This paper looks at Dr. Van Cleve Morris's ideas on existentialism in order to see whether existentialism can be used effectively in today's classroom. Dr. Morris's idea of existentialism is one of responsible individualism. One is responsible for their choices and therefore, makes responsible choices in order to better oneself. This research will show a possible approach to teaching using existentialism. It will do this in a way that is effective relative to a diverse student population. Furthermore, keeping in mind that schools are social institutions, this study will explore the idea of individualism in the classroom and its transference outside the school, as a medium that should generate the creation of a more positive social setting.
[...] I believe that the ideas of existentialism can be used in today's classrooms and function in the social setting in which all schools are defined. With the diversity of cultures that can be found in today's classrooms, existential ideas can be a great tool for a teacher in creating an environment in which individual creative thinking and culturally diverse students can learn without assimilation or the stereo typing of any student because of race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, exceptionality, language or any other aspect of a person that makes them different. [...]
[...] However, before these texts can be examined any further, one must determine what is at the foundation of existentialism in order to fully understand Dr. Morris's view points. Foundation of Existentialism The first existentialist, Soren Kierkegaard, held that humans are “existing individuals” with no connection to anything in the world. Existentialists hold that a human has no predefined purpose or essence and is up to each individual to decide, for themselves, who and what they are to become by the actions they choose to make. [...]
[...] The teacher's role in the classroom is to be prepared for the individual child to choose his or her reality. The environment in which to learn, the material in which to cover, the method of learning preferred and anything else the child chooses, that is necessary for the individual child to be in their reality of self. The teacher is no more than the facilitator of the child's choice on the education they want. One responsibility the teacher has, according to Dr. [...]
[...] Seeing something real and knowing it exists in ones world. He calls this “being-in-itself” or being conscious of a world in which things exists. “Mode is thought of in scientific terms as having proof of existence. “Mode knowing is “being–for-itself,” knowing I exist or being self aware and having feelings. am conscious of my consciousness of this world,” being self- conscious (Morris p. 168). He writes, “Mode knowing can not occur without first “Mode knowing occurring first. In other words, no knowing can occur until there is feeling. [...]
[...] At the end of the section, he questions whether existentialism belongs in the classroom in order to invoke serious thought in the reader about the issue. In the book, Becoming an Educator, published in 1963 one finds a compilation of nine authors and their ideas relative to education. Dr. Van Cleve Morris wrote three chapters in this book, one on “Education as a Field of Study,” a second on Philosophy of Education,” and a final chapter on “Teaching as a Career.” The first chapter, “Education as a Field of Study” takes a look at Dr. [...]
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