Curriculum TDI - Reflection #1

What are your philosophical beliefs about the purpose of school, about what subjects should be taught, and about how students learn? How does your work demonstrate your belief?

My philosophical beliefs about the purpose of school, what subjects should be taught, and how students learn are quite simple. The overarching purpose of school is to direct the development of informed and productive citizens able to function in a global society. I believe the subjects that should be taught will vary based on the level of schooling. The fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic should remain the foundation/building blocks of education. The level of mastery of the above fundamentals will determine how well students will be able to fair when taught other subjects. Those subjects should be consistent with what students will be exposed to globally. This basically means that everything must be taught and students should always seek out new knowledge. Once students are provided with a firm foundation, they should be able to think critically by deciding what fields of study they want to further explore, and be able to devise a plan to do so. Those responsible for teaching must be able to identify, adapt to, and provide for the various learning styles they are guaranteed to encounter. We as educators must be flexible.

As an educator, I must understand that I have a 24/7 career. I parallel the education profession with priests. We are expected to set the examples for all. We are looked to for advice, reference, and motivation. With this said, I recognize that I must live righteously at all times, do on to others as I would want other to do on to me. Accept responsibility for the mistakes I make, learn from them and move on. I challenge and expect myself to put my best effort into everything I do, and not settle for, or accept anything less. For all who know me in the various circles I travel in, they know I am addicted to quality work, but open to constructive criticism in order to improve. In my dealings with others, I must be conscious of how I am saying things, because perspectives are very different. This is consistent with the classroom experience and professional development when you must teach a concept several different ways in order for your students and staff to grasp the concepts. I must function as though every moment is a moment of teaching and learning. I must do it in a way that is enjoyable for me, and those in front and around me, because this is what I have dedicated my life to, and I love and enjoy life. Learning never stops, and I love to learn from everyone I encounter, regardless of ethnicity, age, disability, gender, etc. These are the principles I try to instill into my students, staff, and colleagues, by leading by example.