Educational Philosophy, Day-Today Teaching And Future Vision
Educational Philosophy, Day-Today Teaching, And Future Vision
Introduction
In this twenty first century, education is playing a precise essential role in ensuring the development of societies and communities. Right from pre-school to university and college levels, there is the acquisition of knowledge and information. Such information and knowledge is vital and should be available for every person. I hold up the idea that there ought to be provision of equal opportunities to access educational facilities. Each and every child should have the right to have the provision of learning and education environments. I believe that there should not be any discrimination with regard to access to education. Government institutions and all stakeholders should ensure that everyone has equal opportunities. Upon receiving access to education facilities, it is then upon individuals to ensure that they perform to their level best.
Teachers and other stakeholders who participate in the provision of educational services should ensure that they act ethically. They should work towards ensuring that the provision of such services should only result to a positive outcome. I also believe that government, which has the, responsibility of remunerating teachers in public institutions should do so effectively. As much as teachers provide services for the well being of students, they also have a life. It is, therefore, should be upon the government to ensure they effect teachers remunerations in an appropriate manner.
Education policies
One of the most significant aspects with regard to education is the introduction and implementation of appropriate policies. It is my believe that designing of education policies should lead to every citizen benefiting from the polices. The governing of such policies should be by the law and the laws ought to state the appropriate means for teaching citizens. Such provisions would ensure that there is equity since both the rich and poor would access education. The current situation is that education is either private or public where not everyone manages to access education. Aristotle. (1999). From learning of various readings, it is clear that not every implementation of a policy would results to efficiency. Citizens should, therefore, ensure that they put the right leaders in place so as to address their concerns. By putting in the right politicians, it would be possible to have address of concerns regarding education and teachers. The only way that a citizen can do this by exercising their democratic right of voting.
It is evident that there is a connection between the process of policy formation and politics. Legislators should ensure that they involve all stakeholders prior to passing any education policies. There ought to be incorporation of teachers and parents in matters regarding designing of education policies. I reckon that government actors should not be the final decision makers when it comes to policy formulation. Government should ensure that it involves all education actors to avoid a situation where there is implementation of a policy that has detrimental consequences. Failure by the government to incorporate all education actors could lead to the formulation of a policy that does not augur well with other stakeholders. Incorporation of all stakeholders in the process of policy formulation ensures that there is addressing of all key issues in the policies. Failure to incorporate all the key issues when designing education policies would result to a negative reception of the policy. This would lead to a situation where people consider the policy as irrelevant as they do not address their key concerns. In such a situation, the government would not be competent to put into practice the policies as it cannot force them on the people. Fowler, C. (2008).
I also have the view that such policies would result to demoralization of teachers since they are the people to implement the policies. I am of the view that there should be involvement of teachers during the process of policy making. Gone is the time when policy formulation only involved government agencies and institutes. It should, therefore, be upon such agencies and institutes to ensure that education policies should be put in the hands of both teachers and government. It is only through this that there can be policies aimed at the benefit of all players in the education system.
Education standards
In most of the education settings, there is not provision of enough credit to teachers for the enormous contribution they make. The role that teachers play is extremely essential to the stats of the society and economy. Most of the school districts put a lot of pressure on teachers. This is by incorporation of the student’s performance within the evaluation plan. This, consequently results to teachers having unnecessary pressure and a feeling of being overburdened. The result is that teachers are not able to perform accordingly as they are stressed. I think that whereas performance is an essential aspect of deliberation, it should not be the solitary determinant of performance. Definitely, there is more to what teachers provide than just the test scores. The level of education standards should, therefore, not be solely on academic performance.
One of the aspects that should be up for consideration with regard to the teachers’ performance is the students’ capabilities. Regardless of the nature and degree of the input by teachers it is challenging to improve the performance of some students. Some of the students may perform poorly as a result of psychological issues, while others could have different genetic factors. It is, therefore, unreasonable to assess teachers on the basis of the scholastic show of students. In some instances, a teacher may have students who are naturally rebellious. Even application of various punishment procedures may not result to an improved in performance. It is, therefore, on this basis that there should not be sole use of students’ academic performance to evaluate teachers. I, however, do not mean that there should be disregarding of test scores. They are essential aspects of conducting evaluation of a student’s knowledge. There, however, should be a consideration of other aspects such as the input by teachers.
Another feature that has an effect on the level of education standard is the strikes by teachers. In order to be able to forward their views teachers often engage in strikes. This is after failure by relevant authorities to address issues that teachers raise. During the period when teachers are on strike, students at that time do not have anyone to guide them in their studies. This, therefore, means that, at that moment, they do not receive high standard education. One of the key issues that make teachers strike is the lack of consideration of laid-off teachers during the various recruitment processes. With the rates of unemployment being high in most countries, it is challenging to secure employment in other school districts. It should, therefore, be upon the school districts to give priority to former teachers during the hiring processes. In my opinion, this would justify the grievances put across by the teachers’ unions. My opinion is that teachers have the right to forward their concerns of with regard to considerations of former colleagues in the school district recruitment process. This is because due to the nature of training it is challenging for professional teachers to get employment in other sectors of the economy.
