This is my philosophy of education that I created for my application to student teaching in October 2001. It still best summizes my stance of my future as an educator.
Student Teaching Application: Philosophy of Education
It is interesting that I have been asked to write a philosophy of education statement while my actual philosophy is in a state of continual change. The word philosophy itself includes the definition of constantly searching for wisdom or knowledge. Whether or not I can ever discover a solid definition of “philosophy of education” that best fits my expectations is an issue that I am prepared to be in search of for the gamut of my educational career, my teaching career, and my life.
What I do know, and what I can produce at this time, is that I am ready to teach. I am prepared to teach United States history, world history, geography, and English. My content areas are not the limit of what I am going to teach, though, and I am keenly aware of this fact. I must go beyond my content areas to reach each and every student I teach. Is this an overly idealistic statement? Yes, it is, but there is a need for this ideal in each and every classroom, and this will always be present inside and outside of my classroom.
I expect my students to learn. Again, this is a goal that will be difficult to achieve, but not difficult to attempt. When I use the rather vague word “learn,” I include in my definition acquiring content knowledge as well as acquiring the skills to live life – whether that be going to college, going to work, or just going home at the end of the day. With the word “learn,” I also expect myself to be in a state of constant knowledge attainment. I will learn from my students. I will learn from my fellow teachers. I will learn from my friends. I will learn from my parents and my family. Learning and gaining knowledge is by no means limited to the classroom or school. I have learned much with the help of my parents, family, friends, fellow students, and former inspirational teachers; to them I am and will always be eternally grateful.
Therefore, I am responsible to ensure that this tradition continues while I am teaching and while I am alive. I am ready to teach; I am also ready to learn. Teaching and learning are always constant and always changing processes, much like this essay -- my continually different and constantly progressive philosophy of education.