Kuan Chung says: “If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If for ten years, plant a tree. If for a hundred years, teach the people. When you sow a seed once, you will reap a single harvest. When you teach the people, you will reap a hundred harvests." It is an honor to be a teacher because you know that the future is within your hands. Future writers, politicians, thieves, murderers, etc… might all be in your classroom so I think that if we want to solve the problems in our countries we’d better be good teachers. I decided to enter the teaching profession to change the future and make it better. I remember one of Plato’s ideas that I met when I was studying “The Story of Psychology”; he believed that better than physical procreation_ being pregnant with respect to the body_ was being pregnant with respect to one’s soul, seeking immortality in the soul itself and through teaching students, and having intellectual rather than physical heirs.
I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. By applying Maslow’s hierarchy, I believe that our role as educators must be to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing safe environment that supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment, (1) the teacher acting as a facilitator, (2) allowing the child's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and (3) promoting respect for all things and all people.
Acting as a guide, the teacher then doesn’t have to give students the information directly. Student will have to search for the answers using the guiding information that the teacher provides them with. I believe that constructing knowledge is achieved through discovery learning. My belief is based on the quote of Nikos Kazantzakis who says: “Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own." Providing students with the access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual discovery and construction of knowledge to occur.
Another thing which equates self-discovery in its importance is providing students with the opportunity to study things that are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Students will be intrinsically motivated to learn if I give them material that they need and are interested in. Of course, this can be achieved by engaging students in the planning process of the curriculum. Given the opportunity to participate in the planning process, students will share with me their ideas that are richer than mine. As a result, when students have ownership in the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to reach their goals.
Sharing ideas with the students and setting the basic rules with them will help students develop a deep love and respect for themselves, others, and their environment. In setting fair and consistent rules initially and stating the importance of every activity, students are shown respect for their presence and time. In turn they learn to respect themselves, others, and their environment.
For me, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as a future educator is to instill a love of learning in my students, as I share my own passion for learning with them. I feel there is a need for individuals who really care about dedicating themselves for teaching students. There is a need for people who teach for the passion of teaching rather than for the sake of money. Students need teachers that are aware of their individual needs. I am such a person and will always strive to be the best that I can be.
