What is my philosophy of education? I love the sentiment that R. Murray Schafer conveys in this statement: “Do not design a philosophy of education for others. Design one for yourself. A few others may wish to share it with you.” To me, this reinforces the learning that, as a teacher, I share with my students. I think one of the main reasons that I love to teach is that I also love to learn.
Today, I looked back at all of the tours that I led or wrote this past year for our kindergarteners through second graders at the Nasher Museum of Art. As I put together a list of all of the works of art that we thought about together, I realized that my own relationship with these works has evolved and deepened over the course of this past winter and spring. I know from speaking with a number of students that this has been their experience, too.
As a teacher, my primary concern has always been to explore various ideas and ways of thinking with my students, not merely to “download” my own knowledge into their minds. I feel that I must be every bit an active participant in learning and meaning making as my students. To bring it back to Schafer’s maxim, I must always consider what I wish to learn and grow and how I want to think.
Cover Image: Story Teller, by Ma Pe Wi. Collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum