The role of the teacher, in an age when many children and most adolescents carry Google in their pockets, is one that is constantly and rapidly evolving. The teacher who positions themselves as the holder of all knowledge, is on a treacherous path, lined with frustration, disengagement, and futility.
As a teacher, I am a guide, and it is my role to equip the children in my care not only with 'knowledge', but more importantly with the skills, strategies and critical thinking abilities to assist them on their journey. I would hope that I instill in my students an understanding of the world around them, and by making learning relevant and engaging, stimulate an insatiable curiosity to find out more.
Classrooms are microcosms; small worlds within the wider, global community. As such, it is essential that students learn to view themselves as part of this community. The most important value underpinning any community is respect. Respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the world in which we live.
My number one priority is to establish a learning community that works the way the world does. We form relationships with those around us, and must nurture these. We are autonomous, and need to be able to make informed decisions, and take responsible actions based on these decisions. As individuals, we have great power to effect change in our world.
