School Philosophy

Primary School aims to develop in each of our students a desire for lifelong learning so that they
become valuable members of society. The school places a high emphasis on teaching the
students how to live with others and we encourage creativity and endorse the philosophy of
“considering the feelings of others at all times.”

The school is committed to providing the highest quality education for all in an environment that
cares for our students, staff and parents.
This commitment is demonstrated by encouraging students to:
 Reach their full academic, social and physical potential in a fair, positive and consistent
environment.
 Display a commitment to improving their learning outcomes.
 Develop a sense of self-discipline in their work and their play.
 Respect the rights of other students, staff and visitors.
 Develop a good understanding of all key-learning areas, particularly literacy and numeracy.
 Provide equal opportunity for all members of the school community.
 Develop in students, qualities and life skills such as responsibility, communication,
independence, inquiring minds, problem solving, team skills and creativity.
 Prepare students for their next stages of learning by building on their strengths and experiences.

These values are used to support our students, teachers and parents in becoming positive
citizens within their community.

Inclusion: to include others and to not leave anyone out. To understand, respect, welcome,
celebrate and honor the diversity of children, families and staff. Diversity comes in many
different forms, for example culture, language, religion, lifestyle, family arrangements and
circumstances, abilities and disabilities. Respecting diversity is important in creating a sense of
belonging. The different backgrounds of the children, families and staff enrich a schools
character and identity. Schools that are responsive to individual differences and respect diversity
benefit everyone and help to build an inclusive environment.

Respect: to treat others with consideration and regard, to respect another person’s point of view
and to treat others how you would like to be treated. A feeling of admiration or deference toward
a person, child, non-human animal, group, ideal, or indeed almost any entity or concept, as well
as specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of
regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment").
It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect (ie: Anzac Day).

Honesty: to tell the truth and own up to things in a mature manner. Being honest means you
display positive attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including
straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft, etc.
Furthermore, honesty means being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.
What is a philosophy of school education?
This statement will provide an explanation of your teaching values and beliefs. Your teaching
philosophy is ultimately a combination of the methods you studied in college and any
professional experiences you’ve learned from since. It may even incorporate your own
experiences (negative or positive) in education. Many teachers place their teaching philosophy in
their resumes and/or on their websites for parents to view.

There’s no right answer

Know that off the bat. Your teaching philosophy isn’t a yes/no answer; however, you do want to
be prepared to answer the question if asked. Take time to really think about your teaching
philosophy before you go into the interview.

Drafting your philosophy of education

Not sure where to start? Take out a sheet of paper or open a document on your computer. Then
begin to answer some of these questions:

