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Chaz Hill

Dr. Airey

EDU 124

Philosophy of Education

5/5/16

I firmly believe that the purpose of education is prepare a child for the world, develop

their life skills in tandem with learning the subject matter of the class, and cultivate the

individual identity of each student. In my classroom, students will be using interdisciplinary

abilities from other classes to further prepare themselves for the outside world. In their future

adulthoods, students must be able to juggle using different skills. As stated in Those Who Can,

Teach, educations purpose is to help students become good citizens [that are] familiar with the

workings of democracy and good problem-solving skills (298). While getting an A is the

goal, it is not the most important. Instead, my teaching will aim students to become stronger

individuals, to learn and cultivate essential life skills, and become effective collaborators.

The content taught in schools should not be a wide-based, sweeping curriculum. Creating

a school curriculum that can successfully educate and prepare every student is an absurd concept.

Each student is not a number, rather each student is a human. Each student possesses their own

thought processes, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. The lesson should be based around

individual student attention, not attempting to paint broad brush strokes. When this is attempted,

those broad strokes simply erase the beautiful differences that make distinguish individuals. A
common curriculum is comparable to testing a monkey, fish, giraffe, and a turtle by having them

climb a tree. Not all of the animals are proficient at that task, similar to how not all students have

the same abilities. Also, in the classroom, a mixture of teaching strategies should be

implemented. A balance must be achieved between lecture, individual learning, and student lead

projects/research. With this balance, every student has a chance to succeed.

While all content should be taught in an individualized way, there should be structure to

what content is taught. In an American history class, for example, the students should learn about

the causes, events, and the results of the American Revolution. Having standards that need to be

learned is not the problem. The issue is how those standards are taught and if the students are

engaged in the lesson.

In my opinion, the role of the teacher in the classroom is a fluctuating one. A teacher,

according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as, one whose occupation is to instruct.

For myself, again, the trick to the occupation is finding the balance between teacher-led

instructing and student-led learning. The teacher should be an expert in their field and be able to

facilitate knowledge to their pupils; however, the teacher must also be willing to step back and

guide students. Students should have a say in their classroom, and the teacher must be able to act

as merely a resource at the students disposal.

In the classroom, the students must be willing to embrace their individuality, for it is the

greatest strength they possess. Through the emphasis of individual strengths, the students will

become self-confident and believe their abilities. By nurturing their individuality, each student
becomes invested in the material being taught. Feeling important is critical to a successful

learning environment.

In my future classroom, learning will be measured in a variety of ways. Participation will

be critical. As stated by Oregon State University, [Learning] is active, not passive. If a

students input is not appreciated, their level of passion will drop considerably. If students are

not invested in their education, the practice is worthless. Exams and homework have their place

in the curriculum as well, but they cannot be placed on a pedestal. Not all students are proficient

at taking tests. Also, to prepare students for their future, collaborative group projects will be used

in my classroom. Some of the most effective learning occurs when young minds work together

and solve complex problems. Growing interpersonal skills is critical to the development of a

well-rounded member of society.

Teaching is an ever changing profession, as is the content to be taught. The world never

stays the same, and as teachers, we must grow with it. I strongly believe that all teachers must

continue to hone their craft. Whether it be through conferences, books, or lessons, no teacher is

perfect and their skills can always be improved. Also, the importance of conversing with other

teachers cannot be ignored. Bouncing ideas off of other professionals allows for individual

teachers to share their own philosophies, viewpoints, and teaching styles with each other.
Works Cited

"ED416 - Module I." ED416 - Module I. Oregon State University. Web. 06 May 2016.

<http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/module1.html>.

Ryan, Kevin, James M. Cooper, and Cheryl Mason Bolick. Those Who Can, Teach. 14th ed.

Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.

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