1	1. The Question You have been reading and learning about five major philosophies of education: Essentialism Perennialism Progressivism Social Reconstructionism Existentialism You probably didn’t realize that your own educational experiences have been shaped to some extent by some of these educational philosophies. In this lesson, you will examine the educational philosophies of your school system and schools and reflect on your own school experiences in order to answer the question: How are educational philosophies reflected in your own school experiences?
2	2. Information Sources The educational philosophies of specific school systems and schools are often published as belief, vision or mission statements. You will use the following resources to examine these statements for your own school system and the schools you’ve attended. BCPS Blueprint for Progress Read the Vision, Mission, and Belief Statements on p. 4-6. BCPS School Websites Read the mission statements for elementary, middle, and high schools you have attended.
3	3. Student Activity First you will need to review what you have learned about the five major educational philosophies; you may use the links on Slide 1 or your reading notes on the Five Philosophies of Education chart. See “Researching with Wikipedia” before using this source! Then you will examine vision/mission statements from the BCPS information sources on Slide 2 to determine which educational philosophies are evident in these statements. Finally, you will reflect on some of your most memorable educational experiences in specific classes and with specific teachers at the schools you have attended; these might be memorable to you for positive or negative reasons. You will use evidence from these experiences to make an inference about your teachers’ educational philosophies. Use this chart to gather and organize your notes; you may write your notes on a hard copy or word process and save according to your teachers’ directions.
4	4. Assessment Activity
5	5. Enrichment Activities Baltimore City Public School System Vision & Mission Statements School Websites Harford County Public Schools Vision & Mission Statements School Profiles
6	6. Teacher Support Materials Content Standards (INTASC) Standard 09: The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks opportunity to grow professionally AIM O-2: Students will formulate a personal philosophy of education based on existing philosophies, current laws, and universally accepted ethical standards. KSI-C: Describe the major components of recognized educational philosophies. Standards for the 21st Century Learner (AASL) Learners use Skills, Resources, and Tools to: 1: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge 1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format 2: Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge National Educational Technology Standards for Students (ISTE) 1. Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. 4.Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.