Personal Philosophy of Education - Essay Example

Personal Philosophy of Education It is very important that education in children’s life, prepare them for a successful life. Educators are expected to treat every child they encounter as an equal despite sex, race, intelligence, economic status, special need, or anything else that might lead me to be biased. They have to ensure are they providing a safe learning environment in which students can work, learn, and play? Also they should teach students in a way that students grow and prosper as individuals in this ever changing society. They have to find out do they influence on a child’s weaknesses and strengths and are they trying enough to make them excel in their areas of weakness? Entering this challenging field of education, an ideal educator should be ready to grow as a teacher and should learn lessons from students everyday. (Abbeduto, 2006) An effective teacher should be aware of the various attitudes and culture systems within a classroom and should always strive to build positive, trusting relationships with each student. Tolerance and respect should be taught in a reciprocating manner with a combination of compassion and discipline. Social interactions are an important part of a child's education, particularly in early and middle education, when a child is getting familiar with the structure of school and his peers. Teaching children how to interact with each other in a variety of settings should be a continuous goal, and learning goals should include examples of multiculturalism, democracy, and the negative effects of discrimination. This part of a curriculum is essential in guiding our students to becoming well-adjusted individuals capable of later forming healthy personal and professional relationships. (Shaw, 2004) A teacher as a member of society has an obligation to teach students about social tolerance. Generally the lower grades provide the most adventitious opportunity to teach this topic because at this point in children’s lives, they are still accepting of diversity. Adolescents are often already set in their ways and teaching tolerance or diversity at this point is difficult if not impossible. Considering the turmoil being faced in regard to atrocities that have occurred across the country relating to intolerance; it is imperative to begin at the primary level to teach harmony and understanding rather than discord between the members of a classroom community. School administrators are responsible to ensure are they acquiring and maintaining a highly trained staff of teachers, guidance counselors, aides, and other school personnel? Continuous education and training experiences should be provided, and administrators have to consider do their educators feel that school's administration is there to support and assist them in meeting the educational needs of their students? Not only does the administration have a responsibility to support its teachers and staff, but it also has a responsibility to its community to continuously evaluate the curriculum, teaching methods, and academic programs that are available to students. Administrators should also make sure that the school's facilities are well-kept, so that students have a safe and clean environment in which to learn. I believe that administrators are also responsible in overseeing the creation of school exploratory programs, non-traditional scheduling opportunities, and extra-curricular activities. In short, I feel that the administration of a school should provide the staff and the students within a school the tools and resources necessary to get the most from their educational experiences.(Beckner, 2004) Parent participation is an important part of a child's education experiences, and it is vital for parents to support the view that learning does not begin and end only within a classroom. Parents should ensure are they fulfilling their responsibility of providing their children with ample opportunities for growth and learning in a variety of situations? And do they encourage their children to discover and explore by exposing them to social and cultural experiences? Parents should also be involved in their child's education by staying in contact with child's school and teachers. Any degree of participation within the school is better than none, and it reinforces the importance of education to the child. Above all, the most important responsibility parents have regarding their children's education is the physical and emotional well-being of their children. If basic needs such as proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and emotional security are not met, then children are not prepared to reach their fullest potential in an academic setting. Teaching methods should be a combination of both student and teacher centered activities, and instructive techniques should always be adjusted to the particular needs of students. Not all students learn and react in the same way; therefore, a teacher should not expect to use the same lesson plans or activities for all students. System should analyze if the students are introduced to a variety of subjects, as well as the traditional academic subjects? Exposing children early to different subject areas gives them an opportunity to acquire skills and interests they may have never discovered before, thus enables them to develop a strong desire to learn. A teacher has to evaluate if the creativity and independence is valued and encouraged in the classroom, particularly to help students gain positive self-concepts.( Canestrari, 2004) There are many factors that play a part in providing a quality education to students. The state, local and federal government has to ensure are they providing enough funds needed for school systems in order to meet the educational needs of students? This may include hiring trained and experienced school administrators, providing adequate facilities for schools, and offering competitive salaries so that highly qualified educators will be attracted towards profession. Generally to supply appropriate funds for schools is not always an easy task, however, it should be considered as a very important priority for system.         My personal philosophy of education covers a wide area of ideologies and curriculum; all the points mentioned above serve a crucial role in providing a strong foundation for young people in the classroom and in society however, it is difficult to narrow ideas to these few. But, without these essential ingredients education would be lacking individuality, creativity, and diversity. References Abbeduto, L. (2006). Taking Sides. Clashing Views in Educational Psychology. Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Series. Pg 131 Canestrari A., S., and Marlowe B., A. (2004). Educational Foundations: An Anthology of         Critical Readings. Sage Publications. Beckner, W. (2004). Ethics for educational leaders. New York: Allyn & Bacon. pg. 15 Larry J. Shaw. (ND) Humanistic and social aspects of teaching Retrieved December 12, 2004 from http://edweb.sdsu.edu/LShaw/f95syll/philos/phperen.html Read More