

Abstract: The writers educational philosophy is based on what she had learned over the
years and what she had experienced through education. The writers methodology is a blend of
neo-scholasticism and essentialism. The writer also holds to the methods of self-directed learning
and understanding and communicating through culture. Not only does the author believes that it
will it help the students become functional members of society, but that it will also help equip
them find purpose and meaning in their lives as well as help them see the truth as it is. When
students learn to investigate the world around them with an educated eye, chances are they will
not be easily be mislead by unreliable or false information. They will not be followers but leaders
and shapers of society.

Page 2

Running head: Philosophy of education

Introduction
My philosophy is based on what has been learned over many years: my relationship and
dependency on Christ and what I had learned through obtaining my education. The methodology
that is used in my philosophy of life and education is a blend of neo-scholasticism and
essentialism. I also hold to the methods of self-directed learning along with understanding and
communication through culture in order to develop spiritual and global leaders of society.
World View and Philosophy of Life
The one thing that I have learned is that the truth of Gods word is solid and
unchangeable in a changing society. With every crashing tide of change within society and the
world, Gods word never changes and continues to shine in the darkest places of philosophy. The
stability of God and his truth shaped my philosophy as a teacher. Just as a teacher will instruct
the unchangeable laws of gravity to students, so I must teach them the eternal spiritual truths
about God that can be found in His Word and through the knowledge that can be gained within
this world.
I learned to value my education at an early age. While everyone was making their grades
and succeeding in school, I was falling behind because of ADHD. I was bullied and picked on by
both students and teachers alike and I immediately lost my motivation for education. However,
my father worked very hard to bring the motivation back into me, letting me know that I can
truly serve God with a deeper purpose through education. Ever since that age, I was always
curious about the world around me, always wanting to know the deeper meaning of everything
and its purpose of its existence. To me, it was vitally important to answer these questions for
Page 3

Running head: Philosophy of education

these questions addressed the very existence of my entire being. However, I had to fight for my
education on my own for I received no help from anyone, with the exception of my father.
However, even my father struggled within himself on whether I should have a college education.
He worried that a college education would either turn me away from God or I would utterly fail
and give up. However, I knew that God has called me into education. With the help of God and
Liberty University Online, I was able to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Religion with a minor in
Intercultural Studies with a high GPA. I am now pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching in
Secondary Education in order to inspire and encourage others to not give up on themselves when
pursuing their own goals and dreams.
Philosophy of Schools and Learning
My method of practice is not just one or two methods. The method that is used is a blend
of Neo-Scholasticism, Essentialism, self-directed learning, and differentiated instruction. Neoscholasticism is very important in demonstrating the need that we have for investigating absolute
truth and helping students develop their logical reasoning skills.(KnightGeorge, 2006) However,
at the same time, it is important that students receive the essential courses of study that they need
in order to survive and thrive in the society that they now live in. When essentialism and neoscholasticism are blended together within a methodology, it helps create a balance between the
two philosophies by teaching the students the meaning of finding the truth, how to use their
vocational skills in society, and how it can be applied to their world view.
Instructional Practice
I do not hold to just one method of instructional practice. It is very important that
students learn from different angles and methods in order to get the most out of what they are
Page 4

Running head: Philosophy of education

learning. People are unique individuals and they all learn in different ways that is relevant to
their uniqueness and personality. Not only that, but it will also helps them see the relevance of
what they are learning. The purpose of education is to promote skills in all facets of life. The
developed curriculum should offer opportunities for overall learning to take place. This means
that education should be able to cover the five basic areas of the student: the physical, emotional,
social, creative, and the cognitive self. (HendrickJoanne, 1980)
Technology is an extremely important method of instruction for not only is it helpful in
instructing students in a visual and a kinetic way, but it also helps them become equipped for
society. Society today has been becoming more technologically dependent, thus, creating more
jobs and a faster society with different demands. When we encourage students to be able to learn
how to use the technology that is offered, we help them become equipped for future careers.
Another important instructional method is problem-solving and group work. This is the
one method that will benefit them wherever they are at. When a teacher uses group work, it helps
the students develop leadership skills as well as team player skills which can benefit later in life
within the workforce environment. It should be emphasized that small group work is more
effective than a large classroom. The most prominent distinction between small group activities
and whole group lessons is the level of activity of the students. In the small-group, highly active
learners can be seen, which is an austere contrast to the more inactive performance during wholegroup lessons. (BrockCynthia & RaphaelTaffy, 2005) Problem solving is important for it helps
the students become an active member of their society and the people around them. When group
work and problem solving is taken away from them, the students are stripped away of the power
to change their environment, to become independent and think for themselves, and to improve
their society and their world.
Page 5

