One of my assignments for my midterms was to write what my professor calls a "Philosophy of Education" Basically why are schools and teachers important and what is a teacher. Here's what I submitted. Haven't gotten my grade back yet so I don't know how I did :P
Schools are an important part of our society because they are instrumental in the shaping of our youth, the next generation, the future leaders of the world. Because of this, schools must be diverse in their areas of instruction insuring that they are producing students who are accomplished in many subjects. In order to teach all students well, the schools must implement a variety of teaching methods because every student learns differently. Some students are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some are tactile learners. By using a diversity of teaching methods, teachers can insure that each student is not only learning but also enjoying the process. Teachers must instill in their students a love for knowledge. Often when talking about teaching, we refer to a “love for learning.” I believe that this is a misnomer because often the learning process is not enjoyable. Rather, it is a love for the joy that comes from grasping and comprehending an entirely new concept that teachers must foster in their students. Teachers must give their students a love of knowledge, a desire to know and be intelligent, and the learning will follow.
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “teach” as “to impart the knowledge of [a subject]” or “to guide the studies of” (“Teach,” 2010). The job of a teacher is, first, to impart knowledge to the students. In order to be a good teacher, teachers must have a comprehensive knowledge of the subjects they will teach. Mere passing is not acceptable. Teachers must strive for excellence in all that they do so that they can be a model to their students. Bandura’s theory of observational learning says that students learn by observation especially from those that they admire or relate too. Teachers must display competent knowledge of the subject matter or the students will lose respect for the teacher and the teacher will lose the power that they have to be a model.
Secondly, the job of a teacher is to guide learning. In the Madeline Hunter model for direct instruction, there is a section for guided practice. This is key to student learning. Teachers cannot simply instruct the student and then walk away expecting the student to grasp and understand instantaneously what they have just been taught. Teachers must guide their students, ensuring that each student does learn the material. A good teacher is aware of each students individual needs and abilities, fully aware that they every student, at some point, will need help.
Teachers, especially teachers of lower grades, must instruct their students in the basics of math and grammar. If the student can master the basics, continuing their education will be much easier. We, as a country, are producing students who are functionally illiterate. While they can read and text and instant message, they cannot write. They are unfamiliar with the intricacies of their language and have little or no knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. I have worked with second and third grade students who cannot even tell me what a noun or adjective is. It is the responsibility of a teacher to produce students who can function as a valuable part of society—students who are knowledgeable and professional. Teachers are not a catalyst for societal change. Rather, teachers produce students who can be catalysts for societal change. A teacher’s job is not to tell students the problems in the world and how they must fix them but to produce students who are capable of seeing problems in society and formulating their own solutions. In order to do this, students must be well grounded in basics of education—reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Keep on singing,
