The philosophy of North Tama School

 

This paper highlights the mission and vision of North Tama County Community School and how it’s related to the greatest world philosophies. Taking into consideration the educational philosophies that each world philosophy belongs to as well. This paper shows how everything, at last, is clearly related to philosophy. It’s essential to know philosophy, it teaches many things such as critical thinking, clear writing, and above them all the logical thinking. The mission and vision of my chosen school highly related to pragmatism and a little bit of existentialism. Finally, the overall purpose of this paper is to assure that without philosophy, our world will never reach the reason nor why.

If we want to have a quick look at the vision and mission of North Tama County Community School, we have to assure thing at first that the idea of mission usually focuses on the institution’s existence, whereas the vision describes how the institution would appear in the future.

 

      As we dive into the deep, we notice that the above mission and vision are related to the two greatest world philosophies: pragmatism and existentialism. First of all, pragmatism projects practical skills as the base of learning that allows students to engage in society, grow, and flourish. The school’s mission and vision help students to become productive members of society (how to become real citizens).

 

      The mission and vision focus on students’ needs and experiences (self-directed learner). The school’s mission is to prepare the students to become important members of the community. In addition, it refuses diversity in all its kinds and believes that learning is for all. This highly depends on students’ abilities, real-life experiences as the core of knowledge. Hence, this could be related to progressivism. Furthermore, students are self-centered. The curriculum includes different subjects that are interdisciplinary, integrative, and interactive (contribution and cooperation among all). Collaborative participant, critical thinker, and problem solver are some examples of constructivist classroom activities.

 

    Constructionism is an educational philosophy where electing prior knowledge, applying knowledge with feedback, and reflecting on learnings are the new main components  to include in your classroom, if you plan on adhering to constructivist principles according to Baviskar, Hartle & Whitney (2009).

 

      Of course, we don’t have to forget the urgent need for technology in our lives. This has to do with Reconstructionist educational philosophy, where they highly focus on future trends. The school, after all, prepares its students to use technology on daily basis.

 On the other hand, existentialism is a teaching and learning philosophy that focuses on the students' freedom and agency to choose their future and that values have to be chosen by the individual himself/herself. Moreover, if freedom is attained, everyone could realize and understand his/her surrounding. According to Jean-Paul Sartre"Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does."

       I think if this school continues in addressing its students on such tracks and on different levels; it will definitely reach high ranks in the future. Finally, as you read, without the world’s philosophies and educational philosophies the world could never reach any sense of being nor thinking. We have to know and make sure that everything in our lives in a way or another is related to philosophy. Philosophy is the core of living.