Running head: Philosophy of education

Active writing, reading, and discussion are also imperative in creating functional
members of society. Not only will it help the students become functional, but it will also help
equip students find purpose and meaning in their lives as well as help them see the truth as it is.
Through writing, they can develop their own thoughts into active ideas that can change or
enhance the course of their life. Reading helps them see the world through other perspectives and
be able to research on what the truth really is. When students learn to investigate the world
around them with a trained eye, chances are they will not be easily be deceived by unreliable or
false information. They become critical thinkers that are capable of benefiting society in ways
that the world has never dreamed. The students will truly become leaders that will shape society
that will benefit mankind as a whole.
The learning of foreign languages, including the English language, is also important for it
also equips the students to be able to relate to and understand the different cultures around them.
For example, the English language is now considers no longer a limited to the United Kingdom
or to the United States of America. It is now a progressively more varied and expanded resource
for global communication. For purposes of international communication through English, it has
been shown to be quite effective in promoting global understanding commerce. (CarterRonald &
NunanDavid, 2001) Along with studying foreign languages, I also believe that studying the
history and the people of the target languages is needed. For no one can understand a foreign
language completely without understanding how the language was developed and how it
influenced society and the rest of the world. When teachers help open the eyes of the students,
they help the students see truth, the world, and society from a much wider lens. With these
lenses, they can see the needs of others and help the people around them in a way that will not
only benefit society, but also future generations.
Page 6

Running head: Philosophy of education

Teacher-Learner Relationship
Students are not static. They all have different behavioral patterns, different experiences,
and different personalities with different goals. If one only uses one method of learning, some
students will benefit while other students will not. However, if a teacher uses a blend of different
methodologies, it will help many students from many different walks of life. This also speaks for
the students who have disabilities. Students with disabilities require a more individualized
approach to learning while still keeping them a part of the classroom body. Even though they are
part of the same class and learning the same content, they require different methodologies in
order to effectively teach to them the curriculum that is needed for them to be successful in their
grade. The art of using learning styles helps provide clear directions for either teaching
individuals through their style patterns or teaching them to teach themselves to take advantage of
their own personal strengths. (DunnRita & DunnKenneth, 1993) My goal is not to make them a
cookie cutter of society, but a functional independent person of society in which has the true
potential to change the world around them.
There three processes for learning that I emphasize which are: creativity, inquirydiscovery, and values clarification. Providing a stimulating atmosphere in which individuals can
think and experiment is of vital significance in order to provide a place to stimulate the natural
creativity of the student. The inquiry-discovery is when the responsibility for learning is placed
clearly on the student. It requires that the student asks questions and then examine possible
solutions. When students have developed the skill of asking questions, using their own creativity,
and making discoveries, they ultimately face the issue of values. The term values clarification
is a broad label for an collection of methods which use reflection and thoughtful activity for the
purpose of identifying and understanding motivations and behavior. (GrambsJean & CarrJohn,
Page 7

Running head: Philosophy of education

1979) This is an important process of developing critical thinkers fully equipped to assist in the
present issues within the world today.
Education is something that can be obtained by everyone in order to function in society,
to seek out the deeper meanings of life, and to be equipped as a servant and a witness for Jesus
Christ. Ive seen the effects that it has on people who have no education and no motivation for it.
Not only do they suffer from the effects of poverty but they also have no motivation of seeking
out the deeper mysteries of life that could have a profound impact upon their own worldview,
including their knowledge of the eternal truths about Christ. They do not seek out to change the
world in what they see. They see the problem within society but they do not have the proper tools
to solve the problem. Before I ever went to college, I was never good at critical thinking nor did I
give philosophy a second thought. I was living without any idea on how to serve others or Jesus
to my fullest potential. Through education, I am able to be fully equipped for good works in
order to serve and give glory to God to my fullest potential, which is the ultimate goal of
existence.
When I think of the purpose of a teacher, I look to Jesus, the ultimate teacher. He was
always patient with his disciples and was always constantly teaching the crowds about Gods
truths. He not only gave them information but he also challenged the way they viewed their
world and helped them understand by asking deep, spiritual questions. He knew when to be
gentle and he knew how and when to confront hypocrisy. It is truly a calling of God to be a
teacher. As teacher, you can have a positive influence in the lives of students and be an
inspiration to them. You can help them see the character of Christ through the way you speak and
how you treat them. When used appropriately, you can be a teacher that instills eternal truth
through the students education.
Page 8

Running head: Philosophy of education

The one thing that I have learned about education is that it is not just installation of facts.
It is also an installation of worldviews. Every subject matter carries a particular philosophy that
can affect the students for the rest of their lives.
Diversity
Diversity also plays an important role in education for it helps the student to look at
other people from different backgrounds and cultures with an equal standing of their own culture.
Diversity is the understanding of other cultures and religions in order to truly communicate with
other people in where they are at. When I was part of a research project with Jehovahs
Witnesses and was learning how they view their world through their doctrine, I saw the value of
understanding what they saw in order to communicate what truth is. This gave me the ability to
be able to communicate to them where they were at in their worldview and they also began to see
where I was coming from as well. When people seek to understand and communicate with
others, not only do they develop good social skills but this also helps them develop leadership
skills in which can help change their social and political environment. It can also help the student
gain a better understanding of their own faith and evaluate what they truly know about people
and the world. It is also a way for the students to evaluate their own prejudice thinking about
certain racial and cultural groups.
Diversity also helps the person see the world in a collective sense instead of an us versus
them way of thinking. How can we be effective leaders and servants for Christ if we are so
focused on the value of our own physical culture? As Christian leaders, educators must not seek
to be mono-cultural advocators but seek to be multicultural communicators for Christ in order to
witness and communicate to the world in what truth is.

