Educational Philosophy Essays -- Education Teaching Careers Essays

Educational Philosophy â€Å"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.† The decision to be a teacher was, for me, a natural progression from another career. Although I recall as a child frequently playing school, adulthood led me to a career in nursing. Within this context, a large amount of time is spent instructing patients as to adequate care of their bodies and minds. Helping people understand vital information and aiding them in incorporation of this knowledge into their lifestyle is one of the most fulfilling aspects of a nursing career. As my first child entered public school, I found myself spending significant amounts of time in the classroom, assisting as needed with the students. Building relationships with them quickly led to assisting them one-on -one, and with that came the realization that I could take the best of one career and be successful at applying that knowledge at something very different - the classroom. I believe that every child, regardless of background, has a right to a quality education. Students should be respected and allowed to explore their interests, giving them the chance to find joy in learning, rather than it becoming a task. I believe that learning should be fun, allowing students to discover what they are passionate about. As I teacher, I hope to instill a love of learning, an excitement that comes not with being able to recite facts but the ability to understand and build on what they can successfully comprehend. I believe the ability to question and to develop higher thinking skills to be crucial to young minds. Like Socrates, I urge students to ask themselves the question â€Å"What do you know?† and to learn to think critically instead of accepti... ...allowing me to bring a vast array of experiences to the classroom. My focus is secondary schooling, ages at which students are able to begin to develop study skills and critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their life. Knowledge in these subject areas is important in understanding rights and responsibilities as citizens as well as understanding the world that they live in. It is my goal to make learning an enjoyable task, one that inspires them through self-discovery to develop into knowledgeable young adults. To make wise choices in life, it is first important to understand what you believe as an individual and how those choices affect those around you. I hope to encourage my students to reflect upon these things, to learn, and to apply that knowledge to their lives, building continuously on the foundation that has been laid in their minds.