Motivation is another aspect that has an impact on the standards of education. For any employee, motivation plays a significant role in determining the performance of that employee. This is the case with teachers as they are just like any other employees. I think that school districts have to improve with regard to the motivation they provide to teachers. Motivational tools such as bonuses and pay hikes are essential in motivating and improving the morale of teachers. For all their efforts, I would rate the pay of teachers to be considerably lower than that of other professionals in other sectors of the economy. Low wages in comparison to work by the teachers is another aspect that leads to strikes. Even when teachers do not strike, they do not have the morale to perform their tasks and duties. In order to ensure level platforms, all school districts should harmonize teachers’ payments across all school districts.
School districts should ensure that they make use of the resources they have in order to provide teachers with the better payment. Teachers strike should be a cause of alarm with respect to the durable sustainability of the country’s education sector. By ensuring that the teachers’ welfare is appropriately addressed, it would play a noteworthy function in the level of education standards. In circumstances where the state of teachers’ welfare is poor, it results to negative education standards. This is the opposite in situations where there is the association of high standards of teachers’ welfare with an excellent education standard. Roman (2012). In my view, the state of teachers’ welfare should be of key concern by the government. It is likely that, in situations where there is feeling of poor teachers’ welfare, the same is with other teachers in other school districts. It is such situations that result to triggering of nationwide strikes by teachers.
As a precaution measure, government should ensure that all teachers in the school districts are comfortable so as to avoid recurrent paralysis of the education sector. By doing this, government would make gains in improving morale among teachers, hence improve in productivity. From a positive perspective, I would consider the teachers strike as essential in addressing the welfare of teachers. This is because they often aid in mobilizing action from the government for the purpose of addressing welfare concerns. In the previous years, the annual allocations from the federal government for the country’s education sector are insufficient. This is an illustration of the government’s lack of commitment towards a crucial sector in the country. With the absence of a stable education system, all other sectors would have a detrimental effect. Sectors such as medicine, agriculture, and information technology would receive insufficient research. I think that the federal government ought to do much more and show its commitment by increasing the amount of funds for the education sector.
Having decisively, made an examination of these issues, it is essential to make a consideration of the other perspective. It is essential to consider the numerous grievances made by teachers, but it is also vital to make sure that the strikes are not as a result of political motivation. In years where there are elections, it is likely that there is some political influence in sectors such as education. Teachers should make certain that they uphold high levels of neutrality as they carry out their professional duties. Since the education sector is highly sensitive it usually attracts politicians. Teachers and other players in the sector should ensure that they do not compromise the standards of education by engaging in politics. Teachers should ensure that they distance themselves from political influences so as to maintain high standards in productivity and professionalism.
Teachers should also have a commitment towards the enhancement of the knowledge base of learners. Students look up to teachers to provide guidance in all aspects of education as schools serve as vital foundations for an individual’s future life. In addition, teachers have the capacity to have a positive influence on the student’s life, not only in school but also as an adult. I, therefore, reckon that they should engage in their profession with the highest level of dedication.
Another aspect that deserves consideration with regard to the education standards is the allocation of appropriate equipments. In order to be able to offer services that are of high standards, teachers require necessary equipments. School districts should have the right materials for teachers to perform their duties. Facilities such as school labs should have the appropriate equipments for students to use in practical. Without the provision of appropriate facilities and equipments, it would be difficult to have high standards of education.
Ethics in education
Just like in any other sector, players in the education sector should ensure that they conduct themselves ethically. Teachers should ensure that they have ethical behavior as some of the students view them as role models. Barth, R. (2000).Individuals in management positions and have the authority to in determining the allocation of funds should have integrity. Mismanagement of funds meant for education purpose is extremely unethical. This is because such funds enable education development projects. Misuse of such funds would be gross misconduct as it would have a damaging consequence on the lives of numerous students. In today’s social and economic setting, an individual’s level of education is of enormous significance. Hinchey, P (2010). In my view, the derailment of education development projects due to mishandling of funds has a negative effect on the future social an economic life of students.
Conclusion
Education is of enormous significance for everybody in the society. Without the provision of appropriate education, it would not be possible to have people engage in various careers. All stakeholders should, therefore, ensure that they actively participate in setting appropriate education platforms. The setting of policies should involve all players in the industry, as they all strive to improve the standards of education. Ethics is also essential in the education sector as it ensures that there is appropriate management of funds. There should be continuous improvement of education standards so as to have citizens with adequate knowledge who can improve the economy.
Reference:
Fowler, C. (2008).Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction.Prentice hall.
Aristotle. (1999). Nicomachean ethics. Oxford University press.
Roman, E. D. & Gordon, W. W. (2012). Thinking comprehensively about education, New
York: NY: Routledge
Hinchey, P (2010). Finding freedom in the classroom. Peter Lang Publishing.
Barth, R. (2000).The child welfare challenge: Policy, practice, and research. New York.
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