Teaching Philosophy: A Personal View Essay

There are many reasons why a person may want to become involved in helping to shape others.  Teaching involves the liberation and expansion of the mental and even emotional, behavioral, and physical abilities of other people, the encouragement of human development.  In order to measure the success of teaching, it is important to focus clearly on the actual needs of the individuals.  What is best for students to learn is very often exactly what students may desire to know about.  Keeping in touch with the students and their interests benefits teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

  Students need to be respected as individuals capable of clear insight into what the next small or large steps of their lives should entail.  In my responsibility as a teacher, I need to foster accountability and self discipline in both my students and myself.For me, accountability entails knowing that what I’m doing is the very best that I can possibly do under the circumstances, and for students, accountability entails whatever their values or beliefs hold as true for them regarding accountability.  It is vital to not become swept up in the idea that the teacher always knows best and must forcibly press others into the mold of what is expected.

  Contrarily, each person needs to be viewed and both unique and self determining.  Although I can offer ideas and suggestions, materials and personal insight, field trips and exposure, I cannot ever be so egotistical as to believe that I myself have the power to shape other people out of personal willpower.  The willpower and desire always has to be present first in the mind, heart, body, and soul of the learner, and my job is to support, help, and guide in the ways in which students can truly prosper.