Philosophy of Education:
“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think- rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.” -Bill Beattie (emphasis mine)
I believe that education is a life-long process that is in no way limited to the classroom. Education should provide students an equal opportunity to learn life skills that will prepare each child for success and put each child’s future in his or her own hands. A good education will equip each student with the tools necessary to succeed and allow them to take advantage of opportunities that otherwise may have remained out of reach. Education should be student-focused and should affirm the individuality and worth of each student. A good teacher ensures that students feel self-confident in their own talents and abilities, safe to share thoughts and ideas, unafraid to ask questions and think critically, and to know that they are valued and cared for.
I have come to these conclusions based largely on my unique life experiences, but the majority came from studying abroad in Latin America. Although I was only there for four months, my experiences there challenged everything I knew to be true. It instilled within me a desire to be constantly learning; to challenge, question, and think critically about all sorts of issues. It also taught me to be more aware of events and solutions instead of being content to let the problem perpetuate. It brought me face-to-face with poverty and despair and made me aware of all sorts of situations that I had never seen before. In spite of that, my time abroad has also given me hope for a better world and the motivation to do everything in my power to achieve that. I believe that change starts early on, with children. They are the future. The lessons I have learned and passions I have developed for learning and education are meant to be shared with as many people as possible and that is what has inspired and compelled me to become a teacher.
“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think- rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.” -Bill Beattie (emphasis mine)
I believe that education is a life-long process that is in no way limited to the classroom. Education should provide students an equal opportunity to learn life skills that will prepare each child for success and put each child’s future in his or her own hands. A good education will equip each student with the tools necessary to succeed and allow them to take advantage of opportunities that otherwise may have remained out of reach. Education should be student-focused and should affirm the individuality and worth of each student. A good teacher ensures that students feel self-confident in their own talents and abilities, safe to share thoughts and ideas, unafraid to ask questions and think critically, and to know that they are valued and cared for.
I have come to these conclusions based largely on my unique life experiences, but the majority came from studying abroad in Latin America. Although I was only there for four months, my experiences there challenged everything I knew to be true. It instilled within me a desire to be constantly learning; to challenge, question, and think critically about all sorts of issues. It also taught me to be more aware of events and solutions instead of being content to let the problem perpetuate. It brought me face-to-face with poverty and despair and made me aware of all sorts of situations that I had never seen before. In spite of that, my time abroad has also given me hope for a better world and the motivation to do everything in my power to achieve that. I believe that change starts early on, with children. They are the future. The lessons I have learned and passions I have developed for learning and education are meant to be shared with as many people as possible and that is what has inspired and compelled me to become a teacher.