Jordan Croteau

10/3/17
Philosophy of Education

The purpose of education is to empower each student with a set of skills that enables them to
be lifelong learners. Building on skills like reading, writing and problem solving will turn students
into successful citizens. Giving them the tools they need to have a positive future is the most
important part of education. Turning kids into young adults that are self-sufficient. Once students are
able to interpret, communicate, and problem solve they are ready to take on the next level of
education or to become citizens of the real world.
Being able to explain the meaning of information, words, or actions is the first step in self-
awareness for students. Building the knowledge of what something means or why it needs to be done
is the setting stone for education. In mathematics, by putting students in a self-discovery situations
they will learn the skill of interpreting. Connecting mathematical definitions, rules, words, and
images so they can build a deeper level of thinking and explanation. Math is beyond numbers and
variables on a piece of paper, it is the loop between what happens in the real world and why.
After an explanation is built, it is just as important to be able to communicate that knowledge.
Getting the mastery level of thinking, students need to be able to effectively share ideas with one
another. Thinking you know how and why something works is the bases of knowledge, actually
being able to communicate why it works is a deeper leveling of learning. In mathematics, it is a
constant work in progress to wrap you mind around why things really work. It is critically important
for students and teachers to work together and collaboratively build that ultimate understanding of a
topic. For example, writing and graphing a parabola, it is not just a upside down U on a grid, it is the
trajectory of an object thrown, launched, or bounced. Talking through these types of situations with
get students to a problem-solving level of thinking.
The final stepping stone in a childs education is giving the ability to problem solve. First
they become skilled with interpreting and communicating information, then it is followed by
becoming self-sufficient problem solvers. They will be given an assessment, in which they will need
to work their way through by interpreting and communicating with others. Again, mathematics is
beyond variables and numbers on a page, students need to be able to work their way through
problems individually and collectively. Education is meaningless if students are not able to be self-
sufficient and have the ability to communicate their thinking.
Overall education is to empower each child with the ability to become lifelong learners.
Depending of if they choose to reach further levels of education or become successful citizens in the
real-world, education is what makes that happen. By building the skills of interpreting,
communicating, and problem solving, students will be ready for whatever life throws at them. There
is nothing better than hearing the success stories of what students have accomplished in their future
endeavors.