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Cynthia Berg
Ins. Marian Ellis
Education 1301.200
4/12/15
Philosophy of Education
As humans we start learning from the moment we are born. Through the use of our senses
we take in our surroundings and respond. Our responses teach us. As students we learn not only
from our lessons but also from experiences and examples in our classroom. As a student, I have
experienced learning under various types of teaching methods. I have two teachers that stand out
in my mind. My worst experience was with my second grade teacher who pulled me up in my
chair by my hair. She was loud and angry and I learned my multiplication tables out of sheer
terror. My seventh grade teacher was exactly the opposite. She let me ask questions and
encouraged my curiosity and my love of reading. She told me I was smart and could be anything
I wanted to be. My philosophy of education is that the love of learning should be instilled in each
student. I believe that the teacher should foster curiosity and teach determination so that the
student will be equipped with the tools necessary to continue the learning process long into
adulthood.
In order to be an effective teacher, it is my goal to foster and guide curiosity in the
classroom to ensure that students understand the learning process and are able to use it in every
area of their lives. Aristotle was once quoted as having said that, It is the mark of an educated
mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. I interpret that to mean that a person
who is able to reason through a thought intelligently and not just accept it as truth because of
who taught it or how it was taught is a smart person. As a teacher, I will encourage my students

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to explore their education through different types of learning. I will encourage the use of reading
as well as the introduction of different techniques for mastering a subject. I believe the practice
of immersing students in a subject through the use of different learning styles helps to create an
understanding of that subject which then fosters even more curiosity. The mastery of that subject
can create a love and a bond to learning that will continue into adulthood.
It is my belief that an educated person is one who can understand different cultures and
ways of learning and use that knowledge to interact effectively in his community. As a teacher I
feel it is my responsibility to encourage my students to learn about their fellow students and their
cultural backgrounds so that the students are able to work together to achieve a complete
learning experience that will benefit the entire class. A respectable curiosity and interest in
learning about their world will encourage that. America is a country where people from all
cultures have come together to make a great nation. My goal is to guide future leaders for our
country.
My personal goal for my classroom is to research and find different methods of teaching
my subject. While state and local officials have control over the curriculum I will be teaching, I
feel that it is my responsibility to find the method that works best for each student and present
the subject in a way that is both informative and engaging. One of the ways that the school
system judges the progress of its students is through testing. Most students are terrified of the
whole process. While I understand that testing is necessary to judge the effectiveness of the
learning process, I believe that testing can be done with a lot less stress when different methods
of learning are used. Students can also contribute to the class when they understand the process
of learning and it is to their benefit to learn that process so that it can be used effectively
throughout life.

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Davey Crockett once said, Be always sure you are right then go ahead. Mr. Crockett
was a determined man whose life bore that statement out. His statement can also be applied to
the classroom through teaching a determination to learn, no matter what. Once a student
understands that his education is his to apprehend, he will be empowered to continue learning his
entire life. Life is an education and the student who can continue to learn can be successful. As
his teacher, it is my responsibility and goal to use tools that will equip the student to be
determined to continue his education. It is also my responsibility to bring his parents into his
learning career. In a 2002 study, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory found that
students whose parents were involved in their education were more successful in testing and
passing subjects, had better attendance, made better grades, and were more likely to attend
college. Understanding the importance of parent involvement in my students education will
enhance their learning experience. As a teacher it is my goal to make the parents an integral part
of that experience.
Finally, I simply want to instill a love of learning in all of my students. I want them to
leave my classroom feeling that they are smart, they can be good leaders, and their education is a
gift that can give them every tool that they will need to be successful. I want them to know how
to learn so that they can continue to learn all of their life and have the most fulfilled life that they
can possibly have. I believe that curiosity and determination will take them down the path that
will lead them to that life.