Caitlin McAlister
12/4/21
Philosophy of Education
Dr. Fouch
The philosophy behind education is very undefined and can have various meanings. This
is my take on what education should be, what it looks like, and how it could look for the future.
The teacher’s role in the classroom is a vital essence and a big job to fill. I think that teachers
should be in control of their classroom. What I mean by this is that teacher’s must take charge of
the classroom and have their students act in a manner that is acceptable. For example, in my
future classroom if my students were misbehaving and not following directions, I would simply
tell my students to stop what they’re doing and to listen to what I have to say (in a stern voice).
This tactic won’t always work every time, but it is something I will implement in my classroom.
By speaking in a stern tone of voice, my students will be more likely to listen to what I have to
say and correct their behaviors. Not only should the teacher control the classroom, but they
should also care for the needs of their students. This not only pertains to their academic needs but
their emotional supportive needs as well.
As teachers I believe that it is our job to help our students grow from where they start at
the beginning of the year to the end. In order to accomplish this, we must accommodate and
modify our material for them to comprehend it and move on to the next level. I think we need to
attend our students’ emotional needs. So, this could mean helping students get all the support
they need especially if they come from a broken home. As someone who comes from a broken
home and only having my mom, it was difficult to have her full support since she worked often.
Teachers do not necessarily have to play the parental role in the students’ life, but they most
importantly should be a positive impact in their life. I believe this is the reason most high school
students drop out because they don’t have enough support, or they feel like no one has faith in
them. It’s important that students can have full access to the support systems they need, and
teachers should create that path for them.
Now for the role of the student, which is kind of like the teachers’, but still has its own
tasks. The role of every student is to learn. What is learning? Well, by definition, learning means
the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught. I agree with
this definition of what learning is, but I also think there’s more to it. Every student learns
differently and retains information in multiple ways. I believe that students get the opportunity to
be great, hardworking, and independent people someday when they grow older. The big thing
that students have to do is to not just pass classes and get by, but to actually understand the
content that is presented to them and apply it to real life situations. There are most students who
will say, “I won’t use this in my life ever, so why am I learning this?”. Most of what is taught in
the curriculum students will not need to use for future reference, but there may be one small
aspect of the material that they’ll use in their future. I think students can teach as well. Not in the
mindset that students should become the teacher, but some students have the capability to state
remarkable things.
Going from what was stated already, I know all students learn differently. Each student
has a different learning style that is unique and carefully crafted for them. The different types of
learning styles are visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. Visual learners use pictures, images,
diagrams, and spatial understanding to help them learn. For kinesthetic learners, they learn
through experiencing. So, for example, if they act out something or can touch something they are
more likely to comprehend better. Finally, for auditory learners, they learn best through listening.
By knowing all the different types of learning styles, teachers can decipher their students and
meet their needs. I think that it is important that teachers know their students well enough so that
they have the ability to meet their needs sufficiently.
I believe that students should learn about God. I wouldn’t be forcing it down their throats
as most people who are non-Christian would say. So much of God has been stripped away from
the school system and I think it should be implemented back in. People need to have a right to
know the truth about creation and that they can have salvation in Christ. I would still teach the
curriculum that’s required to be taught, but I’d also give mini lessons as to who God is, what he’s
done in my life, and what he could do in their life. My verse that I live by is Proverbs 18:10
which says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” I
believe that Jesus is our safe place and our refuge. We can go to him for everything. Even if
some of my students do not believe in God and are opposed to it, I will still show Christ’s love
because that’s what we’re called to do. I will respect people’s beliefs regardless of what they
believe, but I will still tell them about God.
In conclusion, I believe that the philosophy of education can be interpreted in a variety of
ways. My main goal for teaching is not for students to memorize or store information they are
learning; my goal is for every student to reach their full potential in life. Whether that be in
getting good grades, learning the material that’s being taught, or even just showing up to school
every day. I want to be known as the teacher that never gives up on her students and can be a
good source. Becoming a teacher will be beneficial for me and will continue my journey of
learning because not only do students learn, but teachers do too.
