Teaching Philosophy

As a budding teacher, I’m often posed with the question, “What is the purpose of the American education system?” And although worded differently, this is the same as another question I hear often, “Why do you want to be a teacher?” The purpose of the education system, and of the teachers that create and uphold it, is to help children learn how to think critically. Free thinking is the basis for not only a democratic government, but also civil interaction with others. I realize that emotional intelligence differs from intellectual intelligence, but both can be classified under critical thinking, and both should be taught in the classroom.
After with food and shelter, a sense of belonging and attachment is a basic human need. Without meeting these core needs, a person is unable to move on to higher goals of creativity and self-realization. That is why creating a strong classroom community is of utmost importance. Once students feel safe, their natural curiosity can be harnessed and learning can begin.
So much of life is presented as rewards-based, especially to children. This “be good and get a treat” ideology only increases students’ drive for meaningless instant-gratification. A child who learns for the sake of learning instead of for the good marks has a life advantage over other students. Students who realize the value is in the journey and not the prize are more likely to lead fulfilling lives. Although I accept that most of society trains children to be consumers above all else, my classroom will encourage individual thought as the highest form of achievement.