Evolving Educational Philosophy: Responsible College Teaching

The Formative Power of Higher Education

Higher education is no less critical in the development of values and beliefs than elementary education. In fact, it may actually be more important, helping to shape views that are more consistent with reality, since this is the time when young adults become aware of issues they did not fully understand as children.

I was fortunate as a child to have had some exceptional teachers, but it was my experience with teachers during college that truly shaped my view of the world and of myself. Our economics teacher, for example, was a dedicated educator who had raised children herself, maintained a sound family life, and firmly believed that women can raise families while also handling professional responsibilities very well — that they need not sacrifice one for the other. I learned through interaction with teachers that college education is critical not merely because of the subjects you choose to study, but because of the vast and rich experiences of the teachers you encounter. Their personal views and professional ideals have been shaped by years of struggle, experience, and intense interaction with all kinds of students. This gives them a much richer and deeper outlook on life, and one can learn a great deal from them.

Deciding to Become a Teacher

When I decided to become a teacher, I knew I was taking on additional responsibility. I did not only have to teach my subject well; I also had to be mindful of what I said to my students, because they could learn a great deal from what I expressed — advertently or inadvertently. What you teach and how you teach are, of course, very important. A college student can learn a great deal about economics from textbooks, but it will always be those class discussions with the teacher that help students truly grasp the reality of economics and how it affects our lives.

For example, in Virginia Foster Durr's life, it was her critical thinking skills during an economics class that helped her conclude that poor people suffer not because of a character flaw but because of the way the system works ("Educating citizens," p. 2). Such experiences can have a lasting — even if delayed — impact on a student's thinking. Many students learn to develop tolerance for different religious, social, and political views during their college years, through interaction with fellow students and with teachers who generally hold a much broader outlook on a variety of subjects than the students themselves.

Responsible Teaching as an Educational Philosophy

My educational philosophy revolves around responsible teaching. I believe that teachers need to be more aware of what they say to their students on critical subjects, because their views are often taken seriously and students can form their own views based on what they hear a teacher say. Many teachers may not pay close attention to their own positions during class discussions, or they may unjustly criticize a student's view without thinking about the impact it might have. For example, a teacher who holds strong political views might dismiss a student's stance on a policy issue without truly understanding where that student is coming from. This can shatter a student's confidence and may even cause them to lose interest in the subject altogether.

For the development of students' critical thinking skills and their confidence, responsible teaching is highly desirable. Teachers must remain conscious of the influence they hold — not as a reason to withhold their perspectives entirely, but as a reason to exercise care and fairness in how those perspectives are shared.

Conclusion: Fair and Responsible Teaching

Responsible teaching is an art that must be learned. It can only be cultivated if teachers commit to remaining objective during discussions while still upholding values that are universally just and fair. Students deserve a chance to be heard without immediate criticism, but they also need guidance. If a teacher is not grounded in their own fair and considered views on different subjects, they may find it difficult to offer the guidance that students genuinely need.

It is therefore essential to hold sound, just, and fair views while simultaneously maintaining an open mind. Educational philosophy in higher education carries enormous weight in our lives. I would want to make my students' experience unique and meaningful through fair, objective, and responsible teaching — the kind of teaching that shapes not just academic knowledge, but character and judgment as well.