PHILOG # 5

I'm going to react like the students I like best this week. These blogs are stupid Mister! I rush every week on Saturday to think of something useful to say that will contribute to these in my opinion unnecessary postings. As far as privilege and power go, some kids have it and some kids don't. It is a parents job to instill the will of self power and if they fail, we as responsible teachers show our students how to do that. I have lived on both edges of the spectrum and one needs to learn how to seize opportunity when it comes across. I strive to do that with my students by showing them not to see where they are but where they want to be. With will and hard work, all things are possible. I do not let my students feel sorry for themselves, I show them how through my own experience that they can achieve their dreams. I want to be a teacher because at some point in my life someone cared enough to reach out and help me. I was lost as a child due to circumstances and through someone caring my life was saved. I only hope to make that difference in someone elses life. I am going to seek a school where the children come from broken homes, where fathers are nonexistent, where jail and drugs are the norm. Why? Because too many people are willing to take the easy road and cater to the privileged. Too few are willing to put their heart and soul into the lost children.

PHILOG # 4

We as educators have to be cautious about excluding any particular category of students. I like to think that my educational philosophy treats students equally across the board, from wealthy to economically challenged, students from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, and children with disabilities. Although people may disagree with my beliefs when it comes to severely disabled (ISP) students, my attitude on this comes from personal experience within my own family. Having a cousin that was severely disabled, I saw his need for constant medical attention that I do not feel an educator is equipped to handle. He like many other individuals in the same situation require a higher level of personal care in a medical setting. I feel we do a disservice to individuals who are in this type of situation by integrating them into the school system simply so we can, in some instances, “feel better” about ourselves for saying we practice “equal treatment.” When it comes to racial makeup, economic status, sex, or learning disabled students, I feel all students are due the opportunity to receive the same quality of education. Coming from a multicultural family, I see it as an advantage for me as I am to able to relate to a broader range of students than a counterpart from a background of a single culture. I try to teach my students to embrace their differences and not take them or themselves too seriously in that context, when we learn to laugh at ourselves and our differences, we make everyone around us feel more comfortable and more willing to accept one another. In my personal educational background, I attended schools along a wide spectrum, from “poor” so called minority schools to “rich” white schools, and I personally feel this is why I am drawn to teaching in schools where the majority of students’ families are economically challenged, as it seems in these schools many times the students form a stronger bond as they find themselves relying on one another more, somewhat like an adopted family. My core values are honesty, discipline, and fairness. With this in mind, I strive to go out of my way to make my students feel welcome in my classroom and let them know they always have someone they can turn to when in need. My students know that I am very strict yet I do my best to always be fair.

PHILOG # 3

The statement “an equal educational opportunity”  to me means that regardless of ones economic background or standing they each have the same chance to achieve the same quality of goals. When walking into a classroom, we do not ask each child to provide us with a financial statement, a portfolio, or their 401k status to determine what level of quality the education that we will deliver to them will be. It is our job as educators to teach our students up to a level that each one of them individually are capable of attaining. We are educating our students to achieve their maximum potential. The goal that I have is that everyone of my students upon leaving my program will be more than prepared to achieve success at the next level of their education or if they so choose to do immediately, their careers. I will use every resource available to me to offer such an education, including continuing to educate myself in matters that pertain to me being a more effective teacher throughout my career. When dealing with children from different backgrounds I will incorporate those differences into my classroom so as to teach all of my children an appreciation of those things in life which they are unfamiliar, things that they will undoubtedly encounter as they venture out into the real world. To assure that my students are reaching the highest level possible at their given stage of development I will use a varying degree of assessments throughout their training period with me and make adjustments to accommodate each student or group of students to insure they all reach the goals that are set at the beginning of their time within my program.

PHILOG # 2

My take on education in today’s world I feel it short changes our students in many ways. Money is constantly being taken away yet teachers are persistently being asked to do more and more with less. Our children are the future; shouldn’t we be putting more resources in place for them to succeed? We need to stop spending so much of our money bailing other countries out of their problems. How are our children expected to compete in an ever evolving and increasingly competitive global market? I know that last comment sounds very businesslike and unemotional in regards to dealing with our children but if we look at running a successful business, don’t we look into all available resources to put in that business to make it top notch? Shouldn’t we take that approach with the education of our youth? I am of the belief that all children are deserving of a high quality education at no cost to them. I want to offer all of my students the highest quality education that I am capable of providing. As a teacher it is my duty to show them and guide them to what they all have the ability of accomplishing through hard work and perseverance but this cannot be accomplished without the proper resources.