My Personal Philosophy on Education_June 2013

Today, I want to articulate and share my personal philosophy on the role and purpose of education.  I am sharing this with you today, because I was inspired today by Dr. Geoffrey Canada, via TED Talks.  Sometimes many words can tell a good story or express the message one wants to get across, but for this post today, I think I would like to keep it short and sweet.  Since I’m a teacher of English Language Learners, I first want to point out that I have already used 3 common American expressions so far in this post!  Can you find them?  Good for you, if you were able to find them, and some could argue there’s a 4^th, but I just want to share these three expressions:  (1) “to get across;” (2) “short and sweet;” and (3) “point out.”  Well done!

I believe that each and every child should have the right to a free and fair public education, from Pre-K – 12, with quality instruction, engaging curriculum, appropriate guidance, safe schools, free or reduced breakfast and lunch (when applicable), and qualified teachers.  In short, I believe if kids could really say what they wanted, it would be this: “Protect me, care for me, and show me the world.”  I cannot act as if those last words were my own, and so must give credit to a dear mentor, Mr. Frank Lillo (retired Principal, MA).  Furthermore, I would like to add that I know many schools are not succeeding, and so I will stand and say that something has to change.  What exactly?  Let me let Dr. Geoffrey Canada share now, on how we need innovation in our schools.  Thank you.