Philosphy of Education part 2: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders Today

Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Introduction 

What is the purpose of education?  This is a good question because it causes one to wonder whose idea it was to create a process by which children would be systematically educated.  It would appear that the desire to pass the torch of knowledge to subsequent generations burns intrinsically within the heart of the human race.  The first known form of education is what is recorded in Genesis 2:15ff as God Himself taught Adam and Eve about their home and how to get to know the design and Designer better (Zondervan, 2009).  Later forms of education took place from parents to their children basically implementing the same values such as Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (Zondervan, 2009).  It is difficult to pinpoint when the first institution for education emerged among civilized societies, but there are many examples in history from the bible; from the Babylonian training received by Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel in Daniel 1:5ff (Zondervan, 2009), to Socrates (Daniel & Wade, 1999), to the school of Gamaliel mentioned in Acts 5:34 & 22:3 (Zondervan, 2009), to Jesus’ informal teachings throughout the New Testament (Zondervan, 2009), and into the history of the early church (Daniel & Wade, 2009).  From a humanistic standpoint, the crucial purpose of education may be to ensure that a nation’s children will become “lifelong learners[1]” and at least have the opportunity to take their place as “productive members of [a global] society[2]” one day.  In some communities, education may be reserved for but a few of the lucky and higher society children, but are the former the highest calling of the human race—to take one’s place as productive members of society as lifelong learners?  What values need to be passed from generation to generation?

If I had to narrow it down to just three important values for students to develop, I would have to say that they would include spirituality, community, and self-efficacy.  Spirituality is an important value for students because regardless of their faith or lack thereof they will either need to develop the depth of their own spirituality, or they will need to develop an understanding of why people around them are spiritual (and they are not).   They will also need to develop a sense of community because, regardless of their potential career, they will impact the community in which they live.  They may not even be aware of the consequences of that impact if they have not intentionally thought about it.  Finally, they will need to develop their own self-efficacy: their belief that they can and will make a difference to others and to realize the level of respect they have for themselves reflects the lengths they will be willing to go for their fellow man. 

Some would argue that there must be more to education than this.  What drives the perpetuation of this cycle?  A Christian could assert that the purpose of human existence is to both enjoy and be enjoyed by the creator.   Education does play a role in that endeavor since the human race was created in the image of God and since wisdom comes from God, a measure of wisdom about the world serves to enhance the human experience of truly basking in the intricate complexities of creation.  But regardless of one’s belief in God, systematic education serves to enrich, define, give purpose to and improve the quality of life among the population (Arnold, nd).  Therefore it must consist of passionate and creative teachers with a variety of educational philosophies who can create a thirst within the children to envision a better world because they are in it!  Following is my philosophy (Ginsburg, 2006).

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[1] Many public schools in the United States include this phrase in their mission statements.  Rockford Public Schools in Rockford, MI, Pierce Public Schools in Pierce, NE, and Journey School & Public Charter School in Aliso Viejo, CA to name a few.

[2] Many public schools’ mission statements include phrasing about students becoming productive members in society such as Nyack Public Schools in Nyack, NY, Southfield Public Schools in Southfield, MI, and Lambertville Public Schools in Lambertville, NJ to name a few. 

References

                                   

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