Philosophy of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Education - Essay Example It should also teach to students general knowledge and skills that they will be able to broaden later in their higher education as well as apply in everyday life. School should also develop problem-solving and decision-making skills, and educate physical, emotional and social needs. The Purpose of Education Herbert Spencer once said: â€Å"Education has for its object the formation of the character† and â€Å"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action†. These two quotes reflect my beliefs about education. The purpose of education is to prepare young generations to be able to fully function in the society, to teach them morals and skills to be able to make right decisions that will benefit them and society overall. Another purpose of education is to teach young generations to act upon those decisions and contribute to personal growth and society overall. I believe that education starts with family, in particular parents. They are responsible for raising a ch ild into a rightful citizen. They are the ones who help the child make first steps, say first words, and make first decisions. They provide the direction that determines the lives of their children. The saying goes â€Å"It takes a village to raise a child†. That is where the school community comes in. They help children grow academically, socially, and morally. The education should help reveal the potential of the child. As Jean Piaget believed, intellectual ability is not something that is taught to children, it is something that children develop naturally as they grow. So schools have to provide the framework for that growth. I think schools should provide basic education that is consistent across the country, but at the same time take an individual approach to adjust or add to the curriculum to meet the needs of children of various racial, ethnical, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. For example, children should be able to learn history and geography of t he world to be well-rounded individuals, but at the same time they should have an opportunity to study their cultural and ethnical heritage in more detail. This would help them appreciate their roots as well as respect people of other cultures and backgrounds. I think that currently the system of education is lacking the ability to provide a solid education for children and young people of various backgrounds. Unfortunately, the quality of education youngsters receive is still determined by the amount of money parents have. Even though President George Bush has made an attempt to give the equal opportunities to children of less privileged backgrounds through his landmark legislation â€Å"No Child Left Behind†, still this legislation has failed to achieve its goals in full. President Obama has recently raised the issue of quality of education and the very questions whether the education should be the same for everyone. He advocated for better schools and better education, esp ecially considering the fact that American schools lose to schools in most developed countries in the world. Educational Philosophers: The Power of Logic I believe in logic. I think people who think logically