Reflection Paper #8

Reflection paper #8: What strikes you as most important to you as a teacher in reading about Beliefs, Values and Attitudes. What is the most important thing that you have learned?

Beliefs, values and attitudes are all a part of cultural thought and behavior that motivate each individual member of the group to perform. Any diversion or conflict in a belief, value or attitude will reflect a change in the individual of the group that is affected. Conflict in beliefs will in most cases result in transformation. I consider this premise to bthe most engaging aspect of this article and it is certainly the most important concept learned. I believe that a teacher should be challenging to a students cognitive make-up, thereby, giving them enough information to formulate their own ideas. An educator should raise thought provoking concepts that will intern motivate each student to embrace and appreciate the privilege of an education. A teacher in my opinion main purpose besides the actual formal curriculum is to inspire, empower, encourage and engage the student in such a way that his belief, values and attitudes toward the world is profoundly impacted. This will in turn, enable the student to think freely and originate his own thoughts and ideas. This premise will eventually aide the student in making necessary adjustments because of his education experience.
Students need to be motivated and encourage to find solutions and not to just be given the answer. I believe giving them the range to actively seek out answers by facilitating will broaden the horizons of their minds, character and personality. Creating a conflict in their belief system will procure better communication skills and expression of self because they will be better equipped to defend their perspectives. I also think that testing a student’s beliefs will ultimately produce a well rounded, self actualized individual that will be an asset and not a hindrance to his country, family and community. The ability to assist each student to not be afraid of new concepts and foreign ideologies and not to readily discard them but to take time and consider, ponder and weigh against what they have been taught is very exciting to me. I think it would be a great service to our world if I could facilitate them into eliminating many of the prejudices that exist today. Ridding them of disparaging ethnophaulisms (derogatory terminology based on stereotypes to belittle cultures, groups, etc.) and altolocations (verbally degrading others, groups, communities, cultures will be a great accomplishment for me and a fantastic service for the world we all live in.)