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Philosophy of Education Essay

During my thirteen years of public schooling I had always wondered why my teachers
chose their specific subject to teach, why they became a teacher, why did they think they should
teach, and what they were going to teach me. Now that I am in college and in the School of
Education, I wonder these same questions about my peers. This is a chance for people to get to
know me and what I stand for in regards to education.

Why should I teach?


I should teach because I want to help others; more specifically, I want children to
succeed. I think that there is nothing more satisfying than helping a child learn new things and
watching the excitement on his/her face when he/she succeeds at something new. If a teacher
teaches the students the basic fundamental framework of a certain subject, the student can build
up on that knowledge for the rest of their life. With that being said, I highly agree with Henry
Adamss statement, A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
The main reason I want to teach is not only because of my love for the subjects, but
because I want future generations to at least have the same opportunities, if not better
opportunities, as the previous generations. I think every person should try and give back
something of value in their lifetime and for me, I would like to give back to the community by
teaching students valuable lessons that they can use not only in my classroom, but in everyday
life. My purpose is to instill each child with valuable information that will be essential to them
for years to come. I want to make a difference the world, one student at a time. I think good,
effective teachers are important role models for their students. I think many students look up to

teachers because they know that their teachers are trying to help them now, so that they have a
rewarding future.
Not everyone who loves specific subjects would make a great teacher. I believe I should
teach because my passion for math and science would compliment my passion for wanting my
students to succeed. I strongly believe that every student should have the opportunity to learn
from a teacher who is passionate about their job in every way. I think my combined passion for
the subjects and my passion for helping others would make me a great teacher.
I also believe my personality would help me to become an effective teacher. I know
when to be serious, but I also know when to have fun. I think having a classroom that
incorporates the importance of playfulness and seriousness gives off a structured, but laid back
vibe that students and teachers both enjoy.

When did I decide to become a teacher?


I decided that I wanted to become a teacher when I was in middle school. I had the
pleasure of being taught pre-algebra by Mr. Daniel Skewis. Math had always been my favorite
subject but Mr. Skewis taught it in a way that made it even more fun and rewarding. He was
such a great teacher and many students looked up to him. He was and still continues to be my
inspiration for wanting to pursue a career in the teaching profession. In 2006, the year I
graduated from middle school, I had the honor of receiving the Pre-Algebra Student of the Year
Award. Receiving this award, along with the guidance of Mr. Skewis, really solidified my
interest in becoming a teacher.

Who should teach and be taught?

I believe that in the overall sense of who should teach and be taught, that in most cases,
teachers should teach and students should be taught. On a regular basis, students come into your
classroom, you teach them a lesson, give them work to practice what theyve been taught, and
repeat. I think that this is the best arrangement overall because it maintains a structure in the
classroom and ensures that the class stays on track so that curriculum can be taught and
accomplished effectively.
However this is not always the case. I also believe that there is a time and place for
students to also teach the teacher. Not only do students have to respect teachers and listen to
what they have to say and learn from it, but teachers need to listen to what their students have to
say as well. Students have a lot to offer and may understand something differently than how
they were taught. I think that what they have to say is very valuable, especially if they can help
other students who may not understand it one way, but may understand it from another point of
view. It is also beneficial for them to teach the teacher this other point of view so that the teacher
can help others in a different way as well. Barbara E. Olsen said it best, Teacher-Student: is a
symbiotic relationship in which the teacher must be willing to learn and the student must always
be willing to share. Teachers need to be just as willing to learn from their students, as their
students are willing to learn from them. Even though most of the time, teachers teach the
students, I think teachers and the students can learn valuable lessons from each other as long as
everyone is willing to keep an open mind.

What should I teach?

I believe that I should teach middle school math and integrated science. I chose middle
school as my area of focus, because algebra was my all time favorite subject and middle school
is generally when it is introduced to students for the first time. I also want to teach science
because that is another area that I excelled in during my years of schooling and I enjoyed
learning about all the new developments.
Math has always been my favorite subject. I can remember back to elementary school
where doing timed math tables was my favorite part of the week. Since my passion for math is
so strong, it really drives me to succeed in the field and teach this subject to future students.

How should you teach?


I would like to teach my students in an interactive lecture type style. I would lecture to
my students; first by teaching them the basics behind the lesson, then building upon the basic
knowledge so they understand the task at hand. I would encourage them to interact with me by
answering questions and trying to solve problems. I want my classroom to be very active by
having all students participate. To do this I will need to have a very warm and inviting classroom
where my students feel comfortable expressing themselves.
I believe in a progressive, holistic, and essentialist education style. Progressivism in
education focuses on learning by doing, problem solving, critical thinking, and an emphasis on
skills and knowledge that encourage students to retain this information throughout each students
entire life. A holistic education finds purpose in everyday life. It encourages people to find
themselves by making connections to the world around them. Essentialism in education focuses
on instilling the basic fundamentals by teaching the core curriculum. If children know the basics
they can build upon these skills in the future. I found out that I more than likely believe in these

different styles of teaching by taking a survey. I think that before I can really say that I believe in
these whole heartedly, I would need to start teaching and get to know what I like, how my
students adapt to the different style, and build upon that as years went on. I am not sure what
kind of teacher I will be yet, but as I gain more experience and really get to learn what kind of
person I am, and what I want my students to know, I will develop a great teaching technique that
molds to my exact education style. Its just like Parker Palmer says, As we learn more about
who we are, we can learn techniques that reveal rather than conceal the personhood from which
good teaching comes. First you need to get to know yourself as a teacher so that you can reveal
good teaching techniques.

Now that people understand a little more about me and who I would like to be as a
teacher, I hope one would believe in me to be a great educator. The hope in writing this would
be for people to understand where I am coming from and be able to put trust in me to help future
students and to make a difference in the world. As Wayne Groves states, When you make them
smile, laugh, think, write, explore, take notes, read or give them a chanceyou have taught them
something everlasting. I believe I will do just that and not only will I be able to excel as a
teacher and role model to my future students, but my students will also be able to excel and learn
skills that are very valuable for the future.

Bibliography

Adams, Henry. "Failure." The Education of Henry Adams. N.p., n.d. 164. Project Gutenberg. 15
Dec. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2044/2044-h/2044h.htm>.

"Educational essentialism." Wikipedia. N.p., Feb. 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.


<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_essentialism>.

Copyright 2003 Barbara E. Olsen and Wayne Groves via For Leaders & Teachers:
"For Leaders & Teachers." MotivateUs.com. N.p., Oct. 2003. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.motivateus.com/teach30.htm>.

"Holistic education." Wikipedia. N.p., Mar. 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.


<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holistic_education>.

Palmer, Parker J. "The Heart of a Teacher: Identity and Integrity in Teaching." The Courage to
Teach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2007. 25. Print.

"Progressive education." Wikipedia. N.p., 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.


<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_education>.

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