Voices

The “Voices” packet was filled with multiple and interesting educational philosophies. Confucius saw his role as inspiring students with the truths of great ideas. I identify most with his view of education, especially from a health standpoint. He focuses on the morality of education and how the two should be inseparable. As a health teacher, I have a moral obligation to share my knowledge about how the human body works and what it needs to be healthy, to help all my students. I have mixed feelings about Sappho’s philosophy of education. Sappho was big on memorization and helping girls develop and mature so that they could marry and become outstanding Greek women. While I don’t agree with that, I do agree with her idea that students should have physical development through activity. For her, she wanted it to be dance. Other than that, she focused on preparing women for successful marriages. Socrates was all about asking the right questions to help develop students mind. He wanted them to come to the answer on their own. This is a technique that I have seen in many classrooms when teachers are trying to edge students in the right direction, whether they are close to the answer or far from it. I must say that agree with this method because it gives students a chance to find the answer for themselves rather than having it given to them. It brings a reward to working through the problem. Between Confucius and Socrates, I think they make up most of what I believe in as an educator, while at the same time, showing me that many of the teachers I have enjoyed in school over my lifetime have used elements from both of these philosophies.