When Kurt Vonnegut addressed the graduating class to Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, on May 15, 1999 he asked those in attendance “How many of you have had a teacher at any level of your education who made you more excited to be alive, prouder to be alive, than you had previously believed possible?” I feel this question is the centerpiece for my teaching philosophy. First and foremost, I must make students feel like they are excited to be a part of this world than they ever believed possible. This is not to say that they are excited in my class, or enjoy every moment, but I have failed if they leave my library feeling worse about themselves, and the world in general, then when they entered.
“Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being, and will go out of his or her way to help them — even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”
-Stan Lee
I also believe that all while all children can learn, many children have barriers that they must overcome in order to be successful. Oftentimes these students are viewed as lazy, unmotivated, or as problem students. As an educator, my job is to find a way to help these students. If there is a barrier that I am able to help them overcome, I must help them the best way I can. Students who physically, emotionally, or sociologically can’t learn cannot be expected to achieve the same level of success as a student who has all of their needs met. As an educator, I need to be able to recognize when these students have these barriers, and while I may not be able to fix them, I can at the very least help the student achieve a level of success that is commensurate with their needs.
“You can’t let your failures define you — you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time.”
-Barak Obama
Finally, I firmly believe that students, as well as teachers, have to fail. As educators, we have to be willing to have a lesson turn out badly so we can revamp it, and make it better. Students need to fail in order to see that failure is okay. This isn’t to say that students should fail entire classes, or teachers should be okay with making poor lessons. What I mean is, both groups should be willing to take a risk, and not be so worried about being perfect that they take the safe route every time. When teachers do this, they begin to do the same thing all the time, regardless of the outcomes. When students do this, they become bored with school, and oftentimes don’t step out of their comfort zones forcing them to miss opportunities. Part of learning, is failing.
Robert J Parsons 