I believe that central to a successful learning experience is desire, companion to desire is curiosity. Therefore as a teacher I must do all I can to encourage curiosity, inquiry, and wonder about the world, the past, present and future, the things we see and the things to small, to far, or non-concrete so that they elude our eyes. There is so much that is fascinating in the world and teachers, who I think are sometimes thought of as packagers, meant to fill students with everything they need to know, are instead, in my opinion, guides in an expedition of knowledge, and of the world we live in, with all its people, places, animals, ideas, forces, history, potential, and beyond that how microscopic it is in comparison with the immensity of space! I want my students more than anything to leave my classroom with that feeling about learning, a sense of adventure, a hunger and thirst for the sweet nectar of knowledge found in old books, peoples memories, in a laboratory, and outside in the open air. Once they have that foundational desire, I hope to give them the tools to start on a journey of self-sufficient, life-long learning. That's not to say they won't need other people, other teachers, rather that they are able to be a teacher for themselves, and are able to seek out teachers and resources to help them fuel their passion throughout their continued journey. I think this individual power to self guide is essential because of the unique individuality of every student, their curiosity will lead them each to different and amazing places, which is wonderful because the world is forever in need of inventors, innovators, artists, musicians, leaders, thinkers, who will take society to places it never dreamed possible and achieve higher and mightier dreams than ever thought possible. There is a quote I saw in a school that speaks so well to how I feel:
“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.”- Jess Lair
I think that too often we want to shape children to become what we want them to become, when in reality, the only thing we can do is open them up to all possibilities and let them make an informed decision which path they will choose, which is what will happen anyway, though if you spend all your time shaping, and less time informing, tragically some will stop being molded, they will resist, and in the end still choose, but without the knowledge and understanding of themselves to choose well. So let us teach them the wonderful, the awesome, the amazing, and the beautiful! When the time is right show them the contrast, the sad, the mistakes of the past, the conflict, the pain, and the hate. Show them both and how each is obtained and let them choose. I have faith in people, that they are good, the children are good and will choose well given the proper opportunity, and the world will be a better place for it.
A few educational blog resources (for the assignment):
