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Sachet Lawrence
CURR 6575
Educational Philosophy Paper

As I have lived and worked as an educator for 3 years, I believe that the purpose of

education is to expose students to diversity and provide students with a framework to view the

world and equipped them with the mental, social, and academic tools to function as citizens that

contribute in some way to the betterment of society. There are many ways to accomplish this

goal and it is no small feat. However, there are some essential things that make this possible.

Education is like a journey on the road to success. Like many journeys, there are people we meet

and lessons we learn along the way. Often the people we meet are destined to be in our lives,

while others are just there for a short time but make a lasting impression and even help shape

who we are. Among the many type of people we encounter in life, are mentor, mentee,

cheerleader, connector and expert.

Because a teacher is the force that drives the educational system in the United States.

Their role is vital and they often have to occupy many roles sometimes simultaneously to

function effectively in the classroom. They are the ones who interacts with students and deal

with parents. Because of this, teachers are often the ones that make the most lasting impression

on the educational journey, especially on students. This is why it is so important to make it a

positive one. On the educational journey, teachers are like mentors in that they help student keep

their eye on the goal: Education. In order to ensure that the purpose for education is met, teacher

serve in several roles, the 5 most important being: a resource, mentor, helper, learner, and

support. One can hardly identify, which is most significant to the development of a child and
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ensuring that the overall purpose for education is met, however, the two most important may be

that of a mentor and learner.

In this ever-changing world, learner is one of the most important roles for a teacher to

assume. Learners model continual improvement, demonstrate lifelong learning, and use what

they learn to help all students achieve. This is what also keeps teachers relevant in todays’

society, both in what they teach and what they have to offer professionally. Learners are always

able to identify something new that he or she is trying in their classroom. They are willing to

explore new strategies and discuss what works and what doesn't with other teachers. This

encourages teachers to talk about their teaching and how it influences student learning. Faculty

and team meetings then become a forum in which teachers learn from one another. This helps to

break down barriers of isolation that may exist among teachers. When you’re committed to being

a learner, you remain humble, passionate and determined to achieve student success, and you

understand that you can never claim to know it all. Teachers are challenged every day with a new

task that will help them grow into a better person. They are people with educational leadership

skills and they must continue to grow and develop as professionals. Teachers should take

advantage of any chance they get to grow as a person and as a teacher. (5 Roles of a Teacher

Leader, 2013) I love telling students that I am constantly pursuing more; this serves as an

example to them that I am committed to perfecting my craft, that I am still learning just as they

are and they can achieve more. Just as we are devoted to being the source of information by

which so many learn, so we must also constantly seek to learn more in an effort to give more. As

Paulo Freire says, “There is, in fact, no teaching without learning.”

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The second biggest role a teacher may have is that of a mentor. Students look up to

teachers and may pattern their own behavior and work ethic to match the instructor. An older or

more experienced teacher can even be a mentor to a younger teacher who is just starting out in

the profession. Mentors serve as role models; they familiarize new teachers to a new school; and

advise new teachers about instruction, curriculum, procedure, practices, and politics. Being a

mentor takes a great deal of time and expertise and makes a significant contribution to the

development of a new professional. (5 Roles of a Teacher Leader, 2013)

The teacher serves as a resource when students are seeking information. The teacher must

know how to find what the student is looking for once and articulate it. Once the teacher has

given the information to the student, he or she will have to instruct the student on how to use the

information. Teachers also help their colleagues by sharing instructional resources and strategies.

These might include websites, readings, or other instructional materials such as articles, books,

lesson or unit plans and assessment tools. (Ten Roles for Teacher Leaders, n.d.)

Teachers who are active in the school will often have more jobs than just the one they

were hired to perform. They may take on extra tasks such as leading the PTA meetings and even

helping set up a gym for a big event. Often, the goals of the teacher will match the direction that

the school is taking. Often due to teachers’ hectic schedule and family, taking on extra

responsibility is hard, but when possible, it is fundamental in showing students not only an

example of community and involvement, but that you care about them beyond just a paycheck

and regular work hours. This has a tremendous effect on their perception of teachers and

themselves. (Ten Roles for Teacher Leaders, n.d.)

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Students need support when learning a new skill or piece of information. A teacher must

act as the support person when the student needs this help. Support can come in many forms such

as a coach, leader and even a counselor. In professional circles, a teacher may even have to

support other teachers leading a particular subject matter.

On the educational journey, students are the mentees, they receive encouragement,

knowledge, and instruction not only from teachers but other adult and authoritative figures in

their life, that have the power to make an impact on their lives. In order for the purpose of

education to be met, students must be involved in meaningful learning activities which include

clear learning goals, meaningful action, and sustained, deep reflection. There are several roles

that students can have that can transform schools and education. Most of them fall within these

parameters:

 Students as Researchers. Identifying issues, surveying interests, analyzing findings, and

developing projects in response are all powerful paths for students to learn new things

and understand the research process required in academia.

