Course: Course: Introduction to Introduction to

Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Education

Theme:Not one less Theme:Not one less

Name:Chan Chiu Chiu(Liz)Name:Chan Chiu Chiu(Liz)Chan Sze Ching(King)Chan Sze Ching(King)Chan Sze Lok(Rachel)Chan Sze Lok(Rachel)

Kwong Wan Yee(Phyllis)Kwong Wan Yee(Phyllis)Kwong Wai Kit(Freeman)Kwong Wai Kit(Freeman)

Lee Ngan Ling(Sally)Lee Ngan Ling(Sally)Leung kam Hung(Ryan)Leung kam Hung(Ryan)

Leung kit Yu(Chloe)Leung kit Yu(Chloe)

Major CharactersMajor Characters

魏敏芝魏敏芝 Wei Minzhi Wei Minzhi Called in to substitute Called in to substitute

for a village teacher for for a village teacher for one month, the main one month, the main mission for her: all mission for her: all students should keep students should keep their schooling.their schooling.

When one of the boys When one of the boys left from school, she left from school, she decided to look for him. decided to look for him.

張慧科 張慧科 Zhang Hui ke Zhang Hui ke Came from poor familyCame from poor family Troublemaker in class, Troublemaker in class,

school dropoutschool dropout Lose in city Lose in city

田村長 田村長 Mayor Tian Mayor Tian Ignored the problem Ignored the problem

about a lot children about a lot children dropped out to be child dropped out to be child labors, labors,

Focused on economic Focused on economic perspective perspective

That’s to beg

Major CharactersMajor Characters

高老師 高老師 Teacher GaoTeacher Gao The only school The only school teacher at Shui Tsuen teacher at Shui Tsuen primary schoolprimary schoolNeeded the personal Needed the personal leave for one month leave for one month because of his mother’s because of his mother’s illnessillnessReally care students Really care students Not one less

TrailerTrailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llevtAQUhHQ&feature=relatedv=llevtAQUhHQ&feature=related

SynopsisSynopsis

Wei Min Zhi has became Wei Min Zhi has became a temporary teacher at a temporary teacher at Shui Tuen Primary Shui Tuen Primary School to replace Mr. School to replace Mr. Gao for one monthGao for one month

As the “Not one less” As the “Not one less” guarantee for Mr. Gao, guarantee for Mr. Gao, she paid full efforts to find she paid full efforts to find a school leaving student a school leaving student who called Zhang Hui Ke who called Zhang Hui Ke into the towninto the town

All students thought how All students thought how to earn money for to earn money for travelling fee with Weitravelling fee with Wei

The whole class worked The whole class worked in a contracting site to get in a contracting site to get salariessalaries

Couldn’t buy train tickets Couldn’t buy train tickets because of the expensive because of the expensive priceprice

Solved problems togetherSolved problems together

We need money to buy tickets

Arrived in the big Arrived in the big town and began to town and began to look for Zhang Hui Kelook for Zhang Hui Ke

Tried various Tried various methods and realized methods and realized the most efficient way the most efficient way to find person while to find person while she was exploring in she was exploring in the townthe town

My student, Zhang Hui ke

Finally, she found Finally, she found Zhang through the Zhang through the television station’s television station’s helphelp

The TV program drew The TV program drew the citizens’ great the citizens’ great attention to the attention to the educational problem educational problem in villagein village

That’s to beg

No need to buy chalks anymore

Major CharactersMajor Characters

魏敏芝魏敏芝 Wei MinzhiWei Minzhi

張慧科張慧科   Zhang Hui keZhang Hui ke

田村長田村長   Mayor TianMayor Tian

高老師高老師   Teacher GaoTeacher Gao

Method of teachingMethod of teaching

beginning beginning copy textbook copy textbooklater later real life calculation real life calculation (deal with difficulties)(deal with difficulties)

Emphasis on attitudeEmphasis on attitude(treasure the chalks)(treasure the chalks)

About classroom managementAbout classroom management About students’ backgroundsAbout students’ backgrounds

Philosophical View of Film is......Philosophical View of Film is......

PRAGMATISM

Philosophical View of Philosophical View of Education

- Goal of education: continuous growth.

- A problem-solving process during which society moves forward.

- Learning more effective, meaningful and satisfying ways of living.

I don’t care?

Then , what should you do next?

A problem-solving process is practical?

Think about it

When the student ask for going home, How do you response?

For her, she asked for a reason why she wants to leave.

What is the outcome?

Philosophical View of Philosophical View of School

A multi-purpose social institution linked to society.

A specialized environment where experiences are simplified, purified & balanced.

A miniature democratic society.

Teaching Ss to be a responsible citizen in a democratic society.