1. What do you believe about education?

2. What purpose does education serve in bettering society?
3. Do you believe all students can learn?
4. What goals do you have for your students?
5. What goals do you have for yourself?
6. Do you abide by certain standards?
7. What does it take to be a good teacher?
8. How do you incorporate new techniques, activities, curriculum, and technology into your
teaching?
Now work to combine your responses into one or two sentences that encapsulate your
philosophy. Some teachers will expand on these sentences to include examples of how they plan
to teach and implement the philosophy.
Philosophy of education examples
 I am always trying to turn my students into self-sufficient learners and to use their resources
to figure it out instead of resorting to just asking someone for the answers. —Amy J.
 My philosophy is that ALL students CAN learn. Good educators meet all students’
differentiated learning needs to help all students meet their maximum learning potentials. —
Lisa B.
 I believe that all students are unique and need a teacher that caters to their individual needs in
a safe and stimulating environment. I want to create a classroom where students can flourish
and explore to reach their full potential. My goal is also to create a warm, loving environment,
so students feel safe to take risks and express themselves. —Valerie T.
 In my classroom, I like to focus on the student-teacher relationships/one-on-one interactions.
Flexibility is a must, and I’ve learned that you do the best you can with the students you have
for however long you have them in your class. —Elizabeth Y
 I want to prepare my students to be able to get along without me and take ownership of their
learning. I have implemented a growth mindset. —Kirk H.
 My teaching philosophy is centered around seeing the whole student and allowing the student
to use their whole self to direct their own learning. As a secondary teacher, I also believe
strongly in exposing all students to the same core content of my subject so that they have
equal opportunities for careers and other experiences dependent upon that content in the
future. —Jacky B.
 All children learn best when learning is hands on! This works for the high students, and the
low students too, even the ones in between. I teach by creating experiences not giving
information. —Jessica R.
 As teachers, it’s our job to foster creativity. In order to do that, it’s important for me to
embrace the mistakes of my students, create a learning environment that allows them to feel
comfortable enough to take chances, and try new methods. —Chelsie L.
 I believe that every child can learn and deserves the best, well-trained teacher possible who
has high expectations for them. I differentiate all my lessons and include all learning
modalities. —Amy S.
 All students can learn and want to learn. It is my job to meet them where they are and move
them forward. —Holli A.
 I believe learning comes from making sense of chaos. My job is to design work that will
allow students to process, explore and discuss concepts to own the learning. I need to be part
of the process to guide and challenge perceptions. —Shelly G.
 I want my students to know that they are valued members of our classroom community, and I
want to teach each of them what they need to continue to grow in my classroom. —Doreen G.
 Creating a classroom culture of learning through mistakes and overcoming obstacles through
teamwork! —Jenn B.
 Teach to every child’s passion and encourage a joy for and love of education and school. —
Iris B.
 It’s our job to introduce our kids to many, many different things and help them find what they
excel in, and what they don’t! Then nurture their excellence and help them figure out how to
compensate for their problem areas. That way, they will become HAPPY, successful adults.
—Haley T.
5 THINGS THAT EDUCATORS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY
OF EDUCATION

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It is important to understand how philosophy and education are interrelated. In order to
become the most effective teacher you can be, you must understand your own beliefs,
while at the same time empathizing with others. In this chapter we will examine the study
of philosophy, the major branches of philosophy, and the major philosophical schools of
thought in education. You will have a chance to examine how these schools of thought
can help you define your personal educational philosophy. Developing your own
educational philosophy is a key part of your journey to becoming a teacher. In this article,
we will discuss the 5 things that educators should know about the philosophy of
education.
 What are the major branches of philosophy? The four main branches of philosophy
are metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and logic. Metaphysics considers questions
about the physical universe and the nature of ultimate reality. Epistemology examines
how people come to learn what they know. Axiology is the study of fundamental
principles or values. Logic pursues the organization of the reasoning process. Logic can
be divided into two main components: deductive reasoning, which takes general
principles and relates them to a specific case; and inductive reasoning, which builds up an
argument based on specific examples.
 What are the major schools of thought in philosophy? Idealism can be divided into
three categories: classical, religious, and modern. Classical idealism, the philosophy of
the Greeks Socrates and Plato, searches for an absolute truth. Religious idealism tries to
reconcile God and humanity. Modern idealism, stemming from the ideas of Descartes,
links perception and existence.
 What are the major philosophies of education? The major philosophies of education
can be broken down into three main types: teacher-centered philosophies, student-
centered philosophies, and society-centered philosophies. These include Essentialism,
Perennialism, Progressivism, Social Reconstructionism, Existentialism, Behaviorism,
Constructivism, Conservatism, and Humanism.
There are two types of socially-centered philosophies of education. Reconstructionism is
the perspective that education is the means to solve social problems. Behaviorism focuses
on cultivating behaviors that are beneficial to society.
 What additional ideologies of educational philosophy exist? Other notable ideologies
of educational philosophy include Nationalism, American Exceptionalism, Ethno-
nationalism, Liberalism, Conservatism, and Marxism. Nationalism is a national spirit, or
love of country, that ties the interests of a nation to the symbols that represent it. Finally,
 Marxism is an ideological and political movement that focuses on the class system as a
form of conflict within the social, political, and educational realms.
 How is an educator’s educational philosophy determined? It is important to identify
your own philosophy of education in order to understand your own system of values and
beliefs so that you are easily able to describe your teaching style to potential employers.