The Importance of Philosophy of Education

Philosophy of education deals with the process and product of logical analysis and reflection about education in terms of what education does, ought to do, and how to do it.

It is concerned with questions about the analysis of concepts and with questions about the grounds of knowledge, beliefs, actions, and activities.

I think every teacher should have these traits of knowledge so that their efforts to mold the students can be a success.

Philosophy of education enables.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education enables the teacher to develop attitude, capacity, and taste for constructive questions.

It also enables him to criticize, analyze and give appropriate suggestions and solutions to a problem.

Philosophy of education helps.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education helps the teacher to recognize and avoid faulty and fallacious arguments or reasoning.

Philosophy of education makes.

The knowledge of philosophy makes the teacher keep an open mind on any subject bearing in mind that new evidence may render his previous opinion less tenable. This liberates the teacher from being conservative, rigid, and dogmatic on educational matters.

Philosophy of education teaches.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education teaches the teacher about the theoretical basis of his activities. Awareness of this further increases the confidence of the teacher. Also, understanding the process and task of education makes the teacher more competent in his work.

Philosophy of education enables the teacher not only to understand the reason behind the educational policies and practices of his days but also to be able to criticize them and offer necessary amendments when the need arises.

Philosophy of education develops.

The knowledge of education develops in teachers’ act of critical, analytical thinking, and teaches patience and unbiased attitudes to problem-solving.

Philosophy of education encourages.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education encourages teachers to look at educational problems more critically, divesting them of the confusions that personal interests, prejudices, and emotions usually introduced into the educational discussion.

Engaging in the theoretical discussion of educational problems and issues thus influencing educational policies under which the teacher operates.

Philosophy of education acquires.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education is required of the teacher to acquire the skill of developing in the child rationality and reasonableness and to equip him with the critical and aesthetic principles that have guided man in his society through the ages.

Philosophy of education equips the teacher with necessary systematic thoughts and experience in such a way that may influence the thinking of the child who learns from him.

Philosophy of education assists.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education is important to the teacher in that it assists him to understand the nature of the means-end-continuum in the educative process to determine appropriate means to appropriate ends.

Philosophy of education equips.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education equips the teacher with the necessary mental ability through his preparation to examine the rationality behind the educational ideas presented in the educational policy and the consistency of those ideas with other educational ideas and concepts.

The teacher in this way can discover distortion and illegal ideas in these concepts. Philosophy of education is a useful tool in that it helps the teacher to accept an argument based on its validity or soundness rather than on the authority of the person involved in the argument.

Philosophy of education opens the minds.

The knowledge of philosophy opens the mind of a teacher to the ideas of previous educational thinkers about the problems of our society.

Philosophy of education motivates.

The essence of making philosophy of education an important part of any teacher program is to motivate the teacher to take a reasoned position on educational issues and practice, that is, he must be concerned about various facets of education.

Teachers would be better illustrated by the employment of philosophical tools. This will make them fully appreciate the weight of their responsibilities not only to their pupils but also to the entire country.

Philosophy of education also exposes the problems of education for evaluation and thus leading to the development of new theories or the discovery of new principles in the area of theory and practice of education.

In this sense, it helps the teacher toward the proper use of appropriate theory and practice of education.

Philosophy of education creates.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education creates responsibility as well as efforts and faith in the teacher because it equips him with the ‘why, how, and what’ of his practice of education.

Philosophy of education guides.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education guides rational curriculum decisions by clarifying concepts that curriculum theorists use loosely. These include interests, needs, creativity, nature, relevance, intelligence, and so on.

As long as it is the concern of the philosophy to clarify the meanings of concepts and phrases in the absence of which obscurity in arguments caused by warped interpretations of such views and phrases are allowed, the application of the tools of analysis becomes of prime significance.

Philosophy of education is thus relevant to the curriculum expert by helping them to have conceptual clarity.

Philosophy of education coordinates.

The knowledge of education plays a coordinating role in articulating the knowledge base of all other disciplines.

Philosophy of education enriches.

Philosophy of education enriches teachers’ knowledge by guiding curriculum design which is the fruitful ordering of subject matter designed to produce knowledge, skills, and attitudes in children.

Philosophy of education specifies.

Philosophy of education specifies the aims and objectives of Nigerian education in concrete terms. Every subject needs to have clearly stated aims and objectives.

The knowledge of the philosophy of education is very helpful in deciding what these aims and objectives are in clear terms. Philosophy of education also helps educators to understand the man or the child who is at the center of education.

Philosophy of education formulates.

The knowledge of philosophy helps formulate educational purposes in terms of resolving problems of conflicting aims in the light of the nature of man and his environment. It helps teachers of various school subjects.

Philosophy of education puts.

The various school subjects are attempted to explain the nature of man, society, and, the world itself whether in arts, social science, biological science, physical science, or behavioral science.

These explanations are fixed with some different and conflicting data to which only the knowledge of philosophy helps put order and harmony.

Philosophy of education analyzes.

Philosophy is a mode that analyzes our presuppositions and assumptions in every field of action and thought. It enables us to make explicit our allegiances to the ideas on behalf of which, we are prepared to live.

Thinking things through on one’s own than taking statements and recommendations for granted, is a technique of philosophy that makes us have full awareness of the implications of various issues relating to different school subjects.

Philosophy of education interprets.

Philosophy of education interprets ideas, issues, statements to enable us to understand the subject matters of other disciplines.