Page 9

Running head: Philosophy of education

Self-directed Learning
In using self-directed learning, teachers can help students be able to find their way
through education and help them develop study skills that will affect them for a lifetime. One of
the major points of being a teacher is being able to teach the students to be able to become selfteachers of their own lives. Sooner or later, the time will come for the students to take the reins
within their own education and they will have to chart their own course in order to follow their
ambitions and hopes. In this sense, the teacher not only acts as a disciplinarian in whom they are
charge of the direction of the classroom but also as facilitators for the students. Self-directed
learning means that the students are learners who engage in inquiry. Inquiry means getting
answers to questions through the compilation and study of data. The required skill of inquiry,
therefore, is the ability to formulate questions that can be answered by data that is collected.
(KnowlesMalcolm, 1975) Through education and allowing them to discover the world around
them on their own, students can develop an increased self-confidence in what they are capable of
doing. There is no contradiction when combining these two concepts. First of all, it is important
to teach the students the necessary skills in order to be able to take charge of their own learning.
The students must have a solid foundation before they become their own teachers.
Conclusion
I never saw life as just something to be lived. It was something to be lived in service of
God and others. I am reminded of the movie Braveheart when William Wallace stated: Every
man dies, not every man truly lives.(Gibson Mel, 1995) It is such a profound statement to me.
How many people live for themselves and never think beyond that? How many people have we
seen that just seek to get by and never go beyond what they see or feel? How many people do we

Page 10

Running head: Philosophy of education

see that view themselves as servants to others and seek the greater good of mankind and the
completion of Gods justice and purpose on the earth? Without the knowledge of Gods spiritual
truths and the world that is surrounded and is affected by the truth, we can never truly be the
person that God wants us to be. Without the knowledge of His Word, we would all be
condemned by our sinful nature and have no hope for salvation. How does a man truly live? He
truly lives when he is completely regenerated and reborn through Christ and he seeks Gods will
on a daily basis. Education is important. No matter what we believe or what we do, we never
stop learning. It is something that God has instilled into our psyche since the very beginning of
creation. However, what we believe also affects the way we learn, how we view the world, and
what the meaning and purpose of life is.
As Christians, we are soldiers of Christ called to do a mission that God has called and
instructed us to do: to seek out who are lost and reach them with the truth of the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ. As teachers, we can help our students see the truth and the validity of Gods
word. When we have done so, we have lived well. We have fought the good fight for peoples
souls. We lived serving and loving God, which is our ultimate purpose.
In conclusion, my philosophy of education is surrounded on helping the students develop
the knowledge that they need to function in society, to live fuller lives, to help guide them in
finding purpose and meaning in life, to help them excel in everything that they do so they can be
fully able to compete in a competitive world, to guide them in ways that helps develop who they
are, and to help them develop the attitude of a servant to others. It is vitally important to help
them realize that the world does not revolve around them but it revolves and learning how to
work together as a team and to help others who are in need. After they have developed a firm
foundation of learning, then it is important to help them develop into their own teachers.
Page 11

Running head: Philosophy of education

My heart will always be for the people who are truly in desperate need. Education can
truly change the life of a person and can help them develop into the people that they were meant
to be. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to work alongside people who are of different
backgrounds and cultures. Something can always be learned from people of other cultures and it
also helps demonstrate to the teacher where they themselves need to improve in order to become
more effective teachers.
It is important to have a blend of Neo-Scholasticism, essentialism, self-directed learning
and diversity within the effective teacher. When this is achieved, it can create equilibrium within
the methodologies and help the students from all diverse background to develop to their fullest
potential, no matter what their goals in life are.

Page 12

Running head: Philosophy of education

Bibliography
Brock, C. H., & Raphael, T. E. (2005). Windows to language, literacy, and culture. Newark,
Delaware: International Reading Association.
Carter, R., & Nunan, D. (Eds.). (2001). The Cambridge guide to teaching English to speakers of
other languages. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Dunn, R., & Dunn, K. (1993). Teaching secondary students through their individual learning
styles: practical approaches for grades 7-12. Needham, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.
Gibson, M. (Director). (1995). Braveheart [Motion Picture].
Grambs, J. D., & Carr, J. C. (1979). Modern methods in secondary education. New York: Holt,
Rinehart and Winston.
Hendrick, J. (1980). Total learning for the whole child. St. Louis, Missouri, United States of
America: The C.V. Mosby Company.
Knight, G. R. (2006). Philosophy and education. Berrien Springs: Andrews University Press.
Knowles, M. S. (1975). Self-direct learning: a guide for learners and teachers. Chicago, Illinois:
Follett Publishing Company.

Page 13