Teaching Philosophy

While searching for quotes about education I found a number that were quite inspiring and I believe that they very aptly sum up what education is about.

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." Rachel Carson

As an individual i have a passion for learning and discovering what this world we live in has to offer. I feel that this is a highly important quality for a teacher to posses, as without a passion for learning themselves how could they ever inspire a passion for learning in the children that they are teaching.

"The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men." Bill Beattie

"In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." Eric Hoffer

Teaching children to regurgitate information should not be the aim of education, the most important skill a teacher can pass onto their students is the ability to think for themselves. It is okay for a person to say that they know about a concept, but if they are not able to evaluate its validity or understand how it can be used successfully the knowledge is useless. We must prepare children for the future, for they must become the people who are creating the ideas and taking out the actions in the future.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." Goethe

It is a teacher's goal to unlock each student's potential. If we limit children to our own experiences we are limiting their potential. Today children experience things differently and should be treated accordingly. It is only by treating them the way they deserve to be treated that a child can meet their true potential.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

As teacher's we are in control of this weapon and it is our duty that we do not abuse it. With the correct use of this weapon extraordinary results will come of it.