An educational philosophy is a set of beliefs and values about education held by an individual or organization. It is a branch of applied philosophy that investigates the nature, aims, and problems of education, including the examination of educational theories, the presuppositions present in them, and the arguments. The philosophy of education has a long and diverse history, and it emerged as a systematic branch of philosophy in the latter half of the 20th century. The philosophy of education is interdisciplinary, and it touches many other branches of philosophy, such as ethics, political philosophy, epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind.
There are different educational philosophies, including Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism, and Reconstructionism. These educational philosophies focus heavily on what should be taught, the curriculum aspect. Perennialism and Essentialism believe in teaching a core set of knowledge and skills that are essential for all students, while Progressivism and Reconstructionism believe in teaching students to be active learners and problem solvers.
An educators educational philosophy is important because it guides their teaching practices and helps them make decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment. It is also important for school districts to understand the educational philosophy of their teachers and principals when hiring them.
