My philosophy of education focuses on centering students in their own education and decentering the dominant culture’s ideology. Education is an inherently political act and therefore my philosophy mirrors the push to resist the hegemonic values the education system has historically promoted through traditional schooling. Paulo Freire’s The Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968) encompasses this critical pedagogy that works to help students question the dominant culture that inspires the work in my philosophy. In my classroom, students will have the space to be their authentic selves and bring in their lived experiences to guide their learning. Every student comes into the classroom with their own story and as an educator it is vital that I validate the needs of my students and recognize that they exist beyond the identity of “student.”
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The classroom will be a space to craft community, cultivate critical thought, and nurture empathy. Students will see their community and culture reflected in the classroom and will be active participants and leaders in their educational exploration. It is important that students feel a sense of belonging with our classroom community and that they understand that their voices are not only heard but also valued. My goals as a social justice educator is to act as a mediator in my students’ learning so that they can develop into conscious, critical citizens who can recognize the value in what they can do even as dominant ideologies continue to persist.
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