By Lois E. Wilson
I recently sorted through some old papers that went back to the days of finishing my college degrees at age 34. One I had written was titled “Philosophy of Education: Personal Statement.” It appears below:
“I believe education is a lifelong process. This process is most effective when the learner takes an active role in the selection of educational goals, of methods to achieve them, and of the evaluation to be used to determine whether the learner has met the goals successfully.
“I believe education must start at the level of each learner and extend and expand his/her frame of reference with the ultimate goal of helping the learner become a productive individual who can reach full potential. The role of the teacher in education is facilitator.
“The teacher brings the learner together with content and experience and motivates the learner to make these a part of life experiences. We are all learners, and we are all teachers to ourselves and to the learners around us. The milieu of education exists wherever the learner is; consequently, it is without walls—it is every place, every person, and every experience the learner encounters.”
In education the discussion and debate today seems to be—should a goal of K-12 education be to provide equal opportunity and equity (which is defined as equal outcomes.) Some have asked, “If equal resources do not result in equal outcomes such as ensuring that all students upon graduation are ready for college or a career, is equity even possible?”
They have found that different family situations often produce less positive results. One philosopher believes that parents who read to their children give them an unfair advantage in school and life. Adam Swift, for one, wonders if parents trying to do the best for their children make the playing field for others more lopsided.
Some families are able to provide varied and enriching opportunities for their children and this may make equity impossible to achieve. Fortunately some school systems offer vouchers or magnet schools. There are tutoring programs like Empowering Darke County Youth and at the high school level, Ohio’s program College Credit Plus. These increase choices for students.
All of us are born with certain talents (nature), and as we go through life we acquire more knowledge and interests (nurture). It is up to us to give children equal opportunities for success and though their talents and interest may lead them in their own direction, we hope they will at least have the outcome of satisfaction and happiness in life.