Philosophy, Scholars, Moments and Images that have Inspired My Education Journey...
There were many important Philosophers and academic scholars that I studied as an undergraduate student that influenced my paradigms both as an engaged student and as an emerging teacher. These include scholars such as Bernard Williams, Nikos Kazantzakis, Albert Einstein, Thomas Nagel, Aristotle, Martin Heidegger, Michel de Montaigne, and Immanuel Kant.
I wanted to include this is a painting of Immanuel Kant because I was deeply inspired by his work as an undergrad student in Philosophy, and his writings on the ideas of reason, epistemology, ethics, existential knowledge and moral understanding. His ideas reflect my own developing paradigm as a teacher while I particularly like his quote relating to education:
“How then is perfection to be sought? Wherein lies our hope? In education, and in nothing else.” -Immanuel Kant
I wanted to include this is a painting of Immanuel Kant because I was deeply inspired by his work as an undergrad student in Philosophy, and his writings on the ideas of reason, epistemology, ethics, existential knowledge and moral understanding. His ideas reflect my own developing paradigm as a teacher while I particularly like his quote relating to education:
“How then is perfection to be sought? Wherein lies our hope? In education, and in nothing else.” -Immanuel Kant
I discussed in my personal development and lifelong learning reflective essay (see samples under my academic work section) how my passion for exploring the writing and ideas of philosophers was a result of being so engaged by the material and my Philosophy teacher.
I have included here and below some photographs/paintings and influential quotes of other philosophers and scholars that inspired me as a learner and changed my perspectives of what it means to be a teacher.
“True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” -Nikos Kazantzakis
I have included here and below some photographs/paintings and influential quotes of other philosophers and scholars that inspired me as a learner and changed my perspectives of what it means to be a teacher.
“True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” -Nikos Kazantzakis
“Everyone is the other and no one is himself.”
-Martin Heidegger, Being and Time
“I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” -Albert Einstein
“I quote others only to better express myself.” –Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays
Artifacts from Students and Parents I Worked With
This simple drawing was given to me by one of my students the second or third day I met them. It is special because of it’s ability to say so much in terms of being in relational space with others, being aware of the other and communicating an understanding of their place in our lives. Even through a medium like drawing, with it’s execution appearing to be so simple on the surface…
This final artifact is a photograph of a card I received from a parent of one of the children in my group at the end of the school year. When I first read it, I was overwhelmed with emotion because of it’s genuine honesty and appreciation, but also at it’s relevance to how I was feeling about my passion for my job at the time. I felt the narrative this parent offered sufficiently rekindled all the memories, thoughts and emotions I had when being in the role of an educator to my small group of kids, but it also illuminated me to the notion of how positive influence through the smallest gestures can have an influence well beyond the classroom walls.