THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPOSE IN EDUCATION: SELF-FULFILLMENT

The most important purpose in education is self-fulfillment, and I consider this fulfillment must come from both students and teachers. I am in agreement with a message found in this chapter which is that we as teachers can attain the lofty goals we may have if we have the will to seek them.

In order that teachers and students have self-fulfillment both of them need to enjoy what they are doing.  The teacher needs to show is or her interest in the student’s learning, and his or her best side; however, teachers must be careful not to narrow the meaning of the concept. The transformational pedagogy model is a good option for having self-fulfillment because that method encourages the teachers to establish a somewhat soft education. It is not necessary to be too sweet or patient with our students, but the simplest acts of teaching and the well chosen words of a teacher can impact negatively or positively the students lives.

There is a story in the chapter “why do you want to teach” about a student named Nathaniel who is a middle grade student that just knew he could not read. After years of failure,  he had stored up enough emotional road blocks to give up the effort until he met his 6^th grade teacher, Iretta who pulled him aside, looked him in the eyes, and promised him that year would change his life , and it did. Together they would succeed. Teachers need to work on the students desires helping them succeed little by little, working as a team so that the learners feel sure about themselves.

The students succeed when they notice their teachers believe them, so we can change our students’ lives by being a support for them. As Iretta did, we as teachers have to help our students persist until they succeed in everything they want; thus, they are going to have self fulfillment. As it is said in this chapter, teachers who contribute to encourage students to desire lives of fulfillment meet a most worthy teaching goal. We should consider spiritual goals as an integral part of teaching and learning due to, for example, the relationship formed between the teacher, Iretta, and Nathaniel, the student. Motivation and hope are such a key strategies for teachers and students to achieve their individual goals.

HOW CAN WE HELP OUR STUDENTS REACH THEIR POTENTIAL TO THE FULLEST?

To be able to help our students reach their potential to the fullest, educators do not have to forget about individual students and the creative abilities of us who teach them. Furthermore, teachers need to prioritize school system efforts and well-being of our students. Teachers have to be transformers. Transformational teaching is a higher standard for teachers and it places more demands on learners’ potential, so it means that we can always expect more from our students; thus, they will notice we trust them and believe in their knowledge.

We can see many teachers just go to their classrooms waiting for their students to memorize things mechanically and they do not care about having at least a good rapport with their students. We have to go further because transformation involves more than a biological understanding of learners. It is important to have an appropriate relationship between teacher and student, a zone of caring communicated by a transformational teacher. If students and teachers have no confidence or respect among each other, the learning process is affected and it directly affects the relationship. Finally, great teachers respect their learners and believe in their potential.

   

HOW CAN WE, TEACHERS, BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO OUR STUDENTS?

We, teachers, can be a source of inspiration by doing things any other teacher does. Moreover, as it is found in this chapter, education is less about information and more about inspiration. We must prepare our students for future challenges and show them they are interested in their educative development. Our students need to know that we care about the development of their skills and attitudes. We have to do our best and change our students’ lives, in that way we will become an inspiration to them.