My Thoughts on Education

What's My Philosophy?
My Metaphor as a Teacher
Does Your Teaching Philosophy Effect Your Teaching Style?
School Violence
Sexual Harassment
Copyright
Ethics

What's My Philosophy?

After taking the self test i found myself to be a progressivist and an esentialist.  I really believe in
the values of both of these philosophies.  I really wasn't sure what i was until i took this test and then
read the chapter.  I think though that i lean towards progressivism because I think that the schools should
teach the students about life and how to succeed, not just the basic subjects.
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My Metaphor as a Teacher

I feel that i need to teach the students about life and help them grow....so that's the parent.  I also want to
explore with them and learn from them what they can and cant do, what they like and don't like.  I want to
befriend them as well as educate them.  So I am not sure which one I should say that I am.
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Does Your Teaching Philosophy Effect Your Teaching Style?

I think that your philosophy of teaching impacts your style of teaching because the way you teach is
how you feel about the students and education.  If you think that you need to know A and B
before C (essentialism) then you will teach over and over again until they know it so you can move on.   I am
a mix between essentialism and progressivism, i feel that a teacher needs to help the students grow in life
and give them meaningful lessons that will help throughout life.  When i teach i want to befriend the
students and teach them about life and the subjects combined...if you are never going to use something
in life i don't think that it needs to be stressed in the classroom so all the students will do is memorize it and
forget it after a test...spend more time on things that will help them grow.I would use news events so students
can see what is out there in the real world.  I also like to use hands on learning...in the science classroom nothing
can be tought well just by lecturing....the students need to see thing up close and in real life.
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School Violence

The article that i read was about avoiding school violence with the use of counselors.  It said that
shootings in the past might have been avoided if there were more counselors to help the students with problems.
it went on to say that counselors AND teachers should develop better relationships with their students so the
children know they have someone to talk to.

I agree with this article and feel that most teachers do not for any relationships with their students.  I feel
that students should be able to talk to their teachers about anything...they are more likely to talk to the
teachers instead of the counselors because they don't know the counselors very well and might feel like just another
student with a problem when the go for help.(I hope that made sense)

If I had a student with a knife in the class room i would take if from them, report it to the
administration, and talk to the student and tell him that it was wrong and that i will have to send him to
the office to talk to am administrator.  I will let them know that i am there for them to talk to if they have
any problems, and my door is always open.
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Sexual Harassment

http://www.cobbk12.org/~boardpolicies/J_Policies/jab_p.htm

Sexual harassment is still a i big problem in schools. As children are being raised in society that has problems
with drugs, alcohol and sex, these children are not taught the right and wrongs of social interactions.  If
a child in my classroom were to harass another student with that student who committed the act would be
confronted and based on the severity of the act would be sent to the administration.  The student would have to
learn that it is wrong and have to learn the consequences of the act, so it doesn't happen again.
Most students and  these ages do not really understand what the edges of sexual harassment are and sometimes
don't realize that they are doing it.  (I am talking about students around the ages of 11-14).
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Copyright

I definitely have to agree that copyright is a huge hinder on teachers.  There is so much information and
pictures out there on the internet that can be very useful for a science teacher.  A professor of mine
does not put graphs and charts that can be found on the internet of in books on this power point because of
copyright.  It would be so much easier if he did that for us, but he cant.  There are so many pictures and
information out there that can be used and i feel that i should be able to use it, and I will use it, providing I
have the copy right information and give credit for it. But i do know there are laws out there and have abide by
them so I don't get into trouble.
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Ethics

Scenario:  What if the top student in your high school, one who has already been accepted to his/her college of
choice, is caught cheating on the final exam in your class.  What do you do?

If he is caught cheating he gets a zero.  I do not tolerate cheating.  Before every test there will be an
announcement stating that if you cheat you get a zero...no exceptions.  So i would give the student a zero and their
own actions will teach them that they did wrong.
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