My Educational Philosophy...

irises
"The kids in our classroom are infinitely more significant than the subject matter we teach."
--Meladee McCarty

        It is our job as teachers to provide a quality education for subsequent generations because they are going to eventually lead our society.  Looking into the future, I want this world to change and improve—and that responsibility lies in our future generations of students.  Therefore, the main purpose of education is to produce valuable members of society that will contribute to our constantly developing world.    

        Beyond this basic purpose of education, I believe there are three areas that schools should focus on when educating their students—academic, social, and personal.  Clearly, the attainment of knowledge of academic subjects is important in education.  The mastery of these essential basics like math, reading, and writing are needed for life beyond school.  However, these should not be the only academic subjects learned.  Other subjects like art, music, technology, foreign languages, philosophy, economics/business, and world cultures are extremely valuable parts of academic study to help our children become well-rounded independent-thinking individuals.

        The second area schools need to focus on is the social education of our children.  School is a place where children develop social skills and gain valuable interactions with others.  These skills are vital for the rest of their lives.   Schools should also offer opportunities to gain experience working with many different kinds of people, as well as provide some moral and ethical training like modeling respectful behavior.  This brings me back to improving the world at large—students should be taught in ways that motivate them to help their communities and work for positive change.

The last important area that education should focus on is the personal life of each student.  We, as educators, have the responsibility of preparing students for a successful, happy, and healthy life.  We should motivate them to become life-long learners and help them learn how to co-exist peacefully with others around the world.  Educators should work to give each of them pride and joy in their academic achievements, as well as provide them with opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

        Another very critical part of my educational philosophy is the way in which I view learning.  Every single student is different in their learning styles, backgrounds, culture, and previous experiences.  Education should take all of these factors into account and teach the whole child.  I believe it is impossible to give any child a quality education without understanding this concept.  My classroom will involve student-centered, active learning that emphasizes diversity, tolerance/acceptance, and multiculturalism.  We need to give students the ability to problem-solve on their own in the future by granting them freedom in their education, with the teacher simply as a guide or facilitator.

        Education should also stress the importance of the “self” or individual child because what is important for one student may be the opposite for another—education should work to help each child find personal meaning in the lessons.  I believe students will be more motivated to learn if the information we teach is significant to them.  It must be interesting and presented in a fun and innovative manner.  Children should learn by asking questions, exploration, inquiry, and determining their own conclusions.

    Lastly, because I believe we must teach students to be active members of society, the classroom should be host to many different experiences involving the surrounding community like field trips, guest speakers, and community-based projects.  Service-learning will connect the curriculum with community involvement.

        Education is one of the most valuable experiences of our lives; it can mean the difference between ignorance and acceptance, as well as independence versus dependence.  The most effective teachers in my life have been those that respect and listen to their students, set high expectations, encourage choice and responsibility, are passionate about education, and demonstrate empathy for their students.  A teacher must not push information at students, but rather help guide and facilitate their own personal quest for knowledge.  A teacher should set boundaries and rules, and be consistent in enforcing rules and their consequences if not followed.  A teacher must also show respect and care toward all students.  Teachers should stay highly qualified by keeping up to date on the latest research.  Lastly, teachers should be life-long learners themselves and demonstrate that quality for their students.

        On a personal level, teaching gives me the opportunity to positively affect hundreds of lives.  I receive so much happiness and satisfaction when my students succeed, especially when I am able to see the pride in their eyes.  I know that education is my future because when I’m in a classroom I always feel like it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.