Nathan Brandsma

EDUC 526
09/05/14
Teaching Philosophy

Education is nothing less than the passage of the torch of civilization itself. As such, it is
one of the most important endeavors societies and individuals undertake. Civilization is not
merely the canon of knowledge found in books, just as a culture is not merely a set of buildings.
Civilization also includes all the ways in which we interact, work with and regard one another.
The process of education always reflects both our canon and our humanity. Thus the way we
teach is as important as the content we share. All teachers represent, pass on and create our
civilization. The best teachers bring subtle improvements, one student at a time.
Our civilization has democracy as its cornerstone; teachers should have democracy as a
cornerstone of their teaching as well. Every voice should be heard in the classroom. Every
student, no matter their background, previous education, financial means, physical ability or any
other metric of comparison should have a voice. This does not mean a chaotic cacophony,
however. To function properly, democracy requires mutual respect, courtesy and consideration
for other people, and classrooms must reflect this. This certainly does not mean that there cannot
be disagreement. Indeed, the crucible of reasoned discourse, debate, and dialogue helps our
democratic society to come to the best decisions. Well reasoned argument and dialogue,
underpinned by mutual respect, is the foundation of democratic civilization.
For students, the classroom is a microcosm of society. The experiences within the
classroom walls have a profound effect on the student's future expectations of and relations with

larger society. As such, teachers have a profound responsibility to represent the best aspects of
our democratic civilization within their classroom. Teachers must foster strong relationships with
their students, encouraging them to speak up and be a part of their classroom community in order
to encourage them to be an active part of their larger civilization throughout their lives. I will
involve students in the process of creating the policies and procedures in the classroom in order
that they have a say and investment in those rules and methods. They will achieve democracy in
the classroom.
All students have the capacity to accomplish great things. As a teacher, I intend to
maximize my students potential. In order to accomplish this goal, I enter the classroom with high
expectations, knowing that all students have the potential to rise to meet them. To prepare
students for life beyond the classroom, teaching must emphasize transferable skills, such as
critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Genuine engaged inquiry and discourse,
undertaken in a community of encouragement and support are the best ways for students to learn.
In order to foster the skills students need in the 21st century, both in democracy and
business, a variety of instructional methods should be undertaken. Lessons should include visual,
auditory and tactile elements in order to embrace as many learning styles as possible. Literacy
and numeracy skills should be included in lessons as well as the more traditional content so that
students may skillfully and effectively engage in the global conversation. Students should reflect
on both their mistakes as well as their accomplishments in order to learn deeply from both.
I am filled with gratitude to all of the teachers I have had throughout my life, and I am
humbled to have the opportunity to return that gift to my students. I strive to learn from my
students at the same time that I am teaching them. Education is not a one way street. Instead, it is

a process of mutual growth, learning and relationship building. I love learning and am passionate
about sharing that love with my students.