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Philosophy of Education
Many responsibilities are acquired with the role of teacher. Of course, the primary role is to act as an educator. All children have a right to an education and with the right environment and teachers, all children have the ability to learn. Students learn in various ways and it is up to the teacher to determine how each student learns. Some students must view a visual aid, others might need a hands-on approach, and still others would rather have something in writing. Once this is determined, it is up to the teacher to accommodate each students needs to the best of his/her ability. Teachers should use a variety of individual instruction, small group work and large group work. Often it is very helpful for students to be able to help each other rather than always having the teacher do all of the teaching. Another duty of a teacher is behavior modification. Children should have choices in the classroom and if they choose to make the wrong choice, there will be consequences. Children who constantly disrupt class must be disciplined. This is not a fun job, but if it's not being done at home then the teacher should take responsibility for it. Aside from these duties, teachers must often take on the jobs of many other roles.
Teachers must act as friends, role models, and even parents. As a friend, they must be available at any time to students, whether it is to listen to problems or to simply encourage when a student feels down. Students look up to their teachers and try to imitate them, so it is up to the teacher to act as their role model. Finally, teachers must often even act as a parent. In today's society, more and more children are growing up in single parent households where the parent is extremely busy with work and the child is deprived of the love and attention he desperately needs. Teachers should be willing to step in and go the extra mile, whether it is attending an event the student is competing in or buying an item of clothing he might need.
Teachers are responsible for teaching certain elements within their curriculum. Basic communication skills and a common core of knowledge must be taught to students. Teachers are, of course, responsible for preparing the child for his/her next grade in school, but they must also educate the child into a well-rounded individual. A basic knowledge of current events as well as community awareness and involvement should be taught to all students. Moral education and citizenship should be instilled into children at a young age. The fostering of curiosity and creativity and the teaching of problem-solving skills are also important for students of all ages.
A major aspect of the learning experience for a student is the learning environment. A teacher is responsible for making the environment aesthetically pleasing to a child's eye. Especially for elementary school, it must be a fun environment with many colors and pictures around the room. Numerous activities should be available for students rather than simply placing desks and a chalkboard in a classroom. Students spend almost as much time at school as they do at home; therefore, the classroom should feel like a second home to them.
Overall, an effective teacher must portray a number of characteristics, most importantly: flexibility, control, love, ability to arouse interest for learning, willingness to discipline, respect of students, creativity, motivation, fairness, consistency, understanding, organization, and encouragement. If a person is missing any one of these abilities, he/she may not be an effective teacher.
Teachers today are responsible
for many different aspects of education. They must determine how
their students learn and accommodate those needs, play a number
of different roles other than educator, teach a common core of
knowledge, instill in children ideas such as citizenship and
community awareness, and prepare an effective learning
environment. These are required of an effective teacher and it is
effective teachers who make differences everyday in the lives of
children.