 Students as Planners. Planning includes program design, event planning, curriculum

development, and hiring staff. Students planning activities allow them to be creative, and

learn to manage time and events to reach an outcome

 Students as Organizers. Community organizing happens when leaders bring together

everyone in a community in a role that fosters social change. Student community

organizers focus on issues that affect themselves and their communities; they rally their

peers, families, and community members for action. This allows students to be more
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conscious about themselves and their environment and may spark a passion for or

realization of important issues.

 Students as Advocates. When students stand for their beliefs and understand the impact

of their voices, they can represent their families and communities with pride, courage,

and ability. They learn to defend their views intelligently and peacefully.

 Students as Evaluators. Assessing and evaluating the effects of programs, classes,

activities, and projects can promote student voice in powerful ways. Students can learn

that their opinions are important, and their experiences are valid indicators of success. It

will also help them to understand how and why existing program or laws are in effect and

that they can inspire change. (Roles for Students Throughout the Educational System,

2016)

The family consists of caregivers such as parents and guardians. They are instrumental in

achieving the purpose of education. Parents are like cheerleaders on the educational journey,

always cheering their children on. They believe in their children, supporting them and

encouraging them to do better. When students graduate, parents are their biggest fan. Although

teachers, schools and communities may change, family is the one constant in a child’s life. It’s

what parents do at home that matters most for student success. Often in education, the focus is on

the parental involvement we can see, such as volunteering in school, serving on committees and

advocating for change. However, over 30 years of international research shows that what parents

do at home garners the most student success. Four things parents can do to make the biggest

difference is to have high expectations for their children, talk to them every day about school,

help them build good work habits, and attitudes and read to them as often and as long as

possible. (The Key Role of Families in Education, n.d)

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Communication, collaboration and strong relationships create vital bridges between schools

and families. Although communication is a two-way street, it can often get stressful for teachers

and it would be helpful to check in with their child’s teacher once in a while to see his or her

progress and what you can do to help. Families must try to prioritize conferences in order to stay

informed and suggest strategies that can help their child be successful in school. Collaboration

between, teachers, schools and parents are linked to improved attendance, better student

engagement, and positive interactions. It builds trust and a good rapport between teachers,

students, and parents and fosters reliance and achievement. (The Key Role of Families in

Education, n.d)

The community’s role is small but no less significant in ensuring the purpose of education is

met. The community’s role is like a connector, one who plugs you into other resources, people,

and learning opportunities. (The 5 People You Need in Your Professional Life, 2014) The

community is often citizens or members whom share such things as culture, language, tradition,

law, geography, class, and race. The term ‘community’ covers a broad spectrum because there

are different groups within the community, there are familial and educational communities, as

well as ethnic, racial, and religious communities. This in itself is so important because this is

what our children are surrounded by. Their community share a part in shaping their perceptions

and character based on what they see, hear and experience around them. Their ‘world’ is the

community in which they grow up in, and that is the very place they will enter the workforce and

make an immediate impact based on the level and quality of education they receive. When asked

about their education, influences, or life growing up, children will often refer back to their

community and surroundings.

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With that said there are various ways that a community can ensure the purpose of education is

achieved, primarily through involvement and participation. involvement can take the form of the

use of their services, such as enrolling students in schools, or health care facilities, contributing

money, materials, and labor, or attending school meeting. Participation can include delivering a

service or partnering with a school, identifying problems, making decisions, as well as planning,

implementing and evaluating those decisions. (Community Participation in Education, 1999)

Community involvement and participation can help children succeed in school and later in life

when they partner with schools and families in these areas:

 Parenting: help families establish home environments that support children’s

learning at school

 Communicating: design effective forms of communication between school and

home that allow parents to learn about school programs and student progress as well

allow teachers to learn how students are doing at home.

 Volunteering: recruit and organize parent help and support.

 Collaborating: help develop relevant curriculum and learning materials, identify and

integrate resources as well as services from the community in order to strengthen

school programs, family practices, and student learning.

In the twenty first century, technology now plays a major role in helping to ensure that

the purpose of education is met. This is largely due to the generation that we as educators now

cater to, who know nothing else but technology. In addition to that, we are swiftly learning the

vast capabilities technology offers and the rapid pace it is being integrated into all levels of

education. We then as educators, have to stay abreast and skilled in the use of technology in
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order to effectively serve our students. The role of technology is like that of an expert. You can

find virtually anything online and teach yourself in the process. There are many ways that

technology can assist teachers.

