Articulating an Educational Philosophy: All people have inherent
worth.
Virtually everyone receives some amount of formal education. We
commonly call this schooling. Schooling can take place at any age and can occur
in almost any setting. Without it, human societies cannot maintain knowledge or
culture.
The type of schooling one receives
varies with abilities and needs. It also depends on circumstances, aspirations,
and myriad other factors. Some of these factors, such as the family in which we
are born, lie beyond our control.
Schooling prepares individuals to assume certain tasks and
responsibilities. A high school diploma allows graduates to choose some paths,
but not others. The same is true for every level of educational attainment. Our
society, however, often grants higher status and salaries to those with
advanced degrees. This suggests that post-secondary education functions
primarily as an economic sorting mechanism.
Furman University rejects this formulation, even if it places us
at odds with the values of the marketplace. We would fail in our mission if
students graduated from Furman feeling superior to those who have not had the
opportunity or the inclination to attend college. All people have inherent
worth. Everyone’s contribution to society possesses utility and
dignity, whether made by the hands, head, heart, or a combination of aptitudes. This is the
core of our educational philosophy.
Knowledge Exists to be Imparted
One of the chief objects of a college education is the
acquisition of knowledge. By transmitting knowledge from one generation to the
next, societies obviate the necessity of learning everything anew. We do not
have to spend time rediscovering gravitational laws, genetic principles, or
grammatical rules. Nor do we have to wait until we get a disease to learn about
it. “Knowledge,” as Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently opined, “exists
to be imparted.”
Knowledge is important because it enable us to engage with other
similarly educated people in a meaningful dialogue—to
share their vocabulary, their standards of reason and evidence, and some of
their perceptions. It
also permits us to identify the ways in which we might have been mis-educated.
Knowledge helps us to understand our experiences, as well as
phenomena that we have not experienced. We could observe innumerable sunrises
and sunsets, but we comprehend them only because of our knowledge about the
solar system. Conversely, we do not have to have firsthand experience with
peoples or cultures that are different from our own in order to understand them
or to recognize that we share a common humanity.
The knowledge we deem important for Furman graduates includes an
understanding of:
• The natural world, in both its biological and physical
manifestations
• The
history and culture of various societies throughout the world
• Human
behavior on both an individual and collective level
• The
artifacts of the human imagination as manifested in art, literature, and music
• The
spiritual and philosophical dimensions of the human experience
The Necessity of Intellectual Skills
The purpose of a college education should not be limited to the
propagation of subject matter. Just as knowledge of wood or paint is not
sufficient to make an individual a carpenter or an artist, academic knowledge
by itself does not automatically confer the ability to analyze or communicate
in a logical manner. If we expect artisans to complete apprenticeships, during
which they practice various skills that have been modeled for them, we should
expect the same from those who wish to hone their intellectual capabilities.
Intellectual skills are important because they enable us to
assess complex phenomena and to explain them to people who are not experts in
the field. They allow us to detect flaws in one’s reasoning or rhetoric. They help us discern the difference
between facts and opinions, and to recognize that not all opinions are based on
the same evidence or make the same claims for acceptance. Finally, intellectual
skills are necessary if society is to be composed of a thoughtful public
instead of a persuaded audience.
The intellectual skills we deem important for Furman graduates
include:
• The ability to use quantitative reasoning to evaluate
phenomena and to solve problems
• The
ability to logically and clearly communicate ideas, opinions, and analyses in
writing
• The
ability to logically and clearly communicate ideas, opinions, and analyses
orally
• The
ability to logically and clearly communicate ideas, opinions, and analyses via
electronic media
Dispositions for Effective and Ethical Citizenship
While the mission of this institution is primarily the
dissemination of knowledge and the cultivation of intellectual skills, those
are not our only goals. We acknowledge that many influences shape an individual’s
beliefs, behavior, and attitudes. Nevertheless, we hope that an education at Furman University
will incline students to be effective and ethical citizens. Doubtless, these
broad goal are—and should be—open to numerous interpretations. We believe, however, that students
are poorly served by educational programs that ignore the plight and potential
of the human condition.
An array of widely supported values (for example, honesty and
civility) constitutes the foundation of effective and ethical citizenship. Other
dispositions are also important, especially since “citizenship”
increasingly refers to
membership in global, not just local or national, communities. These
dispositions should prompt individuals to conduct examinations of their own
lives; to engage in reflection on the lives of others; and to consider the
ecological needs of our planet.
The dispositions we deem important for Furman graduates include:
• Tolerance for different individuals, groups, and
societies
•
Openness to critical scrutiny of personal beliefs, assumptions, and received
knowledge
•
Willingness to engage in behaviors conducive to physical and mental health
• Respect
for the environment
•
Appreciation of the need to cultivate empathy
Posted by love at
September 20, 2004 12:48 PM
Discuss
this proposal in the forum, or leave a comment below!