Philosophical View of Philosophical View of Teachers

Learn with Ss together

T does not know everything

Facilitates Ss’ learning

Discussion

Copy the lesson, we don’t know this~

What is your response?

Philosophical View of Philosophical View of Students

Learn by discovery and experimenting

Curriculum

Unity of knowledge: knowing is closely related to & connected to doing.

Based on Ss’ experiences – Their interests, needs & problems.

Experiential learning

Process-oriented, problem-solving instruction.

Group-centred.

Interdisciplinary.

How far do you like to work in a group?

Advantages?

Aims of Education & Curriculum

Providing nine-year compulsory education

Illiteracy problem in China

Not for further studies

Just for their basic needs

Difference between Urban and Rural

Gap between urban and rural schools

1. Funding is far more in urban schools

2. Teacher quality is better in urban schools

Rural school (in the movie)

Teacher quality

Teachers do not have a high school education and have no special talents

Just copy texts onto the board

Rural school(in the movie)

Lack of resource

not to use more than one piece of chalk per daybecause the village is too poor to afford more

Wei sleeps in the school building, sharing a bed with several female students

DiscussionDiscussion

• Q1:Q1:Do you agree that the problem of so Do you agree that the problem of so called “Hong Kong Kids” can be solved by called “Hong Kong Kids” can be solved by the ideology of pragmatism?the ideology of pragmatism?

→→ the kids who are spoiled by their parents the kids who are spoiled by their parents and therefore cannot take good care of and therefore cannot take good care of themselves ,although they have good themselves ,although they have good academic performance ) academic performance )

Possible answers(version 1)Possible answers(version 1)• Yes, I agree Yes, I agree Pragmatists (e.g.John Dewey)are wary of educational goals and purposes that Pragmatists (e.g.John Dewey)are wary of educational goals and purposes that

are external to the childare external to the child(e.g. parental expectation for a child’s future (e.g. parental expectation for a child’s future career in the case of “Hong Kong Kids”)career in the case of “Hong Kong Kids”)

Pragmatists claim that genuine education goals should Pragmatists claim that genuine education goals should come from within come from within the personthe person..

The sole goal of education is The sole goal of education is growthgrowth To grow means to haveTo grow means to have more activity more activity more problemsmore problems more resolutions to problemsmore resolutions to problemsTo fulfill the need of growth, the kids are required To fulfill the need of growth, the kids are required to learn all kind of basic living to learn all kind of basic living

skills,skills,in order to deal with a changing realityin order to deal with a changing reality . That means the child needs to learn how . That means the child needs to learn how

to lead a meaningful live, not only has a good academic performance in school. to lead a meaningful live, not only has a good academic performance in school.

Possible answers(version 2)Possible answers(version 2)

• No ,I do not agree. The reasons are as follows:No ,I do not agree. The reasons are as follows: Hong Kong is a commercial city with fierce competition, academic Hong Kong is a commercial city with fierce competition, academic

qualification almost determine your prospect, to learn living skills is qualification almost determine your prospect, to learn living skills is unrealistic and just a waste of time.unrealistic and just a waste of time.

Many people in Hong Kong think that money is a prerequisite of a Many people in Hong Kong think that money is a prerequisite of a meaningful life, therefore , when pragmatists said our goal of meaningful life, therefore , when pragmatists said our goal of education is to lead a meaningful life, then they must acknowledge education is to lead a meaningful life, then they must acknowledge that to get a high score in academic test and then make more that to get a high score in academic test and then make more money in the future is one of the objective of education, that is more money in the future is one of the objective of education, that is more “realistic ” in Hong Kong context.“realistic ” in Hong Kong context.

Q2Q2

If you are Weiminzhi, the main character in If you are Weiminzhi, the main character in the movie, which philosophies of the movie, which philosophies of education will you take to teach the education will you take to teach the children living in remote areas(apart from children living in remote areas(apart from pragmatism)?pragmatism)?

Possible answers(version 1)Possible answers(version 1)

• I will adopt the philosophy of I will adopt the philosophy of idealismidealism Idealists insist that the most important part of human being is the person’s Idealists insist that the most important part of human being is the person’s

spirit or mind.spirit or mind.

