Philosophy

     Education must train students for quick, resolute and effective thinking.  To think incisively and to think to one's self is very difficult.  The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.  We must remember that intelligence is not enough.  "Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education", as stated by Martin Luther King, Jr.

     Students should be active participants in the learning process.  I believe in cooperative learning, in a process where students learn together.  I also believe in particpatory learning.  Education, escpecially in the early grades is not about knowledge of facts and figures, dates and names.  It is about the basic skills.  Student learn through excercising and practicing particular skills.  You do not tell someone how to read.  The teacher should introduce them to the process and allow them to practice in ways that build strength.  Teachers should be expert guides and not bosses or masters.  The rigidity of the relationship and fhe formality of the two roles, student and teacher, will vary from subject area and grade.  Technology is our future.  Everything in our lives today revolve around technology.  Education needs to be a mix between of the technology that exists today and the more traditional forms of learning so that students may learn how to incorporate new technology into their lives.

     As a teacher, I wish to properly educate my students by teaching them the skills they need to use.  I believe technology a crucial part in the education of our students today.  Students are interested in today's technological advancements.  Those continued advantancements are definately what our future holds.  Most importantly, today's technology is the most powerful aid teachers have.  I have to educate myself in these advancements and allow my students to have access or else I am stunting their intellectual growth. 

     Incorporating technology into the classroom also provides educators with the chance to teach the same lesson in a variety of ways, helping students to learn the subject in ways that keep it fun and entertaining.  Movies, PowerPoint, SmartBoard, Clickers, the Internet and potentially dozens of other forms of technology that are available today can be used to educate our youth today.  We must also learn to integrate new forms of technology to keep the students interested and growing in knowledge.