Sarah Lormand

Dr. Marian Ellis

EDUC1301-200
April 20, 2015,
Sarahs Philosophy of Education
When I first decided to make a career switch from the nursing field to the education field,
I was nervous. I asked myself, will I be good at teaching, should I make this career change, will
the students like me, and most of all will I make an impact I hope to achieve for these young
adults. I told myself these questions are normal. I never thought I could express my own
opinion I have on philosophy of education in the education field and never gave it much thought,
but I have as a parent. I am a mother of three and I believe I am already an educator as a parent
helping my children along the way to a brighter future. I believe if I were not a parent I would
never know the joy I get from teaching others. What inspires me? Helping others accomplish
their goals, reaching successes and becoming educated mature adults in a diverse and technical
world. Everything we know today and learn is based on philosophy. I always tell my children a
famous quote from Napoleon Hill What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve;
when they believe they cant do something. Changing their mind set with a push in the right
direction always helps.
Based on the teacher and student centered philosophies, it is hard for me to choose just
one. Is it possible that I could incorporate all four approaches? Essentialism on a larger scale,
perennialism on a smaller level. Progressivism is what I call-learning by doing, but I do not

believe it should be a free for all and do what you please, adding in group work is important and
always fun for the students, but needs to done in the right manner. When it comes to
existentialism, a student-centered approach, they believe that adults should not direct children
into finding meaning in their lives but that they should find it for themselves. To a point I do
understand this philosophy, but on the same hand no student wants to learn math and I hear them
say Why do we need to know this, its stupid and we will never use it. That is where I come in
as an educator, helping these children find a different attitude and mind set to leaning and having
fun while doing so. I once saw a speaker, Rita Pearson on the Ted Education show; she said
children dont learn from someone they dont like. This is very true based on my beliefs, and as
an educator I will not only touch the lives of those who want to be touched but touch the lives of
the ones who feel they cannot be touched through the value and importance of relationships. Rita
Pearson gave a test one day of twenty questions; one student got two correct a missed eighteen.
She wrote a two at the top and a smiley face. The student said, Mrs. Pearson why did you give
me a smiley face, I missed eighteen. She then replied at least you didnt miss them all, you got
two right, way to go and next time lets see if you can get ten right. By doing this she changed
his attitude and lifting his spirits, now he will strive to do better and believe he can. Today I feel
we do not have enough of this and teachers are caught up in the standardized test that too many
children are being left behind. Challenging myself to reach and teach these children is a task I am
looking forward to. Through relationships and helping each one find themselves, either through
vocational, technical, or an essential back to the basics approach is what I hope to achieve.
With a larger respect on the essential philosophy and adding in other styles of learning
approaches, I hope to tell them all What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can
achieve. Educators should strive to instill the basics in every child along with a conservative

approach the social, political, and economic aspects in an ever changing world. To become a
role-model, and build relationships that could last a lifetime.
To me this is the purpose of education, and is not to just be mediocre, but to set my goals
higher and become much greater on all aspects of education. Through design, assessment and
management, I will try to encompass a balance of child-to-child, (individual) and the class as a
whole. Meeting each need for every student and learning how they learn best through
experience. I am excited to start my journey and I am inspired by the fact that I can help others
achieve their goals and give them a sense of self respect and set a higher purpose for them.