Education Philosophy

Tekeia L. Franklin

November 30th, 2020

EL 5300

Oakland University
 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”

(Mandela, July 16, 2003). As an educator, I believe my job is to not only teach children what

they need to know within the classroom, but also to teach them how to grow outside of the

classroom as well. With choosing the educational profession, I continuously asked myself what

can I do differently to maintain the success of students' educational journeys? Children must be

taught how to think and not what to think. Therefore, I believe effective teaching requires a

collaboration between teachers, students, and parents grounded in mutual respect and trust within

the entire schools community.

In addition, my decision to pursue a career within education is due, in part, to my

intrinsic desire to make a positive impact on the life of a child. Being an educator can be very

rewarding, which one is able to develop change in the lives of others. Moreover, I cannot think

of a better way to contribute to the betterment of society within the classroom. Education is the

key to success. The direction as educators that we lead our children will determine the outcome

of events our children will develop in the future academically and socially.

During my journey as an educator, they’re many who believe that education will not help

children adapt within society today. I believe education can be a creative outreach to enhance

children's outlook on real world attributes that they will eventually face as time goes on. Leaving

tasks for students more open-minded and allowing more room for diverse solutions and or

responses will allow students to feel more comfortable about who they are as thinkers and

individuals. Education serves in many aspects. Being an educator is being able to teach any

individual to work on critical thinking, problem solving, writing, and social skills. Growing up,

education was considered paramount for future success. I believe that within education as a
teacher and or building leader, it is imperative to maintain a positive culture and climate that will

inspire staff and students to work diligently to prepare and or improve academic development.

Furthermore, every educator is equipped with the fundamental skills necessary to mentor

a child that desires the need to be educated. I believe that children are naturally social beings and

learn best from one another. I also believe that children learn best when they can relate material

to meaningful experiences. This can consist of life outside of the classroom, experiences with

family, relatives and culture. A school should provide students with the opportunity for

differentiation. As an educator it is my desire to help students meet their fullest potential in

educational areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking and invites

sharing of ideas. Moreover, as an educator there are multiple aspects that any building leader,

teacher and or administrator that are building relationships with students and families. Teachers

and or staff should be flexible, genuine and competent individuals. Teachers and or staff should

also have the ability to to listen, exercise self control, are disciplined, motivational and

constantly update one’s skills and knowledge. Within Reeves Leading Change in your School

simply states that by considering leadership myths, our purpose is not to criticize and destroy,

but to create constructive alternatives (Reeves, pg. 54).

As a result our purpose is to allow our skills to transpire not only within the staff, but

within students and families as well. Educators uphold many expectations from families and

students within the school community. While educators maintain to build upon those

expectations, I believe that students and parents should be provided with expectations as well

within the school community. Students should be aware of their responsibilities for learning,

have the opportunity to express themselves freely and with respect with peers. Students should

also bring an analytical mindset to class and be prepared to share and accept help from peers not
only the teacher. I believe that within the climate and culture of the classroom, students should

obtain the ability and willingness to constantly monitor their own educational development.

Within Herbert The Boss of the Whole School, Herbert explains that a school boss is expected to

be immersed in each microenvironment to solve problems, find solutions, encourage support,

and recognize problematic scenarios in their manageable size. You often accomplish these super

heroic feats by simply walking around listening, and noticing (Herbert, pg, 17). As a future

building leader, teacher and or general administrator, I believe it is important to be supportive,

organized and foster development not just with students but with staff members as well within

the school community.

When reading the article Confucian educational philosophy and its implication for

lifelong learning and lifelong education (Qi Sun, 2008) expressed that the Confucian model

encourages becoming the undivided “I” with the universe, the unity of “I” with other human

beings and the wholeness of “I” with self. The primary purpose of Confucianism in education is

to build character. In other words, education as character building is to learn to be human. I

believe as an educator and future building leader it is important to take time to evaluate the needs

of the staff and students, but to give priority to families, communities and the world.
 References

Qi Sun (2008) Confucian educational philosophy and its implication for lifelong learning and

lifelong education, International Journal of Lifelong Education, 27:5, 559-578, DOI:

10.1080/01411920802343269

Hebert, E. A. (2006). "The boss of the whole school": Effective leadership in action. New York,

NY: Teachers College Press.

Reeves, D. B. (2009). Leading change in your school: How to conquer myths, build commitment,

and get results. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.