CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

~ Jennifer Andrusyszyn ~
Childrens education largely takes place in the classroom but it follows them into their
everyday lives where it develops into life long learning. As a Catholic educator, it is important
to see every child as unique and requiring support and care to have a positive learning
experience. Infusing this with Jesus teachings further enriches the learning environment
providing a holistic education. The value of Catholic education goes beyond what is taught in
a religion class. Religion can and should be incorporated in other subjects and is used to
inspire me when developing classroom rules and routines. This belief is crucial for the
students to gain the tools and confidence to be able to take responsibility for their own lifelong learning of the Catholic faith and values in daily life.
I believe that a classroom environment should be based on inclusiveness and rich traditions of
faith, ensuring that I teach through a Catholic lens. As a community, we would share our faith
experiences, community values, and faithful living in everyday situations. I will continually
show my commitment to the Catholic school community through my personal devotion to be
a practicing Catholic and living my faith. I attend church weekly, and am an active part of the
Catholic community. I enjoy being actively involved with school mass, engage with the local
church community, incorporate my faith through all my teaching, and am a positive role
model to students. I take every measure to ensure that our school community is a welcoming
place for students, parents, and teachers to share in our faith journey.
A Catholic education occurs in both formal and informal educational settings within the
school environment where the students will be developing the skills, knowledge, and values
through the light of the Gospel. Within the modern classroom, it is important to maintain a
faith-based environment where the students have the opportunity to be creative, digitally
aware, and critically thinking global citizens.
Diversity is very critical within todays classroom in order to guide every student towards
success. It must be known to the students that when they enter the classroom, they are
regarded as equals. Attention to different learning styles is an important aspect in order to
ensure the inclusion of every member within the Catholic classroom community. The students
need the opportunity to explore, reflect and integrate a Catholic understanding of nature, self,
society and God within their lives.
I have many strengths and interests that I bring to my classroom and students. I have a passion
for outdoor education, geography, and all types of extra-curricular activities. This would
benefit the entire school community as well as the students within my classroom. Through my
love for teaching outside of the classroom, the students are able to see me in a different light
and I can build a stronger rapport with them. With my passion and motivation, I can inspire
and engage students to want to learn, be involved within their school community, and their
Catholic faith.
To be an exceptional teacher, I believe it is essential to love kids, love education, be caring
and dedicated, but to also have passion for teaching and for life. To create a Catholic
community for students to grow and learn creates an opportunity for them to thrive and
ultimately become an incredible individual that is part of a larger community.