Monday, February 2, 2009

My philosophy of education continued....

As the Chinese Proverb states- “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand. I believe this proverb to be true. Teachers are not employed to teach, they are employed to see that students learn. For this reason, learning is to be emphasized over teaching. Every student has something that motivates him or her, and the teacher must search it out and use it. The purpose of education is to foster a full range of human capacities and to identify what children possess. Teachers need to be passionate about their students and the learning that takes place in their classroom. Other aspects an educator must consider to ensure learning is taking place are how their students gain knowledge, what is being taught, their role and responsibility in the classroom, and finally, the nature of the school in today’s society.
Respecting children, providing them with safe freedom, and promoting independent learning and thinking are roles of the teacher. Teachers must have knowledge of their subject matter and of how students learn. I believe teachers should have an understanding of current educational trends. They must be empathic to their students’ diversity with learning, as well as, consideration to their students’ diverse home situations and parenting. They must also be comfortable among students and parents and work in collaboration with both. Teachers must strive to be comfortable with a varied student population and have the insight to see differences in people as a strength rather than a shortcoming.

My philosophy of education

I feel as though the mission of education is to foster a full range of human capacities and to identify what children possess. It is up to the educator to ensure each child feels a sense of worth, accomplishment, success, and pride in the classroom. However, one must remember that teachers are not employed to teach, they are employed to see that students learn. Therefore, learning is to be emphasized over teaching. I believe that every student has something that motivates him or her, and the teacher must search it out and use it appropriately. Aside from a teacher’s dedication and drive to better their students’ education, it is essential that these educational figures go the extra step to ensure that the classroom remains a fun and enjoyable environment in order to catch and maintain a child’s attention and willingness to absorb curriculum material. With a partnership between parents, students, and teachers working as a team, educational programs will continue to prosper and develop.