Confucius, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle by Stephanie Moore https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai Influences on contemporary American educational practices en-us 2019-05-23 19:33:03 UTC 2025-11-29 06:56:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Plato (428-348 BC) believed in a hierarchy based on intellect, saying that gifted students should be identified and given opportunities for further education (Gutek, 2011). Schools in the US today have different tracks for gifted learners to give them more opportunities to be intellectually challenged. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363073297 2019-05-23 19:34:24 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363073297 Socrates (470-399 BC) : a Greek philosopher/teacher who lends his name to the Socratic method. In Plato's "Meno", his method is used to have a dialogue of questions and answers, where ideas and hypothesis are tested and refined. The Socratic method is used in schools today to foster critical thinking. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363073298 2019-05-23 19:34:25 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363073298 Aristotle (348-322 BC) believed that students learn best through their senses (Gutek, 2011). Montessori schools share this belief and their students experience learning through all their senses. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363075852 2019-05-23 19:44:19 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363075852 They believed that respect and virtue should be taught to their students, not just facts. Many educators today teach kindness, cooperation and model respect for others. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363328379 2019-05-24 16:21:35 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363328379 Plato believed in early education (Gutek, 2011). Schools in the US do not have free and universal preschool, as I believe Plato would desire. We do have Head Start, which exists to help educate low socio-economic students at an early age. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363332671 2019-05-24 16:35:40 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363332671 All of these philosophers believed that education can improve people's lives and make students better citizens (Gutek, 2011). smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363333418 2019-05-24 16:38:19 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363333418 All promoted a well-rounded education to nurture a student's body and mind. Today, we incorporate music, physical education and art into elementary school curriculum. Colleges often require students to take liberal arts courses such as philosophy and history to fulfill graduation requirements, even in engineering. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363335775 2019-05-24 16:46:40 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363335775 All believed that educators should encourage reflection and critical thinking should be encouraged. These are also important in education today, and should be fostered. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363338431 2019-05-24 16:56:31 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363338431 All believed that learning should be student-centered, with the educator as a guide. Today schools use Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL strives to meet learners' needs by differentiation. Teachers who practice UDL use multiple means of presentation and assessment. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363339368 2019-05-24 16:59:45 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363339368 Reference: smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363341700 Gutek, G.L. (2011). Historical and philosophical foundations of education. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Plato's Meno. Translated by B. Jowett, MIT. Retrieved from: http://classics.mit.edu/plato.meno.html]]> 2019-05-24 17:08:16 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363341700 Confucius (551-479 BC) believed that an educated citizenry was vital for harmony (Gutek, 2011) . Today, schools in the US have standards of learning to make sure that all citizens have the same basic educational opportunities. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363342926 2019-05-24 17:13:15 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363342926 Scaffolding, used in US schools, is assisting students in understanding content by supporting learning and moving them up a "scaffold" of increasing independence. All of the philosophers demonstrated this technique, I believe. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363373459 2019-05-24 19:09:49 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363373459 All of these educators believed in lifelong learning. Most teachers today try to model lifelong learning to their students. smoore212 https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363374168 2019-05-24 19:13:41 UTC https://padlet.com/smoore212/aznheqlwpnai/wish/363374168