Education Philosophy

I thought that you might enjoy my two cents on education. Let me know what you think.

20 Days!

BearDown Arizona! U of A wins the College World Series!

Enjoy.

Through my two and a half years of teaching and just living, life is able to grant perspective and understanding. I can look back and see that I was going to teach at Mayer High School. Now, as I embark on a new chapter in life I can look back and see what teaching has done for my students and for me. Although my role as a full time instructor is changed, the ideas and goals of my educational philosophy will continue to influence how I live my life.

            Prior to student teaching I wrote “Things I Believe – Education.” I still believe in education, students will have a greater opportunity to be successful if they have a quality education. I teach students. Many times, as an educator, I have been guilty of forgetting that I am here to teach students. We, as educators, can let too many of the tacky, unimportant “stuff” get in the way of what really matters, teaching students. Regardless of the career that you are in, there will always be those same deterrents and frustrations hindering your ability to properly accomplish the task at hand. From my perspective people who are successful, cut away that red tape and focus on the end goal.

            Students want to be challenged. Each student has their own definition of success.  As an educator, you are giving a student the opportunity to succeed and find success. “To respect a person’s autonomy means, according to the contemporary view, to respect him in his individual decisions and courses of action. (Johannes Giesinger 6)” This idea of giving not just student but people respect in their decisions is powerful. As a teacher you have an opportunity to help guide success, by keeping this in mind, is easy to remember to keep students first.

            Teaching is a team effort. A new teacher is encouraged to see what works by observing other teachers and their best practices. I am thankful for all the mentors that I have. Many ideas and quality practices within teaching are shared. As I asked about their teaching philosophies and beliefs, the concepts and ideas were all similar. The following are some of those philosophies:

“…to provide students with the opportunity for success.”

“Teaching is creating a positive change in behavior.”

“Do what is right for kids / students.”

“All students can learn.”

The core aspects of these statements, is that you are teaching for students. All the other “stuff” really does not matter. If you focus on the students and their ability for achievement, positive things will happen.

            These statements also reflect another aspect of teaching. We need to keep it simple. Education will always evolve and change, from government influence, to the next teaching fad. If we are keeping things simple we can provide students with opportunity.

            Teaching agricultural education provides other opportunities and ways for students to be successful. My favorite moments have been taking students to FFA events. Teaching students does not end when you leave the classroom. FFA, other CTSOs, sports, and the arts are an extension of the classroom. In this classroom, you get to use teachable moments, life experience, and challenges to prepare students for something far greater than any standardized test. Life. This is why I will always be a supporter of the FFA organization, it is a great aspect to agricultural education. The FFA mission statement “… premier leadership, personal growth, and career success…” Again this statement reflects two previous ideas, simple and focused on student success.

            In addition to the FFA, teaching agricultural education gives students’ relevance. All classes should include academics, when students see relevance, rigor will come. Students will have a greater understanding of things when they can try and do things; hands on and minds on. A greater way to create a cognitive connection is the practical application. We need to understand there is not only higher education but also hired education. All students can find success. That success may be a different model than what we as educator are accustom to seeing, but it is their success.

            Keep learning. “Research also demonstrates that positive changes occur in teachers’ practices when they experience sustained, high quality professional development. (Margarete Kedzior, Introduction)” There are many people with more experience in the world of education. Most of those people will share their best practices with you. Many vocational education teachers have industry knowledge and first-hand experience. They will share this wisdom and experience. Structured professional development is another great way to keep learning. Your own education as a teacher will provide you a greater way to give opportunities for success.

            Teaching for the past two and half years has helped to establish what I do believe as a teacher and what works. This is my education philosophy in five parts;

            Students first – Do not worry about the other, be there to teach students.

I believe in education – There will always be students to teach.

            Students want a challenge – When you know that they can, request their best.

            Teaching is a team effort – Use every resource you can to put students first.

            Keep learning – It helps you to put students first.

References

Giesinger, Johannes. 2012 “Respect in Education” Journal of the Philosophy of Education Society of

            Great Britain. Volume 46, Issue 1, pages 100–112, February 2012

Kedzior, Margarete M.S. “Teacher Professional Development” Education Policy Brief.

VOLUME 15, MAY 2004

National FFA Organization, The FFA Mission Statement  © 2012