Janeth Espindola

LBS 400 Tues

February 22, 2015
Philosophy of Education
As a future educator, I believe that the purpose of education is to make
our children better adults who can contribute to our community and set out a
better future for themselves. Sloan (2012) affirms that the purpose of
education is to support children in developing the skills, the knowledge, and
the dispositions that will allow them to be responsible, contributing members
of their community. As society moves forward, the need for education rises
and basic knowledge is not enough to go out in a society that is constantly in
competition for better jobs. Jobs are requiring more education and for those
who do not want to pursue one, can find themselves struggling to find a
regular low paying job.
In my opinion, children learn better in an environment where they feel
safe, encouraged and respected. Students need to know that as teachers we
are here to help them accomplish their academic goals and support them in
the areas that they are struggling. They should fell motivated to come to
school each morning knowing that a new challenge may arise but that they
will be guided with love and respect. In my opinion children also learn
efficiently in small group settings. In the high school I work at, I work with
students who have learning difficulties and small group activities have been
very effective for us. After the teacher gives direct instruction, the students
are broken off into small groups and we work together to reinforce what they

previously learned. Research shows that small groups can be an important

supplement to lectures, helping students master concepts and apply them to
situations calling for complex applications of critical thinking skills (Stanford
University, 1999). During small groups, the teacher is able to work with
students closely and clearly evaluate who understands the concept and who
does not. It also allows the students to work together when they are given
assignments that require team work as they interact to complete the task.
As a student, I grew up attending schools where at least 75 percent
were white, and I remember how color was never an issue until I started
middle school. I had teachers who implemented activities that would teach
us to explore more about our own identity and culture embrace it. I believe
that as teachers it is our duty to instill a confidence in our children that they
can be as successful as they want to be despite the color of their skin, or
their economic status. Sparks and Ramsey (2006) assure that we have the
potential to lay the foundation for the long-term goal of raising children who
grow up identifying as members of a global community, committed to
creating an equitable and sustainable world (pg.111). It is my goal to
provide a classroom environment where all children feel special and capable
of obtaining their goals, but that also learn to accept and appreciate other
who are different than them.
When it comes to curriculum, I believe that each subject must be
taught with creativity. As a teacher, we need to constantly be analyzing what
works and does not work for our students. I do not think that I could teach all

subjects the same way, each subject can be approached differently and
there will be some that require more time and emphasis. I believe that there
are times where students should work independently, others when small
groups are needed, and there will be times when kids can learn through
visual arts and movement. For example, in the English class I work in, the
teachers incorporates music, acting, and dancing to learn complex concepts
in order for students to understand them better. It is disappointing that some
teachers forget that they are children and expect to just deposit information
in them and expect them to understand it all. There are different ways of
learning and as a teacher we need to keep that in consideration.
Teachers should be enhancing their education professionally, especially
in the changing society we are living on. In my opinion, teachers should have
a hunger for knowledge. It does not matter if they have been teaching for
two years or thirty years, a teacher needs to be renewing what they know
and seeking to learn new methods, skills, or tasks that can benefit their
students. We cannot be in a state of conformity, or be close minded about
new ideas that arise. In this era, we see how technology has made a
difference in our society and it is our job to learn about how we can
incorporate this to our classrooms because it is what kids are surrounded by.
I believe that with the passion teachers carry and the effort they put in their
work, we can help our students go far places.

Works Cited
Derman-Sparks L., & Ramsey P. G. (2006) What if all the kids are white? New
York, NY: Teachers College.
Sloan, W. M. (2012). What is the purpose of education? ASCD, 54(7).
Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org
Standford University. (1999) Cooperative Learning: Students working in small
groups, 10(2), pp. 1-4. Retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu