Jonathan Sixtos Philosophy of Teaching
“The man that leaves no mark did not exist.” I coined this phrase in Junior High that I continue to live by today, and I believe that this simple statement can inspire everyone to leave a legacy on this earth during their time here living and breathing. I believe tha teachers are tasked with an enormous responsibility to transform young intellectuals into world changers, movement leaders, and risk takers. My goal as a teacher is to equip young people with the tools they need not only to succeed in the marketplace, but also in the arena of intellectual independence.
While the primary focus will be on the disciplines taught from textbooks, I will work tirelessly to ensure that a hidden curriculum of responsibility and character is instilled in each of my students. While I strongly agree that students must intake the majority of their morals and values from a steady family structure, the statistics are increasingly against such a paradigm. Every good teacher knows that the classroom can quickly turn into a family atmosphere, and can be used to nurture students’ hearts as well as minds. In the world after formal education, even one’s best effort might not ‘make the grade,’ but I will expect each student to present their very best work and be proud of the results. This approach will make them better students, better employees, better parents, and overall better people.
My expectations of myself are that I won’t view my students as another number on a roll sheet, or another warm seat in the classroom, but that I would see them as vibrant and full of potential. I intend to coax them out of shyness, challenge them to self-assurance, tax their inner rebellion, and eventually polish their fledgling talents so they can shine wherever they journey after leaving my care. That is how I view it. They are not just in my class, but in my care. Much like the stewards of the master in Christ’s Parable of the Talents, I understand that I have been given a treasure for a short time, and will be held accountable to a higher power upon the completion of my duties. There will be various ways to gauge my success including standardized tests, alumni excelling in academia or some other social contribution, or even accolades awarded by colleagues. I have chose to make my mark on the next generation through education, because I have always believed that, “The man who leaves no mark did not exist.”