Philosophy of Education

All humans learn. In our earliest years we learn how to breathe, cry, crawl, and eventually to
speak. During that time, our parents are our first teachers; they introduce us to the world and its workings.
We must depend on them to survive. Could you imagine parents never teaching their child how to walk or
to speak? A person like that just couldnt function in society or anywhere, really. But babies and
toddlers are amazing in the fact that they are so naturally willing to learn. It is this innocent and perpetual
curiosity that enables them to so quickly adapt to life and living. They learn by direct teaching, like a
parent actively coaching them on how to speak, or simply by mimicking how the people around them act
or move. In simple terms we may conclude that education and learning is both natural and essential to
survival. I believe that no person ever stops learning; it is ingrained in human nature to study and learn.
As a teacher, I believe that it is absolutely essential for children to maintain the thirst for
knowledge that they grew up having. In the words of one of my most influential philosophers, C. S.
Lewis, The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. Students
already have the thirst for knowledge; what they need is the water. The process of irrigating and
empowering the minds of students begins with a teacher who is able to appreciate the learning capacity of
each student individually. That is, a teacher must understand that every student is at a different level; not
all kids learn the same way, maintain information the same way, or are able to grasp new concepts at the
same level. Some of my favorite teachers were masters at this. From personal experience I know that
even a challenged student learns more from someone who takes the time to understand his or her unique
methods of learning than a bright student does with a vague teacher who monologues.
Speaking of my favorite teachers, I must mention one in particular that changed my outlook on
education; my mom. When I asked her about her views, as a parent, about her children and their
education growing up, she told me a story. My older sister was a challenged student; she had difficulty
keeping up with the academic pace of her peers throughout school. She was separated from her
classmates for exams and was even left out of group lab projects in science class; when that happened,
she had to team up with the teacher. She struggled every day she came to school, my mom told me, I
want my son (a straight A student) to be every bit as challenged in his classes as she was. This
comment made me realize that there is more to education than just doing what comes easily to you. Some
brilliant students may be able to ace difficult exams without even studying, but I believe that its those
students that need to be pushed even harder to excel. Every student needs encouragement to further
develop his or her capabilities, and it is the educators role to take on the responsibility of nourishing this
development by expecting superlative efforts from every single one of his or her students.
I had a viola teacher who taught me more than any of my instructors in high school ever did.
Busya Lugovier was a Russian violist and professor at the Viterbo University, Wisconsin, and I studied
privately with her for four years. A woman of remarkable talent, Busya frequently travelled to Europe to
perform with internationally ranked orchestras, but returned to Lacrosse to teach her students during the
school year. If I were to mention only the most impressive aspect about Busya and her teaching methods,

it would be her dedication to teaching. She honestly cared for each of her students, and it showed. She
appreciated my opinions and questions, and the fact that she was personable and respectful gave me an
educational experience of a lifetime. I believe that a teacher that is able to respect his or her students as
the adults they will become, offers the most rewarding and long-term effect on a students development
both as a person and as a life-long learner.
My philosophy of teaching best aligns with the philosophies and characteristics of the progressive
educator John Dewey. I believe, much as he did, that a teachers role in the classroom is a guide, in a
childs education, that prepares students for the diverse and complex world they live in. It is imperative
that students are exposed to different cultures, the workings of democracy, and real life experiences. As a
teacher, I hope to encourage students curiosity about the world and their influence on the community
around them.
In conclusion, I believe that teachers have a very direct influence on their students which is an
incredible responsibility. Each child is an adult-in-the-making, and education from an early age gives
each one the capacity to understand and navigate through the world we live in today or, more importantly,
in the world that he or she will grow into.