Educational Philosophy the Importance of

Educational Philosophy The Importance of Instruction Outside the Subject Area: As an educator, I am tasked not only with imparting knowledge to my students on a certain subject or subjects, but also with installing in them principals through which they can live responsible lives in an ever changing world. These principals include issues of common sense, thoughtfulness and the ability to consider many sides of an issue, and morals and ethics.

Though nearly all teachers are aware that, no matter what level they teach, they are responsible for helping their students become successful individuals, in addition to competent in the subject that they teach, many have come under fire for the way in which they impart these principals. For instance, some teachers are of the opinion that teaching certain values and ethics can be equated with teaching a particular religious belief or professing their own political persuasion.

This is not only contrary to the teacher's responsibility to the student, but it is also in direct violation of the teacher's ability to help the student be successful in his or her life. Intolerance such as this does not encourage students to think for themselves, but rather to repeat what those in authority over them proclaim. It is these attitudes that have developed the many stereotypes regarding authority relationships in today's world.

Thus, before setting foot in the classroom, teachers must undertake a policy of educational philosophy that honors the diversity of all students while pledging to use every method at their disposal to instruct students in the way of the instructor's expertise, as well as in those principals that will help the student become an effective, happy member of society. To do this, teachers must rely on what is real, true, good, beautiful, and logical.

Often, teaching what is real and true is a difficult task among teachers of many subjects and grade levels. This can be particularly difficult when what is real and true is much different than what is good and beautiful, or even what is logical.

While a portion of teachers' studies is often rightly given to idealism, and how to change reality into what is ideal, in addition to understanding what is, indeed, ideal, and how ideal is a world that is very different for different types of people, reality must be understood in order to even grasp the ideal. Today, reality is often war, joblessness, and intolerance, but in order for students to rise above these conditions, they must first understand them.

Thus, though a discussion of the ideal should not, by any means, be banned for educators, reality must be heralded as of similar importance. In addition, an important component of understanding what is real is understanding what is true. In addition to becoming aware of reality, students must also understand how the present reality, whether positive or negative, has come about.

In understanding the contributors and causes of reality, students will not only have knowledge of how today's reality may be maintained or altered, but they will also begin to understand how cause and effect principals affect their own lives. In addition to emphasizing causation, teaching students the truth in history is also necessary. In many learning situations, however, there is no ultimate truth upon which the teacher can call to instruct her students. Instead, many topics are still controversial, even as they are a part of history.

In this case, teachers must acknowledge this fact as true, leading to a valuable lesson for students who may assume that textbooks and authority figures are always right. In some cases, however, the teacher must continue to teach what is true, despite the fact that this may alienate on of his students. For instance, some still refuse to accept that the Holocaust occurred. These kinds of falsities can be dangerous, so the teacher must be sure to teach the truth regarding this issue and similar ones.

In addition to teaching reality and truth, however, which can often be negative and contrary to the hope that most students try to instill in their students, teachers must also teach what is good and what is beautiful. Although good is a word that is often used subjectively, many subjects are good by nearly universal standards. By their actions, in addition to their lessons, teachers can stress the importance of being good to one another, of being kind, even to those with whom one does not agree.

Furthermore, teachers can demonstrate the importance of being able to disagree, while exemplifying how this can be done in a kind and good manner. In addition, teachers can also instruct students in finding the good in situations. In much the same way, teachers can instruct students to have eyes for beauty, searching for beauty in all they see. For instance, many see a beauty in dying, as it reminds some that life goes on.

Others can find beauty in war, that some have cared for their countries and fellow humans enough to die for them. Teaching.