My Philosophy of Education 1

My Philosophy of Education
Malachi N. Burley
Educational Psychology
Spring 2020: Dr. Nia Nunn
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My philosophy of education must first begin with what I believe education to be and
naturally what learning is to me. Education to me is the process of learning/the development or
expansion of thought based on both new and previously known information, there’s also the fact
that learning can come from anywhere whether it be in a formal setting or in our everyday travels
as we are always taking in information and forming thought. I feel as though education must be
properly geared to each individual, and that there is truly no way for us to “standardize” our
approach to the topic of education this being where a key fundamental error is in the system and
the current understanding when shaping curriculum. Education must be as broad as it can
possibly be so at a young age and beyond students will feel as though they truly belong, and not
as if they are working for the system but rather working for themselves actively in pursuit of a
future that they deem worth chasing. The system should constantly be in support of the student,
and never the other way around where expectation, and testing outweigh the development of
critical engagement/intrinsic motivation as it currently does. A theory that closely relates to this
approach is Howard Garners- Multiple Intelligence theory, where we see for the first time an
actual addressing of the fact that each individual has different strengths and weaknesses in
certain areas as well as different approaches and ways of understanding. This theory is a starting
point for better understanding the various differences and needs that many have for critical
engagement but in no way does it end there. Next is our view of education, and another key
aspect of how our curriculum and courses should be shaped this being as a cultural institution
geared towards the development of critical social skills and the understanding of all individuals,
not only this but again the system must be properly geared to assist and support the needs of all
individuals. We must properly teach and address the systemic issues within our society, the
intersectionality of issues, and dismantle the privileged understanding which begins at a very
young age within those who benefit from the system, in its place creating a conscious
understanding of who we all are as a people and the differences how we are all forced to live our
lives due to the differences between us due to the current system we live in. The establishment of
identity and moral development should not be something left outside of education and this
concept is shown in three leading theories on our development, this being Lev Vygotsky’s
Sociocultural theory where he stresses how much social interaction plays heavily into our
cognitive development and just how much we take in from theses interactions. A key aspect of
this theory and how it really relates to identity and morals being stressed significantly more in
education is that since children learn so much, and gather their own understanding from what
they see if there’s no particular guide to this thought process it can result in a number of wrongs
and assumptions about oneself and others for instance the best analogy I can make for this is
imagine there being no Sexual education class. Where would children then gather their
information about sex from? The answer is society and just like with Sexual education and its
teaching we do not rely on parents to do this teaching, just like this is fit within our curriculum to
prevent misunderstanding and garner knowledge of the topic of sex the same thing should be
done for race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. This only making the most sense as the world
around us continues to change and evolve this change must be supported and understood in every
setting (this of course coming from a very progressive view, granted there are many conservative
views which would say otherwise. But to them I say time moves forward, not backwards). The
next two theories which fit very well within this understanding is both Albert Banduras Social
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Learning Theory and Carl Rogers Humanistic Theory. From Banduras learning theory we see
even more of a stress on how important our social interactions again are to our learning, but on
top of this he brings in the crucial need of having positive and credible role models to help us
shape/imitate who they are applying it to our own morals, goals, and standards. This flowing
almost seamlessly into Rogers humanistic theory based upon our real self and our ideal self,
seeing how this ideal self can really only be created by the role models that we have so that we
can reach what he calls unconditional positive regard as we get closer and closer to being who
we want to be. This all plays into why we need a proper moral and both identity development/
understanding curriculum to properly develop us into knowledgeable, caring individuals in
society who actively work towards an equitable society for all. There is no reason why we should
be leaving this crucial developmental aspect to the ever varying resources of parents, or rather to
children themselves who may or may not have any guidance whatsoever and for those who may
argue that “there’s no way to properly do this, there’s to many different perspectives on what’s
right and what’s wrong, we can’t define and/or give everyone morals”. I say that in the pursuit of
equity which is undeniably the right to all living things and not only this due to the steep history
of inequality and the demonization of differences, which we have seen from humans left to their
own selfish means it is clear that there must be an intervention early on within our lives. Both to
dismantle negative stereotypes about ourselves and others while also gaining a better
understanding of ourselves and our own place within society. This should undoubtedly lead to a
far more equitable society for all this being what our goal should be.
Thankfully, I am not alone in my beliefs and many of which have been inspired by the
absolutely amazing transformative works of teachers and scholars like Dr. Beverly Tatum and
Dr. Bettina L. Love. Their phenomenal work in the field of teaching and research enabling them
to literally lay down the foundations of what will lead to a equitable society through the
educating of our youth, with an in depth analysis into the very systemic and white capitalistic
American culture which the system has been built upon their deep examination is from and for
the betterment of POC and white people alike. Detailing the very ways in which teachers and
those who are privileged from the system in place can go about making a change, identifying
problems within they system, becoming a co-conspirator in the dismantling of the system, and
overall becoming that of abolitionist. Dr. Love constantly talking about the ways in which
abolitionist teaching can be achieved, maintained, and how it really is a way of life both authors
as well stressing the need for a positive self-identity, cultural identity and image for POC and
how the education system in place has failed to do this for us and all the perverse ways it has
done so. The best course of action in the making of a truly equitable society is through the
educating of children, as they will be the ones shaping our society as they grow and formulate
thoughts and opinions about the society in front of them. As a result, we must do all that we can
to educate them early on by changing the curriculum into a more informative and supporting
system which will see them to success. The impact of a positive identity understanding/moral
development based curriculum is something that those who are privileged by the current system
fear as this will lead to a complete overhaul of the system in place as this consciousness of how
society is, their place within it and the power that they have as the next generation to change it
will only help grow their abolitionist spirits and close the gap of inequality. This attacks the
problem at the source and is what I believe to be a way to change the system.
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The role of educators is to enforce this model and learn from their students,
understanding them and giving them what they need to succeed, and not basing their success on
what the system deems it to be. As Dr. Love very frequently talks about there can be no spirit
killing. Not only this but teachers must educate themselves as well in just how corrupt and
systemic the issues facing every student, especially POC are ensuring that they address these
issues and dismantle the system which does not want them to know the issues within nor just
how much they can change the system. Teachers must ensure engagement through a variety of
creative means that each student will enjoy, and the only way to do this is by actually getting to
know your students and the lives that they live in and outside of your classroom The job of a
abolitionist teacher is not easy when you do your job through and through, you must make every
second count and engrain within them what so many in our society lack.

In conclusion I hope to have shown my philosophy of education as detailed as 3 pages

will allow me to, my primary focus within my philosophy is dismantling the failure of a
education system that we currently have which enables privilege in all its forms and replacing it
with a equitable one that will better address, inform, prepare, and support all students no matter
where they come from or how society sets them up to be or expects them to be. Through this I
believe that it will translate or to the greater adult world and society will grow more equitable for
everyone as everyone will understand what has to be done and how things should be. This is
what I want to see within our education system and will work towards.
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References

LOVE, B. E. T. T. I. N. A. (2020). We Want To Do More Than Survive: abolitionist teaching

and the pursuit of educational freedom.

Tatum, B. (2017). Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: Revised
Edition. Basic Books.
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Addendum:
Philosophy of Education Draft #1
 How you define education
 How you conceptualize the role of teachers and of learners in and out of the classroom
 How you translate your beliefs into action
I guess I would define education to be the learning or newly thought about anything really. I

believe that education or being educated can come from literally anything whether it be

purposeful or just out of the blue, I feel as though we learn everyday from everyday life

experience which in turn means we are being educated on a daily basis. I feel like I’m getting

sidetracked, but to summarize and create an actual definition, I would define education as the

process of learning, or newly formed thoughts and conclusions about new information and

deeper thought/expansion of information or ideas already present.

I feel as though teachers and learners can really be one in the same, and that both have something

to learn and teach one another whether it be something about themselves or some content that

really has nothing to do with them personally. Both in and outside the classroom though they are

both still learning and using what they know to bring it back full circle to the classroom. They

are both expected to develop their own opinions and perspectives on the information presented

and for both of them to be understanding/hardworking. I personally view it as a partnership

really in the way in which both have an objective to learn.

I would say I transfer my beliefs into action, one by deep thought. When I believe in something,

I constantly think about it all aspects of it to ensure that I know both pluses and minuses of my

beliefs/solutions. I don’t believe in forcing my beliefs upon people, but I do believe in the

expressing of my opinion on a matter so I would say that my placing of beliefs into action would

be constant critical thinking about a topic, and then expression of said thought through whatever
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outlet I feel as though it should be expressed. While constantly keeping in mind that this is my

opinion and it may not fully encompass everything but nonetheless important than everyone

else’s.

Philosophy of Education Draft #2

...your ability to describe developmental and sociocultural contexts that impact education,

including how history institutional practices, and circumstances impact educational equity.

...your understandings of historical and present structures of education and the

significance of schools as a cultural institution within a larger system of power.

It is very important for us as future educators, or rather as active participants within

society the fact that every single one of us comes from a different upbringing, community, and

that we all have different outlooks, views, and opinions of society. Within education there is a

severe lack of addressing and teaching of this crucial ability that people need to have to

understand one another. Currently the system/institutions in place neither represent nor actively

supports the development of all, this of course due to the foundations of how which the system

has been built upon steeped in hate and exclusion. Equity for all cannot be reached until that is

addressed and acted upon as a top priority.

I understand that the historical structures of education have played a huge role in the

present structure, and as a result there a still countless disparities within our system for POC and

people of low socio-economic status specifically. Many of the disparities are intersectional in

nature due to how every single aspect of students lives come into play in both life and education.

School is where many of our social interactions take place and in itself is a cultural institution
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within our larger system, so if we are able to shift and change this system to one being more

equitable, more understanding, more supportive, etc. We can have a monumental impact on the

larger system that plagues our society today.