Philosophy of Education: Idealism

Philosophy of Education: Idealism

The word idealism as defined by Merriam-Webster is literary or artistic theory or practice that affirms the preeminent value of imagination as compared with faithful copying of nature.

As a children’s author imagination is key in all I do. Books are doors into the imagination and authors hold the key. As fiction writers we need to use our ideas to form new stories.

As a philosophy, idealism is known to convey that ideas are the only true reality. Plato was known to be the father of idealism about 400 BC. His beliefs told that of ideas were the only true reality and the only thing worth knowing.

Plato believed that two worlds existed. One world that is spiritual or mental and said world was perfect, eternal, orderly, and universal. The other world was a world that you experience through your senses, an imperfect world. This division is called duality of mind and body.

Idealism’s goal in education is to encourage students to be truth seekers; to seek out whatever is good, true, and beautiful. And to teach education as being general rather than training for a specific occupation or profession.

Idealism in education gives the teacher a central role in becoming a role model so that the students will adopt his model to become good citizen. One method that fits idealism is the lecture method.

It is considered the most important method in which a teacher delivers a lecture and students listen to the teacher. The teacher selects any topic or issue for the lesson, conveys the topic, and asks questions about the subject. Students answer the questions, comment on the provided feedback, and improve themselves according to the teacher’s feedback and critique.

Idealism is a teacher centered approach and it is thought that students do not absorb the content as well as some other methods of teaching/learning. Students in elementary and/or middle school