What Education Should Be

Philosophy

I believe that the role of the educator is a singularly important one as it is the passing on of the principles of life to the next generation. How we, as educators, teach will have profound effects on the next generation and indeed on the future definition of what exactly 'Irish' means. It is of course, impossible to live without presuppositions; it is singularly important that teachers analyse their presuppositions, to make sure that they are the best and will result in the highest quality of life. I believe very much that the attitude of the teacher means everything and that teachers must be enthusiastic, committed and aware of the dynamic in their classrooms.

Personally I believe that the most important presupposition a teacher can have is a belief in God –thus providing a theistic education as opposed to a humanistic education. Intellectual ability of itself is neither moral nor immoral; it is simply a tool, and will have always an underlying belief behind it. Richard Shaull wrote in his introduction to Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, that 'there is no such thing as a neutral educational process'. It could be argued that some of the world's greatest criminals were highly educated – Hitler, Al Capone etc. They had fully realised the potential of their minds, and yet their ability was used to a terrible end. Likewise it is the duty of teachers not simply to instil knowledge and intellectual ability in their students but also to give them a foundation upon which they can build their lives. Young people need certainties – the chaos of society today will support this observation. They need to be taught to look to the Giver of intellectual ability. An education is weak if it cannot tell a child where he came from, why he's here and where he's going. It is for this reason that I believe that values are as important as facts and knowledge. Values determine the quality of our culture, its length and its endurance.

Furthermore such a belief encourages critical thinking and independent learning. I can testify to this from my own educational experience. Belief in God gave me, as a young person, confidence that my life had a reason; evolutionary thought teaches children that they came from nowhere and that they are going nowhere and it is no surprise that societies that propagate such ideas have high depression and suicide rates. I was encouraged to understand issues, concepts and theories for myself; I saw life as something exciting, and I knew there was a special role for me to play in the world. Education in Ireland today is failing to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to realise their own potentials; rather 'as young people enter adulthood, they find life proposed to them in a package bearing 'instructions for use' and they are handed a prescription instead of being offered choice.

My philosophy of education begins with a moral foundation and then goes on to nurture understanding and to encourage critical, independent learning. The role of the teacher is crucially important; he or she has the responsibility to value each individual child as being equally worthwhile, and to help every pupil to reach their full potential and understand their reason for existence.