My Philosophy on Education

Although the IOM (2011) report contains a multitude of recommendations and potential solutions, the call for action is truly urgent for all key stakeholders including nurses, physicians, hospitals, universities, and so forth. As the healthcare field continues to evolve so must the nursing education system.

My overarching philosophy of education is a very simple one: intentional inclusion of everyone and creating a safe haven for all students. In order to accomplish this, the teacher should have a clear understanding of the goal of education, the role of the teacher, responsibilities of the students, roles and opportunities among parents and community member, and the power of knowledge.

It is the will of God that His children bring into fruition, sustain, and promote successful Christian schools. In order to carry out this mission, it is essentially important that the foundations be laid upon the Eternal Rock, His Word, and His spiritual principles. Only such a foundation guarantees a solid and firm structure which will withstand all present trials and endure all future endeavors and uncertainties. Only upon such a foundation can the Christians rest reassured that God’s authority will be the properly exercised, His knowledge communicated effectively, and His love transmitted with compassion to the pupils. As per Dr. Combee’s words,“God has a plan for victory in education through the truth He has revealed to us about human nature. “ (pg. 174) The sinful human nature does desperately need God and His principles, to both build a strong character and to construct academic stature.

As a teacher, it is important to acknowledge the diversity of students because teachers can be the biggest influence in children 's lives. My career will be affected by the students I teach. I can influence them to change their lives, strive to achieve things they didn 't think they could, and be an advocate for them. Teachers can affect change. My professional philosophy is to provide guidance for students.

My philosophy of education is very much a reflection of my worldview. Although I wrote my philosophy of education over a year ago, I never had to write or even think about my worldview. When I started my Christian Worldview class and was introduced to what a worldview was. I had to think long and hard about my worldview and what is important to me, what influences me in the way I live, and how I look at life. This would come together as my worldview. My worldview impacts everything I do in my life. It is my guide and a reflection of where I came from, who I want to be, and where I want my future to go. It’s my commitment to my values, morals, and beliefs that I hold dear to me and motivates me to be the best person possible.

Currently, I am responsible for managing the science instructional programs and personnel in a chartered middle school. As a supervisor for the department, I develop/source curriculum materials for teachers and collaborate with them to plan and implement instructional lessons daily. I manage the financial resources for the department and constantly monitor the teaching practices that will impact our organizational goal and vision.

While attending North Carolina Central University, I have taken classes that helped me develop the teaching philosophy I want for my future classroom. My philosophy is that no matter their background, all children have the opportunity or learning. Personally, I would love to see students reaching their fullest potential while in my class. It would be my dream to allow children with different learning levels, to be able to work in the same classroom together. This will require heavy amounts of group work, something kids need to learn for the real world. My classroom environment will be a judgment free zone. This will allow for students to freely express themselves and learn at their own pace. When teaching young children one must be prepared for all the frustrations, responsibilities, and challenges. Personally, I believe that all children are capable of learning anything, if they have the appropriate materials and motivation and direction from their teachers. It is up to me to ensure that my students are motivated and excited about learning new things.

How we must educate our children in Arkansas, as well as in the United States, has changed over the past twenty years since I began a career in education. Educating our children has become a data-driven task, in which high-stakes testing is the driving force requiring our students to compete with children from countries around the globe. State testing assessments drive curricula and make students, teachers, and principals more accountable for what is happening in the classroom than ever before. Education is focused on the individual child, and there is a greater push for parent involvement. Despite what we see and read in the media, research indicates teacher job satisfaction is still high. Many educators are

The definition of curriculum can be as mysterious as the curriculum itself. Oliva (2013) described the hunt for the curriculum as being similar to “efforts to track down Bigfoot, the Bear Lake Monster, [and] the Florida Everglades Skunk Ape …” (pg. 2). All of these elusive beings have left tracks, yet there isn’t a single photograph to prove their existence—just like there isn’t one tangible definition for curriculum. Sure, there’s a binder labeled “curriculum,” but that doesn’t mean it’s merely a set of plans. Initially, I believed the curriculum to be something elusive; I loosely interpreted it as the information that should be taught in a given subject and the corresponding objectives or learning intentions. I believed that the “curriculum [could] be conceived in a narrow way as subjects taught (Oliva, 2013, pg. 3). What I was unaware of was the interdependency of curriculum and instruction. I learned that the curriculum is just as reliant on instruction as instruction is on the curriculum. One is “the what” while the other is “the how.” Now, I view the curriculum as more than just a framework of content and standards. It includes “all the experiences that the learner encounters under the direction of the school” (Oliva, 2013, pg. 7). The curriculum is transient. It can be molded, shaped, and restructured to meet the needs of the children

Henry Brooks Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops” (NEA). In my mind, this is a very powerful line, and it hits the nail right on the head. Each individual in this country will be affected by teachers at least until they reach the age of sixteen, so it is important for teachers to shape our future generations. In this paper, I will first discuss what the purpose of education is, and why it is so important in this world. Then, I will talk about what my philosophy of education is, as well as some sources to explain it. Next, I will talk about what motivated me to become a teacher, which was a turning point in my life. Finally, I will talk about the vision of CIA in education,

I have been in school for the past 16 years – including attending college and furthering my knowledge by observing other educators and their styles. Through the years I have seen and experienced things that I both like and dislike. I have seen a few philosophies that have stood out to me; that I believe I will incorporate into my classroom as a future educator, such as behaviorism and progressivism.

Every teacher has a different idea of how and what their students should learn. Therefore, every teacher has a different philosophy of education, and what purpose education serves in a child’s life. The five philosophies of education that we recognize are: Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, Social Reconstructionism, and Existentialism. I would most recognize my philosophy of education as Essentialism.

The learning experience should be that of a collective nature where students are able to indiscriminately relate to the information, re-teach the information and have a balanced incorporation of all the learning centers in society; including the home and the church. The goal of this incorporation is to create a balanced learning environment that facilitates holistic development in the young mind. As professionals entrusted with the shaping of young minds, teachers must facilitate learning and personal, spiritual, ethical and academic development. My philosophy for education is a multi-part philosophy that encapsulates the idea of holistic and inclusive learning. The philosophy caters for the overall shaping and development of the young mind and includes aspects of balanced training, incorporated teachings and it generally focuses on training students to become teachers.

After going through this class not only do I have a different view point on education as a whole but I also appreciate the education that I have been lucky enough to have. Yes, I have had days and maybe even weeks during my years of schooling where I have wanted to quit and never sit in a classroom again. However, after going through this class I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to appreciate all the opportunities my education has given me because not everyone has what I had as far as schooling. An education is so important and to realize that not everyone is able to go or not get a decent education makes me sad.

Since taking my first few educational courses in education, I have realized that my philosophy on education changes as I learning more about the profession I have entered. Every time I think I have come to a final belief statement, I learn something new about teaching and sometimes the things I learn causes me to alter my philosophy. Therefore, I will share with you what I believe about teaching and what I’ve learned at this point.