Personal Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy on education does not just fit into one category it is a mixture of three; progressivism, essentialism, and constructionism/critical theory. Family and consumer sciences can be just a vocational subject in all schools, but it also has the chance to be a powerhouse of core content knowledge if given the opportunity. I completely agree with progressivists when they say, "education should focus on the whole child, rather than the content or the teacher" (Cohen, 1999). Family and consumer sciences, just like life, is more about active learning and experiencing things through the world, much like social reconstruction. Essentialism, although slightly severe in its ideal, it is pertinent to have a good foundation or know the fundamentals of anything in order to be successful. I plan on teaching my students how to give back to their communities and make them better using service based learning. My role as an educator is to educate, inform, prepare, and be available not only to my students but to parents, program coordinators, and community members. Most importantly I want my students to have the ability to value themselves and others using respect, confidence, integrity, and kindness in everyday life.