A realist-experimentalist philosophy for teaching social studies curriculum

Personal Philosophy of Education

Describe the resulting curriculum planning process.

My philosophy as a realist / experimentalist (leaning more towards experimentalist) is that students need to critically examine historical events in context (why did certain important events happen and was the result what was expected?); they need to understand (although they don't have to agree with) contemporary social values (some of which are not rational) and how to reconcile their future place in society; and in the process they should be able to mark moments of important personal growth and learn to solve problems, both academic problems and personal problems, if possible. As an experimentalist instructor that believes in creating original curriculum to deal with the rapidly changing world, I also believe that my original curriculum should be updated contemporarily. The difference between a school's standard (and sometimes out-of-date) curriculum in social studies and my own creative class work -- based on recent contemporary events that fall into the social studies category (for example, why was the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington an important social statement) -- should be vast, and yet the principles of how American society has been formed are also included in the curriculum.

TWO: Determine the critical questions my curriculum must answer and the essential elements that must be present in your school for adhering to your philosophy.

Questions my curriculum must answer: a) Why are we in school? b) What should students in the future know about today's society and what is important for today's students to know about the past? c) Why is it important to value ethnic diversity in society and what are the scholarly advantages to be challenged by diversity in the process of learning?

THREE: My philosophy vis-a-vis my school's mission statement.

My philosophy dovetails perfectly with the mission statement of my school; I believe in championing diversity, in emphasizing good citizenship through the development of emotional and social values that carry students into their next life phase, whether it is education or a career. I also believe in making school relevant to what students see and wonder about outside the brick and motor buildings of educational institutions.