Linh Ha
Learning is a part of human nature. Beginning in the wombs of our mothers, we explore, evaluate, and learn; we do it continuously and throughout our lives. We learn through our casual conversations with our peers, we learn through our observation of the social dynamic that surrounds us; and we learn through simple experiences such as smelling the scent of loam after a heavy rain, touching a thorn, or imagining images in the clouds. To experience life is to experience learning. Therefore, I believe that every individual has the capacity and the yearning to learn. Furthermore, I believe that in addition to the informal education that we gain from everyday experiences, a formal education is an essential tool for every individual.
Every child, regardless of cultural/linguistic differences or special needs, deserves to have the best formal education possible and deserves to have teachers that are passionate and enthusiastic about the fostering of learning. I once thought that a worthy metaphor for a teacher was a potter, a shaper of minds; one who will mold children’s development (intellectually and socially). However, as I pondered further on the idea, I realized that all individuals were unique beings with distinctive personalities, talents, and potentials; and if teachers attempted to shape them, then they were conforming students to some particular molds or ideal visions of what students should be, resulting in the elimination of students' individuality. Perhaps a more appropriate metaphor for a teacher is a compass; one who does not shape but guide students. Someone who will assist children to develop their potential, discover their individuality, articulate their opinions, and cultivate their own visions and ideas. In order to accomplish these ideals, teachers must encourage and acknowledge students’ voices, promote creativity by urging distinctive thinking and unique productivity, and provide students with choices. Teachers should not tell directions but rather show the way, and teachers should not demand rote learning and memorization but rather be a facilitator of knowledge and an initiator of divergent ideas. When I realized this, my eyes were opened.
Furthermore, I believe that it is the duty of legislators, researchers, clinicians, educators, and parents to ensure that all children, regardless of cultural/linguistic differences or special needs, receive an effective education. An effective educational system must meet the demands of a diverse student population. Thus, it is imperative that general and special educators be more culturally proficient and more effective in detecting and identifying the unique talents and needs of students. Ultimately, the mission of educating children belongs to motivated teachers, teachers who believe that all children can succeed and possess a desire to succeed. These teachers embrace the aspiration to guide their students to a successful academic conclusion, and they harbor the hope that their students will make a triumphant transition from school to adult life.
