Educational Philosophy Statement

Long Form
Edward T Barringer

What is reality? Is the universe rationally built and operated or is everything

meaningless in the end? My take is, yes the universe is a Grand and Perfect design
formed by The Creator and as such I do very much believe there are certain, timetested basic knowledge strategies that students must master.
How do we best get students to not only learn this information, but just as
important, want them to learn the information? Here again, I fall on the more
practical and traditional side of the education coin. Using the scientific method,
logic and deductive reasoning are components of how I would impart the
information to my students. Of course, I would leave room for a student following
his or her own intuition to come to the same outcomes, in their own way. I
recognize we are no longer in the mid-20th Century. Students, teachers and schools
have all evolved into new beasts and we have to deal with these new beasts in each
their own way.
As to the questions of what is good and what is beautiful well, I believe
everyone, all religions and atheists alike would agree that the Golden Rule is a
principle part of a well behaved culture. So teaching those basic ethics of; do unto
others, be kind, share, respect for elders, respect for those in power who use their
power appropriately, please & thank you, etc should certainly be taught and
expected in the education process. The aesthetic question maybe a little harder to
discern, there are men and women, there are many races, creeds and colors of
folks, varying religious beliefs including no belief at all. How then can I as a
teacher say I believe all students should only read Stephen King books, forget the
rest. No, we must expose students to all different types of Art, from many diverse
angles and let them decide for themselves where they see beauty, just as we have
made our own decision. All beauty is not found solely in the paintings of the
European painters, writers and architects of the 1600s. I know what I like, my
question for the student would be, What do you like?

As you have probably already guessed from the above, as well as reading of my
Chapter assessments, I am an unabashed Essentialist and a Perennialist. Ill
probably be out on a limb, possibly using my saw to cut my end of the limb off, all
by myself as it were. In order to succeed you have to believe strongly in what you
are doing. I have been observing a couple of different classes over the past two
semesters and one thing is clear above all else, the teacher must have command of
the class if any learning is to occur. Indeed, all the classes I have attended here at
NCCU, the teacher has command of the class. I believe in rules and consequences
for breaking those rules. On the other hand, I was a nutty teenager myself and
would be happy to allow redemption for meaningful repentance. I believe a
teacher must press on through the material in a focused and timely manner,
therefore the students need to be seated and quiet, while listening and taking notes.
Of course, I would encourage questions, not only for clarification of the material,
but more importantly to challenge the material. The goal is to impart the core
knowledge, but the true benefit would be to pass on a love of learning for the
student.
You may not believe it, but I am all for certain student independence. This is not
1973 anymore, so I am not in favor of all work and no play. I would allow for
some fun and games, as I have observed in many of the classes I have monitored
this year. Students are much more mature in many ways than we were in my day.
We can no longer treat them as children, but rather with much due respect. I must
recognize the tell-tale signs of abuse, hunger, poverty, wealth, the lack of support
and any number of other issues. I must be sympathetic to these complications and
be willing to get into a students life and support him as best I can.
My philosophical view of education is that I would want to prepare youngsters to
be well equipped to move on to college or the work force, with a superior grasp of
the content and a passion to continue learning, through attacking subjects on their
own, reading and being prepared to be the very best they can be.