So, I’m applying to be a high school math teacher. And I’m asked to describe my “Philosophy of Education.” I’m not sure I agree with their characterization of such ideas, but still.
Below is what I came up with. What would you have said? Comments on mine?
In 200 words or less? 2000 words or less? 2000 pages or less?
“Philosophy of Education” is a whole subject. Their are entire graduate level courses taught in Philosophy of Education. My father was a professor of education, and that’s what he taught (along with History of Education). It was part of the Masters-level curriculum for people who are going to become teachers.
Do you have a Masters degree to become a teacher, or are you working one one? Did you have to deal with a class like that?
How do you think they want you to answer this question in just a brief paragraph or two? You could write your whole dissertation on “Philosophy of Education”!
I think they want just a little bit of color. Brevity being the challenge, and all.
I think they will search for your text using Google, and they will find this thread. 
I don’t they mean philosophy of education in the same way it would be in a formal context. I think here it’s more akin to “personal mission statement”
High school math teacher here.
As a Platonic ideal of a statement of philosophy of education, yours is fine. The school may be looking for a clear statement that you understand and are interested in pursuing certain approaches within the classroom. I would look carefully at the job posting and see whether you can find anything specific about the approach to education that they’re looking for. If they mention technology in the classroom, incorporate that into your statement. If they mention project-based learning, incorporate that. If they mention student-centered learning, mention that. Use whatever exact words the posting uses.
I agree with the previous poster: they’re looking for buzz words. The individual school, or the district, may have a nice statement you can crib from. Education is full of fads and fashions, which go in and out of style. You might want to write about hands-on learning, encouraging self-direction, catering to different learning styles, disruptive innovation…
Thank you all for your advice. I got two interviews from the district. Boy, you guys nailed many things right on the head, in that you previewed several topics they asked about in the interviews. Very insightful of you.
I enjoyed the interviews very much. I was a little disappointed they didn’t ask anything about math, though. I don’t know…maybe that shines a little light on the problems learning math they say we are having these days. If these two interviews were any indication, as long as you can wax poetic about peer teaching and project-based learning and using technology and inspiring kids to want to learn, you don’t actually have to know any math!
For a start, let’s delete all instances of “I believe that” or “I am convinced that” or even “I <propositional attitude> <“that” or zero relative pronoun>”
A thousand times better.
You don’t need to preface every sentence with “I believe that …” or its cousins. That can be inferred from appearing on your application under the header “Philosophy of Education” where it asks you to "please described what you believe the role of a teacher, and of education in general, to be.
ETA: Oh, I see I’m tardy for the party. Well, my remarks are “sturdy enough to make it till the next time” and all that…
Take out any references to “fun”. Until you graduate from HS, or make an informed decision to drop out, school is your job, and needs to majority of your focus.
I would also add 'transformative/transformational/etc…"
Probably a good idea to not go with that’s a paddlin’.
But…using “I” to begin every sentence in a paragraph? That’s a paddlin’.
