Intro to education, reflection

1. Schooling and Education Philosophy
It is reallyinterestingtosee howourbeliefsabouteducationhave beendevelopedthroughout
the semesterasa resultof thisclass. Afterreadingmyfirstassignment Irealizedthat,although
I still agreeingwithall mystatements,I’ve learnedmanyconceptsandtheorieswithwhich Ican
now relate my ideas,I’ve builta deepand substantial knowledge base andI’ve reallyreflected
about ideas on which I had never thought before.
Asteacherswe are goingtobe responsive toeducatepeopleand,contrarytowhatmanypeople
think, this impliesbeing aware of million factors that affect our student’s lives. Good teachers
should be effective planners who can also adjust in unexpected situations, who know the
studentsandthe community,whoknow thatknowledge isn’tfixed(malleable intelligence)and
who focus on the strengths, skills and capabilities of their students (asset-basedthinkers). A
good example of thislast one is Marva Collins,ateacher whobelieved inall her studentseven
afterbeingtoldthattheyhadlearningdisabilities.Teachershave togive studentsawide variety
of opportunitiestolearn,alwayshavinginmindthat,nomatter whichexperience,ithastotake
place in an environment where learning and development are maximized and where students
feel safe (physically, socially, academically…), welcomed and valued. Definitely, in a managed
classroom with rules, procedures and consequences where studentsfeel motivated to behave
andregulate bythemselves(autonomously),andwhereinconsequencetheyfeelreadytolearn.
But, even taking into account all these factors, there is still another very important issue of
educationthat we have to keepalways inmind:the communityandthe cultural differencesof
our students. The whole process of education occurs within a social framework formed by
different communities with different cultures; hence the importance of teaching through a
culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy. A teacher culturally committed will focus on
student learning and achievement,will ask students to reflect on sociopolitical issuesthrough
tasks with application beyond school and will be aware of the different cultures (culturally
relevant). Also, he’ll teach building on student’s cultural skills and ways of knowing (culturally
responsive).By doingthisthe classroomwill be more likelytobecome acommunityof learners,
where people support each other and students feel belonging to the classroom.
Beingteachersisnotgoingtobe easyforus. People,communitiesandevenourownschool and
the rulesare goingto make it difficultforus to teach according to our principles, butthiscan’t
stop us for doing what we think is the best for our students.We have to help children achieve
much more that theycouldhave everimagined,reducingsocial inequalities andbasingsuccess
onmeritocracy, promotingequityandequalityopportunitiesandfightingagainstwhat we think
isn’t good in society.
The purpose of education istocreate ina personthe abilitytolookatthe worldforhimself and
to make his own decisions. We have to give all students the same opportunities, as well as
support them and trust in their possibilities, taking into account their background and their
community. We have to make schools safe environments where students feel motivated to
learn. We have to fight for giving all children a quality education; the education that they all
deserve.