Running Head: Personal Philosophy

Personal Philosophy Matthew Cheatham Regent University November 10, 2013

Running Head: Personal Philosophy Abstract

Our minds are realized by the academic freedom that our Creator intended. Knowledge is voluntarily transferred among individuals, and its interpretation and value assigned to it is defined by individuals as well; therefore, the standards of the education that an individual receives can be validated at an individual level. The entire student must be taught, and teachers must constantly encourage and inspire their students to achieve the next level in their education. The moral and social responsibility for teachers to accept the challenge of propelling more students into a better future requires teachers to adhere to the various scenarios that encompass a wider range of their students abilities. Since ideas, actions, and beliefs stem directly from individuals, education, too, should be focused on achieving oneness within the individual.

Running Head: Personal Philosophy Rationale:

The purpose of education is to better the mental state of the learner. The only educational standard that is truly existent is that of the learners, because they are the sole proprietor of the knowledge accumulated throughout their existence and are given the complete responsibility to practice their knowledge application as they see fit. Our Creator intended academic freedom and academic responsibility: For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. (Proverbs 2:10-11, NIV) Knowledge is voluntarily transferred among individuals, and its reception is voluntary as well; therefore, the standards of the education that an individual receives can be validated at an individual level. The very existence of human beings is to expand meaning and understanding of the world around us, and as we learn, we are answering Gods will to pursue knowledge so that we may understand Him. The realization that learners are individuals and their perspectives should be respected and facilitated welcomes the important responsibility for teachers to teach the whole student, especially their psychological needs. All students have the capacity to learn, but it is the responsibility of the teacher to engage the students propensity to learn. Teachers have to do all they can in their power to prevent the disillusionment of their students, and with this comes relentless encouragement and always inspiring them to achieve the next level in their education. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faithof greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by firemay be proved genuine and may

Running Head: Personal Philosophy result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV) This next level is defined by self-realization and the advancement of ones learned knowledge in interpreting their world and bolstering Gods personal mission for every one of us; because of this, the illumination of success and knowledge must be as diverse as the person whom the advancement pertains to. Given the range of student abilities, teachers also must be prepared to focus additional, individualized attention to those who are failing. The moral and social

responsibility for teachers to accept the challenge of propelling more students into a better future requires us to adhere to the various scenarios that encompass a wider range of their students abilities. Every single idea that has ever been existent has started as a simple revelation from an individual. These ideas are then shared by others within a society, and eventually human progress is manifested by the innovation and originality that was derived from singular ideas from individuals. Therefore, since ideas, actions, and beliefs stem directly from individuals and vary slightly between individuals, education, too, should be focused on achieving oneness within the individual, and not the collective. As teachers, we are called to the monumental duty of educating individuals in order to keep the pistons of society churning. Each student searches for personal meaning and personal understanding. If learning about a subject increases a students sense of self, then its worthwhile. Because meaning is personal, each student has the freedom and the subsequent responsibility to make his or her own choices. (Powell, 2009, p. 224) Education is also the cornerstone of every republican or democratic society, especially in a political sense. Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone.

Running Head: Personal Philosophy The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories. And to render them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree. (Jefferson) For our minds to improve to a certain degree, education should be predicated upon the students self-actualization and to endorse their own interpretation of information. The purpose of education should be for individuals to strive for self-discovery.

Running Head: Personal Philosophy References Notes on the State of Virginia. (2011). In Encyclopdia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420578/Notes-on-the-State-of-Virginia. Powell, S. D. (2009). Your introduction to education: Explorations in teaching. (2 ed., p. 224). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.