Philosophy of Special Education

Grand Canyon University: SPD 501

December 16, 2020

Philosophy of education is the branch of applied or practical philosophy concerned with

the nature and aims of education and the philosophical problems arising from educational theory

and practice (Siegel, 2018). The focus of Philosophy of Education is based on seven critical

items to better enlighten the student. Those items are assessments, classroom management,

professional relationship with students and their family, ties to the community, teaching

methods, the instructor’s curriculum and the purpose of education.

Purpose of Education

The purpose of education is to become a well-round person and to discover the passion of

one’s life. An encouraged individual who successfully gives to society must have unequivocal

skills and traits, which includes; creativity skills, critical thinking, compassion for themselves &

others, and tolerance. There were three famous Greek Philosophers who had different outlooks

on Purpose of Education: Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. According to Socrates (Webb, L. D., &

Metha, A. 2017), he believed that the purpose of education was to directly tie into society and

how it is formed. In order to form a society that is deemed to be resilient and strong, good

citizens had to be produced from having a “successful education” (2017). His philosophy wasn’t

just to perfect the art of power of speech, but to increase the knowledge of individuals reasoning.

Thus, the Socratic Method was introduced. The Socratic Method focuses on a cooperative

argumentative dialogue between individuals, one in which is a teacher, and the other is typically

a student. This is usually a forum for open-ended questions to develop a deeper understanding of

the topic. Plato, One of Socrates infamous pupil’s, developed his own theory of Education and

this importance of it. Plato’s views were more idealist, he believed that the education of the
youth should be the responsibility of the parents. His views consisted of some academics such as

science, math and history and being physically fit (2017). Whereas Aristotle views were more

practical and realist, he focused more on some academics such as reading and writing, drawing

and physical training as well. He also focused on the idea of leisure, which bought happiness and

pleasure to whomever.

Although, these three philosophers had different perspectives of how education should be

viewed and practiced, they have all help to shape what education is today around the world. Not

only is education the development of human interaction, discipline and knowledge; it also creates

confidence in young children and teaches students how to live. We, as teachers, help citizens to

develop lifelong habits for careers and work, rather that is to become a Doctor, Engineer, or even

a Teacher. This is why we have to be passionate about our career, because we can easily lead a

person down the wrong path which just a few words.

Personal Vision

As a child, I knew deep down that I was destined to be a teacher, specifically a special

education teacher. It was one particular summer that changed my life for the better and it was

one of the most wonderful and yet, challenging experiences I have ever been through. I was a

day camp counselor, and it was my first time working with children. I was a mentor to help guide

the children, and by the end of the summer I felt as if I had really accomplished something. All

through my instructive encounters, I have seen a wide exhibit of educators and instructing styles.

I have been in classes that have generally affected my life, also, others that have left a simple

gouge of impact. I have come to have the option to separate between the attributes that include a

decent instructor, and those that do an incredible inverse. I comprehend that a ground-breaking

instructor is one that can show exercises both inside also, outside of the study hall, one that can
set up an individual association with his/her understudies, and one that previous understudies

recall a way into their grown-up lives. Through looking at qualities of previous educators in my

day-to-day existence, my own qualities, and my own assessments on instructing, I have

assembled parts in regards to what attributes characterize an excellent instructor.

My personal mission of meeting the educational needs of students with disabilities will

include advocating for my students, through collaboration and technology and also following

ethic regulations that will help me to become successful and remain professional. I believe that

for far too long, students with disabilities have been left behind in our school systems. They are

often put into classrooms with little to no resources and less challenging work because they are

on a curriculum that doesn’t give them the skills needed to transition into life outside of

academia. That is why advocacy for students is very important a very important role, especially

when it comes to building a professional relationship and trust within your classroom, and better

meeting the needs of my students. A few ways to I can make this possible is by building a

community inside my classroom, collaborating with other general-education teachers, keeping

track of my data, assessing each student to understand their needs, and following state and local

regulations (Peggy J. S. Whitby, 2013). Experts affirm that with the right support, almost 80% of

students with disabilities can meet the same academic standards as students with disabilities.

This has been found to be true even for students with more severe disabilities, if they are given

the same opportunity and the correct tools (Maffiai, 2015).

According to Whitby (2013), the best way to develop a student’s Individual Education

Program (IEP) through advocacy is collaboration. Cooperating with other educators, specifically

other special education teachers will help to give me ideas on how to assess each student

ethically. Researchers have found that special educators are often pressured or feel pressure
from administrators, specifically when it comes to advocacy (Whitby, 2013). This has forced

many educators to behave unethically in some situations (Gartin et al., 2002). For example,

administrators may imply that an educator should provide fewer assessments for the students due

to fiscal reasoning. Whenever this may occur, I must remember that the student needs come first

and remain knowledgeable of the special education law and its implementation at the local level.

Ethical Frameworks and Professional Practices

According to the CEC standards, “an educator must uphold professional ethical principles

and professional policies in ways that respect the diverse characteristics and needs of disabled

students and their families” (CEC, 2020). As professional in the education field, an educator has

the responsibility to protect their students from physical and psychological harm (CEC, 2020).

An educator is to practice developing healthy relationships with their students and their families,

which will help educational decision-making and the growth of a student (CEC, 2020).

Resources

The landscape of Education is consistently changing, many aspects of education change

from decade to decade. As a teacher, we must stay on top on trends and know exactly where the

field is headed. In order to keep our classroom inclusive and welcoming, it is important that we

remain judgment free and try to refrain from any personal biases that we may have. We must

learn the difference between equity and equality and once we have a good grasp on it, we must

practice it. There are two types of biases; Conscious and Unconscious. Conscious Bias is being

aware of the stereotypes of a certain group or person. Unconscious Biases are being unaware of

social stereotypes about certain groups or individuals (Navarro, 2020). A great tool to make this
possible is simple research and an open mindset, we must know that our students are going to

come from different backgrounds, and we have to prepared for whatever student comes into our

classroom.

Learning Activities

I believe that increasing the knowledge and professional growth in any field that you may

feel passionate about is always rewarding in the end. If I am looking to grow professionally and

increase my learning as a future educator, I must remind myself to start small and think

“evolution and not revolution”. Which means the way I may teach now, will not be the same as I

will teach in ten years from now. It is important for me, as an educator, to be a self-evaluator

because I can personally point out what my strengths and weaknesses are before someone else

does. It will also help me to reflect back upon what was taught and how it taught. At the end of

each term or semester, I will reflect on how I did, how my students did, what they goals were and

if they achieved them. Another way that I can develop in my profession, is building power in

numbers. The idea of collaboration and teamwork will help develop not only different ideas for

my classroom, but also help with developing healthy relationship with my colleagues and

students. With help from my fellow colleagues, I will be looking to join at least two professional

organizations that is either online or in my community. I am lucky enough to be a part of a

growing organization in my community that focuses on helping young black professionals in my

neighborhood. That has helped me with understanding how to approach student that may come

from a certain background or neighborhood. I understand that every child isn’t the same,

however it is nice to have more information about the different neighborhoods in my community.
 Conclusion

In conclusion, it is apparent that any individual who is hoping to go into the profession of

teaching should have energy for children, for their control, and for the reason for affecting

society. As a teacher, it is critical to have the option to work as a group with colleagues, students,

guardians, and the network the same since these segments will shape the structure for the

discovering that happens inside the homeroom. An instructor should, likewise, become more

acquainted with all of his/her students on a level separated from their presentation on the course

educational program. Knowing a child's character, different preferences, and previous history can

permit an educator to survey which instructing style might be suitable for his/her learning. This

can likewise permit an instructor to address issues in the suitable way, should they emerge.
 References

CEC, C. (2020). Ethical Principles and Practice Standards. Retrieved December 21, 2020, from
https://exceptionalchildren.org/standards/ethical-principles-and-practice-standards

Maffiai, T. (2015, July 15). An Advocate Guide to Transforming Special Education. Retrieved
2020, from https://reports.innovateschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/An-Advocates-
Guide-to-Transforming-Special-Education.pdf

Navarro, R. (2020). Unconscious Biases. Retrieved December 21, 2020, from

Peggy J. S. Whitby, T. (2013, May/June). Advocating for Students with Disabilities at the School
Level: Tips for Special Educators - Peggy J. S. Whitby, Teri Marx, Jonathan McIntire,
Wilfred Wienke, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2020, from
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/004005991304500504

Siegel, H., Phillips, D., & Callan, E. (2018, October 07). Philosophy of Education. Retrieved
December 14, 2020, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/education-philosophy/

Webb, L. D., & Metha, A. (2017). Chapter 5. In Foundations of American education (p. 103).
Boston, MA: Pearson.