In the educational circuit, we now have the emerging concept of 21st century skills that

students should learn and they are creativity, critical thinking, cross-cultural communication and

collaboration, and digital age literacy. To develop these skills, we need classrooms where

students are working in teams and using technology to build creative, meaningful content that

reflects their understanding and learning. In these environments, teachers act often as facilitators

and mentors rather than always taking the forefront. (Why Technology in the Classroom, 2015)

Although there are a plethora of technologies that teachers can use, the technologies below

perform the essential functions needed to assist teachers:

 Nearpod: an application that can be used if all students have an iPod or other

tablet. I can open up a PowerPoint presentation and it appears on every student’s

tablet, while I control the pacing of the slides from my tablet. This helps keep

students more focused because they can all see content equally and clearly. More

interactivity can be integrated by adding open-ended questions that students can

respond to right on their tablets. I can add a poll, quiz or even a drawing activity

where students sketch or diagram something. When students respond on their

tablets, I can see the results on my device as well. Nearpod offers hundreds of 3D

objects that can be used in lessons, and virtual field trips to hundreds of locations

with no headsets required. It’s easy to build lessons on your own, using materials
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you’ve already created, or you can browse application to purchase beautiful

ready-to-use lessons. (6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2017, 2017)

 Newsela: Often as an ELA teacher, I find articles that I want to share with

students but the reading level is too difficult for some. I end up just giving the

article to some students and finding an easier article on the same subject for the

rest of the class or simply choosing a different article altogether. Newsela solves

this problem by offering a vast array of current events articles from sources like

the Washington Post and the Associated Press. Each article is adapted for five

different reading levels, allowing readers to simply select the level they want and

read the same content written in language that’s the best fit for them. This helps

keep all students engaged.

 YouTube: video sharing website that allows users to easily share, create, edit and

even convert videos to mp3. I can create my own page and have students subscribe to

gain access to all my posted content. I can easily include videos in my lesson to engage

my students and explain or demonstrate a concept that I teach in class. I can use YouTube

to flip my classroom, to allow students to make their own videos as class assignments and

grade them as assessments, and connect with all my students and parents easily. It’s an

easy way to differentiate a lesson, engage students and accommodate visual learners all

while utilizing technology in class and maximizing class time.

Technology can help make the English and language arts classroom a site of active

learning and critical thinking and further student connections with the past. Students can use

technology meet people of different cultures, explore ancient and modern worlds, do authentic

primary-source research, problem-solve through inquiry-based activities. Technology can be

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used to enable students to explore fundamental curriculum issues and answer essential questions.

Students can use the Internet, electronic databases and other online sources to gather

information. They can use spreadsheets, timelines, and other programs to store, organize, and

analyze information. Students can also integrate multimedia desktop publishing, web publishing,

video and audio editing, and graphics programs to create and present information in innovative

and engaging ways. (Why Technology in the Classroom, 2015) The use of technology allows

students to be innovative and go beyond what they feel is possible. As a result, they are more

engaged and confident in their work. This is much more than a simple pen and paper can

achieve. Some technologies that assist students are:

 Kahoot! is a handy tool that students can use to create in-class questionnaires and

quizzes. This is handy for obtaining data for graphing assignments, data for

research essays, and feedback from their classmates. Kahoot! is compatible with

multiple devices and has a game-like feel that will help keep students interested.

 Prezi: allows students to create presentations that are more creative and exciting

to watch and create than was PowerPoint. Prezi presentations are published

publicly on students’ accounts, so their classmates can access them later to check

their notes.

 Skype in the Classroom: instant messaging app that provide online text

messaging and video chat services. It is a great way to virtually bring experts

into the classroom, take virtual field trips, connect with students from other

cultures and help students make real-world connections to what they’re learning.
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Therefore, as I see it, the purpose of education is to prepare students to function in

society in a beneficial way. To accomplish this purpose, it is helpful to think of education as a

journey on the road to success. A successful journey relies on having people that will positively

impact your life such as mentor, mentee, cheerleader, connector, and expert and a successful

education relies on teachers, students, family members, community members, and technological

use. In both cases, success is dependent on each doing its part.

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References

6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2017. (2017, February 01). Retrieved July 20, 2017, from
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/ed-tech-tools-2017/

5 People You Need In Life To Be More Successful. (2016, October 07). Retrieved July 20, 2017,
from https://bloguettes.com/5-people-need-life-more-successful/

5 Roles of a Teacher Leader-Concordia University. (2013, January 02). Retrieved July 17, 2017,
from http://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/teaching-strategies/5-roles-for-a-teacher-leader/

Community Participation in Education: What Do We Know?- Effective Schools and Teachers

and the Knowledge Management System. (1999). Retrieved July 18, 2017, from
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTISPMA/Resources/383704-
1153333441931/14064_Community_Participation_in_Education.pdf

Roles for Students throughout the Education System. (2016, July 11). Retrieved July 17, 2017,
from https://soundout.org/roles-for-students-throughout-the-education-system/

A. (n.d.). Ten Roles for Teacher Leaders. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept07/vol65/num01/Ten-Roles-for-
Teacher-Leaders.aspx

K. (2015, June 30). Why Technology in the Classroom - EdTechTeacher. Retrieved July 17,
2017, from http://tewt.org/getting-started/why-technology/

The key role of families in education | The 3 things I've learned #les3coses. (n.d.). Retrieved July
17, 2017, from http://les3coses.debats.cat/en/topics/key-role-families-education

Zhang, L. (2014, July 06). The 5 People You Need in Your Professional Life. Retrieved July 20,
2017, from https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-5-people-you-need-in-your-professional-life
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