My Educational Philosophy

In our culture that education is often asked all things to all people. As the primary organ of acculturation and one of the few intuitions common to all people in the United States (versus the church or the politics in some countries) the educational system has a unique burden on our nation. Education is essential to a Democratic state, and as a “salad bowl” of ethic and cultural groups, is it important that education be “the great equalizer”, that allows upward social mobility, teach and promote common values and be an instrument of change and social justice. That being said, education takes place in a microcosmic classroom and on individual level. The purpose of education on this level should be not just to impart knowledge, but wisdom and values. Education should also contribute the physiological and psychological growth of students, teach them how to think logically, solve problems and analyze information. The most important element is that education light a spark in the students and enables them to be life long learners in an information rich and constantly changing world.

My personal philosophical position on education is very balanced. I think that education should be student centered, in the respect that teachers should be able to use a myriad of teaching methods so that they can adapt to individual learning styles. I am also student centered in that I think that education should be experimental, constructivist and when applicable be focused on the interests of the students. In contrast, however, my philosophy is also essentialist in that I think that student must have grounding in the basics and theory on which to base their experimental education. My philosophy is also teacher centered in that while I believe that curriculum should allow for elaboration and exploration based on the student’s interests, students should be challenged with areas they are not interested in to create well rounded and knowledgeable students and citizens.

Today's Three R's are: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships