The purpose of education is to enable the children of
today to evolve into the adults of tomorrow who are capable of utilizing the
broad foundation of knowledge they have acquired to analyze the ever-changing world
around them, evaluate their interaction within it, and create advances for the
improvement of human life. As a
realist, I believe that the strong foundation on which students build their own
educational background should be an amalgamation of concrete basic knowledge, philosophical
constructs, and practical applications.
Knowledge with no true real world application is knowledge easily forgotten
and dismissed.
Learners must be empowered. As a constructivist, I
believe learners must take their personal education into their own hands and,
much like a blacksmith, forge and shape it to fit their unique individuality. Every
child has the possibility to fashion an education that is uniquely individualized
for only them. Consciousness of others
and a regard for the precious individuality of all should be developed
throughout the life of a learner. Learners
must also be aware of the serious, complex, tension-filled global world in
which all humans live.
Teachers should be leading learners, challengers, coaches,
mentors, enablers, and energizers.
Teachers must engage students and foster a desire and love not only of learning
knowledge, but also learning through experiences. Teachers must ensure that students feel they
are unique and special and that their communication sharing how they see and
interpret the world around them is deeply valued.
Teachers should be lifelong learners. Continually improving one’s self personally
and professionally sets an example for today’s students to follow as they
become the next generation of educators, policy makers, and parents. Teachers must be open and ready to try new methods,
practices, and ideas. Educational stagnation
cripples innate curiosity and the spirit of learning and education.
Teachers should enjoy sharing knowledge not only about
subject matter but also how it relates to many aspects in real, everyday life. Teaching should include interwoven technology and
communication relationships. Students
today function in a global world that has technology enmeshed into almost every
aspect of life and these children must be prepared to live in a digital world
where they will be required to function intimately with some form of technology
communication relationships every day.
It must become second nature to them.
Education is the one aspect of life that has the greatest
positive and long-lasting benefits for a civilization as a whole. No other single social endeavor can produce
the greatest amount of benefits for a civilization as that of carefully,
thoroughly, and continually educating its population.
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