Educational Philosophy

In developing my educational philosophy, I must first examine what I believe the purpose of the teacher is. It is essential that a teacher act as a guide to help the child experience their learning in order to give it meaning and value. Teachers have the opportunity to give a child some of the necessary skills to survive in the world, rather than just teach them facts, and taking advantage of that opportunity is imperative because, in the end, we cannot teach them everything. What we can do, however, is teach the students how to be successful in life by honing their critical and reflective thinking skills so they can filter information and make educated, well-rounded decisions, instead of taking information at face value.

            In a society that is always changing, where fact today is myth tomorrow, we as teachers have an obligation to teach children the lessons of the past, as well as prepare them for unforeseen events in the future. It is our job to provide society with useful, intelligent citizens that will aid in deciding the direction of our country and culture.

            There are many different modes though which one can receive information, including television, the Internet, radio, and newspaper. How does one know whether a source is accurate? How do we know whom to believe and what to disregard? If a teacher succeeds in fulfilling the purpose of schooling through the eyes of a pragmatist – to create “independent problem solvers who are able to cope with change” – then at least the children will be able to sift through the static and pick out the important information, comparing several different sides of an issue before they make a concrete decision. Even if they forget some of the specific facts we teach them, they will have retained the overarching lessons of tolerance, thoughtfulness, and critical thinking, and will be able to be productive members of society.

            The reason reflective and critical thinking is so important is that every decision we make, every action we take, has an effect on someone else. If we always act the way we have in the past without considering the new factors that have been introduced with time and new technology, we may be making a false assessment and/or a poor and uneducated decision. One must be able to swallow their pride for a moment and continually re-examine their thought processes and belief systems in order to continue making clear and educated decisions.

            I will strive to give my students the tools to learn and sort though information, because, in the end, I will not be there to hold their hand when they are voting on legislation or choosing a medical insurance plan. What I will be able to do is provide them with some of the tools they need to gather information, consider past experiences and new information, and question the “facts.” In this ever-changing world, we need as many critical thinkers and intelligent decision makers as we can get to ensure our society’s success.