Therefore, they think the Therefore, they think the most important most important goal of education is goal of education is to to assist in developing the child’s spirit or mindassist in developing the child’s spirit or mind

I will use the following teaching methods to accomplish this goalI will use the following teaching methods to accomplish this goal I will put more emphases on improving the students’ moral standard, teach I will put more emphases on improving the students’ moral standard, teach

them what is good and what is wrongthem what is good and what is wrong I will encourage them to realize their potential, in order to pursue their goals I will encourage them to realize their potential, in order to pursue their goals

of their livesof their lives I will ask my students to strive for perfection, try to achieve desire goals as I will ask my students to strive for perfection, try to achieve desire goals as

many as possiblemany as possible

Possible answers(version 2)Possible answers(version 2)

• I will adopt the philosophy of I will adopt the philosophy of realismrealism Realist accept the existence of the world Realist accept the existence of the world as external as external to human beingto human being

Therefore, the realists(e.g. Aristotle)emphasize that education’s primary Therefore, the realists(e.g. Aristotle)emphasize that education’s primary function is function is

the cultivation and exercise of rationality, in order to explore the outside the cultivation and exercise of rationality, in order to explore the outside world.world.

As a teacher of realism, I will As a teacher of realism, I will CultivateCultivate and develop my students’ power of reasoning(using detective and develop my students’ power of reasoning(using detective

games)games) Ask the students to bring something to school, describe it and tell the Ask the students to bring something to school, describe it and tell the

reasons they bring it to school. Then ask the students to sort or classify reasons they bring it to school. Then ask the students to sort or classify these items into groupsthese items into groups

Encourage students to make their own decision based on the information Encourage students to make their own decision based on the information they have and a careful consideration, comparing the benefits and damages they have and a careful consideration, comparing the benefits and damages of that decision.of that decision.

Difference between Hong Kong Difference between Hong Kong and Not one lessand Not one less

Teaching resource• Not one less:• Limited teaching resources• E.g. chalks• The teacher can only use 1 chalk every day• The words written in blackboard cannot be too big• Do not have a clock• Need to infer time from the sunlight

• Hong Kong:• Abundant teaching resources• Teaching relies on computers• Such as PowerPoint• Students can go to internet to have self-learning

I give you one chalk per day

Don’t write too big because chalks are expensive.

Teaching environment: Not one less A 50-year old classroom Do not have money to repair Have drip when raining

Hong Kong a comfortable classroom air- conditioned bright

About forty to fifty years ago

How long has the school been?

Teachers’ quality:Not one lessA thirteen -year old temporary teacher, not well qualifiedDidn’t go to high schoolUnfamiliar with the subjectsForget the lyrics of the songs in the Music lessonCopy text in the blackboard from the book that Mr. Ko

gave himOnly can teach some simple subjects: Music, Chinese,

Maths

Hong Kong: Qualified teacherHaving a degree or diploma in education English teacher needs to pass the English

benchmark test Have specialized knowledge about the subject

they teachQuality was guaranteed

Teaching method: Not one less: Students copy text from blackboard No explanation Learning form experience Calculating the transport cost and transit cost of bricks

Hong Kong: Teaching is based on text books Student need to encounter different exams Practicing past papers Learn outside classrooms Go to study tour However, the opportunity is rare

Curriculum & School experienceCurriculum & School experience

Do all students in the school experience the same curriculum or do individuals with different interests and abilities and affinities for learning pursue curricula that is suitable to them?

Dewey Each student was an

individual Could travel on his or

her unique path of growth

Teacher was there to guide and facilitate this growth

The term “curriculum” to mean “the funded wisdom of the human race”

Teacher has the task of helping the student to make contact with this repertoire—but helping by facilitating rather than by imposing.

(Dewey, J., 1916, Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education, New York: Macmillan)

In the movie ... Rural schools do not

have regulations on curriculum

Only a primary school graduate

No particular/ regular subjects

Depends on the teacher

Living in rural does not require to know academically as much as living in urban

Just the basic necessity eg Chinese, Maths etc

The same curriculum (like copying) Lack of resources

School Experience

Are students engaged in worthwhile relevant experiences or are they encouraged to absorb knowledge directly?

Beginning: absorb knowledge directly from book (Like copying)

In the middle: engaged in worthwhile relevant experiences (Calculating)

Minzhi only taught academically

Not very practical

Cannot apply much into daily life

Rural kids not so much aim at going to higher education and elite roles

All they worried about if they could earn enough to survive till tomorrow

While out to find Huike Learnt practical, life-

time skills Much more in school Realize the importance

of learning in school

SummarySummary

There is no excuse to give up educationThere is no excuse to give up education Focusing on Pragmatism rather than Focusing on Pragmatism rather than

realism →in real situation but based on realism →in real situation but based on discovery and experimenting

Teachers are important role models for Teachers are important role models for studentsstudents

SummarySummary

Teaching merged with Practical Teaching merged with Practical application of knowledge and experience application of knowledge and experience → provoke intrinsic motivation → provoke intrinsic motivation

Hong Kong students need (at certain Hong Kong students need (at certain extent → Problem solving skill extent → Problem solving skill ∵∵ “Hong “Hong Kong Kids”Kong Kids”