As teachers it is very important that we have a clearly defined and articulated educational philosophy that would serve as our guide in our entire professional career as Mentors.

1. Personal Educational Philosophy<br />Teaching is one of the oldest professions known to man, since the birth of civilization the noble profession of teaching is done by people who have acquired the knowledge and wisdom for the betterment of the human existence. These are kings, noblemen, traders, scribes, priests, statesmen and philosophers among many others.<br />Civilizations have grown and prospered because of the wealth of knowledge that spread throughout the ages. Civilizations like of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantine among many others which up to the present still marvels the world with their creativity and talent despite the lack of sophistication in technology we have today. These civilizations were able to produce most of the greatest philosophers of all time, the likes of Plato, Socrates, Galileo, Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci and Euclid. These philosophers were able to grow in number because of the influence of their teachers and the students in the later part of their lives became teachers themselves.<br />The greatest example of how noble the teaching profession is, best exemplified by the greatest teacher of all time, and that is Jesus Christ. Whatever, religious perception we have in the world today, whether we view him as GOD or not, in the eyes of the teachers he is the best model of all. His method of instruction is in fact, even in the 21st century curriculum is considered the best way of imparting knowledge. HE constantly talks with his disciples, partake with them and even sleep with them. The learners would always be asking HIM questions and HE will show the answer through actual and real life examples.<br />A teacher can influence the learners in many ways both grand and subtle. My teacher’s views in education have greatly influenced my way of thinking and how I perceive our educational system. My teacher’s views on the right teaching strategies, learning approaches, knowledge construction and assessment of learning have greatly influenced what I know and how I do things. <br />I believe that as a teacher I have the responsibility of molding not just the intellectual ability of my students but also shape their perspectives and views of society for the rest their lives. And with that, the gravity of such responsibility must be taken with utmost respect and that the learners deserve nothing lower than the best that I could offer them.<br />As a teacher, I am going to bring a broad range of knowledge I have gained over the years, the experiences I’ve had and the expertise I have gained through my continued professional development. I shall raise the social awareness of the learners such that they would become better informed and concerned with the happenings around the community and become a part of the solution to its pressing problems and also become active and involved members of the community.<br />My educational philosophy is progressivism, as based on my personal observation and understanding that human beings would always settle down on things that would make them comfortable and would keep a status quo even if it does not cater to the present needs of the society anymore. I believe that as society improves and develops into a more complex form of interconnectivity and interaction, learners poised to become the next generation of leaders must be prepared to tackle it with courage and not with pessimism and negative view. To provide the learners with the necessary skills that would make them adapt and interact with the changing environment.<br />As a progressivist, the learners under my stewardship would become active problem solvers and visionary leaders within the community. They will be able to connect the lesson inside the classroom to the larger society thus making the classroom a simple meeting place for student and teacher interaction and the communities as the real classroom where the learners conduct experiment or perform tasks that would help them solve pressing problems within the community.<br />The schools are the intellectual incubators of our society, a place where leaders are born, a place of reflection and thinking. Thus, the schools have profound influence on plotting the course of our future, a place where corruption or heroism in our society emanates. Schools are considered as one of the pillars in nation building, it is perhaps the most complex of all our social inventions. And with that, I as a teacher am responsible for the future of my students and with my personal educational philosophy I will be able to make them succeed in their goals in life.<br />