Idealism SeminarBy Makayla Ndu & K8 Millen

Summary: Philosophy of Education Before the Twentieth CenturyNoddings examines philosophical questions that have been prompted over time about early childhood education.

Noddings evaluated Socrates’ work with educating others and how this affected the individuals being taught.

Ex. Law class

Noddings considered Socrates’ method as a method of teaching, rather than a method of learning.

NoddingsNoddings does not support the voucher system in place in the education system.

● Parents would have too much say in their child’s education ● Students are evaluated differently due to their voucher status● There is a vast difference in the education system between public

schooling and voucher based schooling ie. schools that started using vouchers performed better

Student choice based education

● If parents were offered a better education for their child regardless of the their child's needs or wants, they would choose the better education.

Socrates

● Socrates created the socratic method during his career. ● With open dialogue in the classroom, students are more engaged

and willing to participate.● He allowed for willingness and open dialogue in his teaching environment.

● This has changed over time in that now, the majority of classrooms rely on a call and response tactic where if called on, the student is expected to answer.

● He felt that self knowledge was the route to all knowledge● Noddings stated, if one knows themself they are able to form their

own opinion about the world

DeweyDewey believes that education should be interest based.

● Dewey states “All children were to be given opportunities to show their abilities, and only gradually would they be sorted.” (Noddings, 2012, p.8)

● Education should be solely based on the needs of the children.○ In today’s society, this type of teaching is still used today in education.

■ IDEA, FERPA, DASA and more● Plato does not argue against Dewey, except he believes that the

“opportunity” should be based off a high salary and prestige.○ A student should focus on a life path that would include stability and

respect from others.■ Ex. Doctor, Lawyer, ect

AristotleAristotle believed “people should be educated or trained for their appropriate

place in life.” (Noddings, 2012, p.11)

● Plato agreed with this belief, that people had a specific task, whether they failed or succeeded in completing the task.

○ Ex. Artisans, wives and slaves

● Unlike Plato, Aristotle focus wasn’t on creating the perfect society. His focus was on the behavior of human beings.

● “Train up a child in a way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Noddings, 2012, p.11)

○ How we choose to raise our children can have a great impact on their life choices in the future.

PlatoStudents

● Plato believes that “students should be educated according to their capacities, that they should not all have exactly the same education “(Noddings, 2012, p.7)

○ Depending on the future career choice of the students, their education, according to Plato, should be based off of that.

○ Everyone has a specific role or duty in their society, that person should be educated on how to fulfill said role.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HndV87XpkWg

Summary: Idealism and EducationPhilosophers, such as Augustine, Kant, Plato, Butler, Hegel and others had different and similar views on idealism and education.

Within this reading, views are categorized into three areas:

1. Platonic Idealism a. Timeb. The Truth

2. Religious Idealism a. Christianity, Judaismb. Divided Line

3. Modern Idealism a. Cogito ergo sumb. The mindc. Connection/Change

Plato

● People should primarily concern themselves with the search of the truth and enlighten others with it

● ” Preparation in the dialectic should involve a lengthy period of education beginning with studies in mathematics” (Ozmo, 2011, p.9)

● People do not create knowledge but, discover it

J. Donald Butler

● Butler’s work was primarily based upon the concern of the individual and self realization, this is great for idealism and for making it relate in modern times

● Idealist teachers don't see themselves as those who repeat the philosophers work but create their own philosophies

● These teachers use questioning and discussion sessions

AugustineReligion and Intuition

● Augustine believed that “people do not create knowledge. God already has created it, and people can discover it through trying to find God.” (Ozmo, 2011, p.11)○ Plato

● Believed in the dialectical method.○ The dialectical method is a debate that involves two or more people who

are on different sides of an argument, but are determined to find the correct answer. ■ Ex. Is a college education worth it?

● Logic or Experience?○ Five Senses○ Church

Immanuel KantHumans and Discipline

● Kant believed that “ humans are the only beings who need education and that discipline is a primary ingredient of education that leads people to think and seek out “the good.” (Ozmo 2011, p.16)○ B. F. Skinner

● “ Children should be educated not simply for the present but also for the possibility of an improved future condition.” (Ozmo 2011, p.16)○ Children are considered the future of the world and what we teach them

will determine the positive or negative outcome of society in the future■ School

George Hegel● Logic, nature and spirit

○ The three stages■ The stages had to be followed in order to reach the final step.

● Hegel believed “ that his logical system, if applied rigorously and accurately, would arrive at Absolute Idea. “ (Ozmo, 2011, p.17)

○ In order to achieve absolute idea, one couldn’t be afraid of change■ The world

● “ to be truly educated, an individual must pass through the various stages of the cultural evolution of humankind.” (Ozmo, 2011, p.18)

○ Education, everyone can learn but had to go through necessary steps in order to reach a point of success

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYV9BqnC4X4

ProjectGet into pairs!

On a large piece of paper, write down current idealistic philosophies in education.

You will be assigned one philosopher.

With this philosopher, your group will find similarities and differences between that persons philosophies and the current ones that you listed.

Discuss as a group!

Questions??

● What age is the right age for students to have a voice in their education?● What is modern day idealistic education in our country? ● Do we exhibit any philosophical ideals today that were produced centuries

ago?● What philosophers view points would stand strong in today’s culture and

society?● What philosophies would you exhibit into your own classroom?