Philosophy Plays a Significant Role in Education in Scotland
For children and adolescents aged between 3 and 18 years, Scotland offers the Curriculum for Excellence that is expected to provide students not only with relevant knowledge but also skills that are essential in the 21st century. Among the three convincing goals of this curriculum, there are contributing to develop students as confident individuals, successful learners, and responsible citizens. In this connection, the role of philosophy in Scotland’s educational system should be an integral part to achieve the identified goals. According to the alternative point of view, philosophy distracts children and adolescents from such key subjects as mathematics and language. However, the importance of philosophy cannot be underestimated as it teaches students to be human, acquire freedom, and succeed on the path to self-discovery.
Philosophy in Education Guides Students from the Cradle to the Grave
What is the most significant role of education? Obviously, the Curriculum for Excellence implies teaching students to be human. The understanding of philosophy not only as a social science but also the subject that includes humanities is the key to clarify the ways it impacts people’s entire lives. By offering students properly-planned lessons on philosophy, teachers can achieve amazing results! Speaking about the details, being human involves three issues: feeling and thinking from the point if humankind instead of egoistic intentions, being efficient, and living creatively and emotionally. Do not you want your children to become a happy and productive member of society? How could you choose not to teach philosophy while it improves the world around?
Today, there are a lot of destructive movements, such as terrorism, nationalism, racism, and others. For what seems a lifetime, children grew up and become adults, who make decisions and shape the future. Therefore, they should think and act from the standpoint of human values, being not persons, but individuals, each of which can serve the society and other people. It is especially relevant to Scotland that is a part of the UK. On the one hand, it is a sovereign state that manages the local policies and initiatives. On the other hand, it is expected to follow the regulations of the UK. How to ensure that education in Scotland is timely and comprehensive? The best solution is to focus on this question in the course of philosophy in schools. Pupils should be shown how to discuss complicated questions, using philosophical theories and the bulk of knowledge from philosophers of all times. There is a rich diversity of perspectives, theories, and findings that are collected over millennia.
From the cradle to the grave, we strive to better understand ourselves and our relationships with others. Philosophy guides a person in the exciting, lifelong journey of self-discovery, providing amazing opportunities. To develop as a harmonious individual, you should be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses to consider them in personal and professional areas. Does one’s success depend on the environment and favorable conditions? No doubt! However, the skills of critical thinking and self-reflection also play a tremendous role in how a child would perceive and use the emerging opportunities. The tractates of Plato Aristotle seem to provide valuable insights into the potential decisions. While there are no direct answers to the questions that students may have, philosophy teaches them to use solid reasoning to avoid poor decisions. Regardless of the profession, area of living, or age, the skills of reasoning would help people in assessing events and facts.
Another strongest argument in favor of philosophy in Scotland’s education is that the country proposes the participatory style of teaching. It is closely associated with enormous enjoyment while studying the subject since teachers are actually motivated to evoke the interest of students. Scotland’s award-winning teachers have enough skills and experience to make the study of philosophy fun for children, which would strengthen their curiosity and enthusiasm related to self-discovery. Being sincerely interested in philosophy, students learn not only to answer questions but also properly pose them and express individual philosophical views. The fascination of philosophical ideas is that there are no correct or wrong answers, which give pupils the freedom to think outside the box and broaden their horizons. As a result, be it an artist or lawyer, critical thinking skills set a perfect start for diving into the profession and becoming an expert. By making sense of philosophy, schools would contribute to the sustainable happiness of their students in a long-term period. Thus, the theoretical foundation that should be received through education shapes the basis for translating this knowledge into practice.
However, some people argue that philosophy is not necessary on the schools of Scotland as it diverts the attention of students form essential subjects. The examinations on philosophy are not considered important for the future of children. The words of famous philosophers are perceived only as someone’s assumptions that can be omitted in the modern life. This perspective includes a narrow perspective on the benefits of philosophy. If the subject includes just old-fashioned statements and is of no interest to students and teachers, how can it bring pleasure and positive results? Every parent should think about the future of his or her child, taking into account their inner needs in self-understanding and the balanced development of personality. It is not acceptable to disregard the need of a person in harmonious relationships, family creation, and giving birth to children. For other people, career goals may be more important than that of relationships, and it is another way of development. It does not matter what way will be chosen by a student, but it is critical to ensure that he or she will be able to succeed in the preferred areas of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to stress that in the educational system of Scotland, philosophy should be taught to students to support their inherent desire for self-discovery. The goals that are set by the Curriculum for Excellence can be fully met by means of philosophy that should be offered in an enjoyable way to awaken the interest of students. Freedom is another advantage of learning philosophy as it provides the opportunity to develop critical thinking and choose proper solutions. The ability to formulate questions and find personally-relevant answers naturally stems from philosophical reasoning. Since making people humane is one of the greatest aims of Scottish education, the awareness of philosophy theories would help students in adopting a broader view on the problems of society. There are strong arguments against the standpoint that rejects studying this subject, which is supported by the fallacious reasoning and perceived unnecessary nature of philosophy. At a larger scale, philosophy teaches us to become happy and alert of a variety of ways to live, build relationships, and effectively achieve the goals set.