Educational Philosophy

We Are All Scientists

I believe three-year-old kids are perfect little scientists, constantly exploring with great gusto cause and effect. But exploration is often loud, messy and destructive. Therefore these inclinations to wonder, ask, and test are discouraged from a young age and often. However, I believe there still lives a repressed scientist at all of our cores, and that we retain the capacity to wonder and ask questions. Furthermore, I believe children learn best when intrinsically motivated by their own sense of curiosity and wonder. I believe if given a supportive, safe, low-risk space we can all be natural scientists again. My goal as a teacher is to awaken this latent scientist, and give it a constructive outlet.

Purpose of Education

The purpose of education is vast. It must serve both the individual and society. Schools should create individuals that can succeed within and benefit society; while at the same time school should create individuals that can push, grow, improve and create upon current societal constructs. I don't want to teach my students what to think...but how to think, by nurturing my student's creativity, exploration and critical inquiry.

“If you want to build a ship,

don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders.

Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”

My Moral Tenets

Tenet 1: Respect for Personhood/Autonomy. In childhood, I was taught the “Golden Rule”: To treat others as we would like to be treated. However this rule (wrongly) assumes that others always want to be treated as we do. This is dangerous and can lead to paternalistic and abusive practices. Instead I believe our greatest moral obligation is to give people their own power to make decisions and take informed risks in their own lives. In the classroom this means my goal is to empower my students.

Tenet 2: Beneficence. This tenet demands that I must treat people in an ethical manner not just by respecting their decisions (autonomy) but “also by making efforts to secure their well being”. This is done by (1) “do not harm and (2) maximize possible benefits and minimize possible harms.” In the classroom this means I must be conscious that my best-intentioned teaching practices do not inadvertently harm.

Tenet 3: Justice. This tenet concerns “fairness in distribution” and that “equals ought to be treated equally”. The formula behind this tenet is that I must attempt always to create an equal distribution of benefits and risks “(1) to each person an equal share (2) to each person according to their needs (3) to each person according to individual effort, (4) to each person according to societal contribution, and (5) to each person according to merit. Justice demands that advantages ought not to only be provided to those that can afford them. And risks should not be unduly put upon persons of vulnerability who are unlikely to benefit. In the classroom this means I must actively work to ensure equatable access and treatment of ALL the students in my care.