Educational PhilosophyIn today's society, education is a precious asset that is sometimes taken for granted. Schools focus their attention on students with the aim of preparing them for what awaits them. This, however, is not always an easy task because everyone learns differently and opinions on education vary. Michael de Montaigne, one of the great philosophers, stated that "the greatest and most important difficulty known to human learning seems to lie in that area of how to rear children and how to educate them." (Haselhusrt, 2007) Learning is a continuous process that takes time. The task of teaching children can be daunting even for someone with years of education and experience. (Montell, 2003) Every school year brings with it new challenges. With this in mind, teachers must find ways to apply information from textbooks to the experiences students have had. When students are able to make the connection between a classroom lesson and real-life situations, they become better learners and feel more comfortable with the learning process. Teachers should set standards for quality work including what is acceptable and what is not. They should demand excellence and create a list of expectations that students should follow. It is a known fact that whatever the level of expectation is set by teachers, it is the level to which students aspire. The higher the level, the harder students will have to work to reach them. Goals should not be unrealistic, however, because if students feel they are unattainable they will not make any effort. The role of a teacher should be that of an instructor, mentor, coach, nurturer and leader. Teachers should be observers and students. They should continually strive to learn and develop their skills to bring quality education to the classroom. Teachers should always be looking for new and challenging ways to grow and improve their teaching skills. This will help them deal with the challenges and changes that occur from time to time in education by applying their new knowledge to their teaching style. Teachers should not judge students based on identity or background, but should accept each student's individuality. . Each student comes to class with a variety of experiences and opinions. These experiences can lead to new insights into cultural perspectives. (Kauchak, 2007) A teacher should be willing to work with each student and give the opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job and meet the standards.
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