Changing the World Through Education My teaching philosophy involves changing the world through my students. I want to empower my students, through education and motivation, to leave the world better than they left it. Like many social reconstructionists, I believe that we, as teachers, have a duty to future generations to educate them on how to handle the problems they encounter, in the hope that they will pass on fewer problems to their children. I will work every minute of every day to ensure a successful future for my students. I believe that students need a routine that helps them think clearly and freely, such as that suggested by the perennialist approach. After I graduate from Concord College, I will attend graduate school and earn my master's degree in Education. I will be teaching in different places around the country, as I will be moving frequently. My future professional plans include working with Department of Defense school systems. I will use my educational background and life experiences to enlighten and teach my students. The issues that I believe are crucial to address and which also relate to my particular philosophy are increasing political awareness, increasing racial tolerance and acceptance, reducing child abuse and violence against women, recycling and appreciation for our natural resources. Methods I would use in my classroom to engage students would include community service projects, recycling drives, trips to shelters and centers, and food and clothing drives within the classroom. Activities like these, where students can see the changes they are making, motivate them in a way that no general lesson can. Children need to experience the altruistic satisfaction that comes from helping others. I have had many excellent teachers during my educational experience, some of these were wonderful teachers who taught life lessons. Others have been boring, overly strict, unapproachable and, at times, unaware. I learned valuable lessons from both of them. A positive and fun learning environment makes students want to be in the classroom. The first step in learning is for children to want to be there.