Education is a vital aspect to the lives of all individuals because of the ways it enables one to
pursue goals. I believe that all individuals of society should have the opportunity to pursue
education. There are many ways that education impacts an individual. The educator plays an
important role on students because of the lasting impressions made. Education does more than
just enable students academically. Education has the possibility to transform one’s moral and
spiritual development. In some scenarios, education may focus solely on the academics. “When
formal education overemphasizes intellectual development to the neglect of moral and physical
development, the result maybe an amoral, physically weak genius” (Gutek, 1995).
Education is only useful if it is applied in a meaningful and effective way in the classroom
setting. One researcher explains that an educator’s main purpose is to create a suitable learning
environment that enables students to reach their academic potential. I believe that students
come to know truth through a classroom setting that allows children to observe the
information at hand in order to come to their own philosophical conclusions. As a Christian
educator, one must incorporate lessons of morality into everyday teachings in order that
students may walk away with a more dynamic understanding. As a future Christian educator, I
plan to also equip my students with moral teachings from scripture in order to enhance my
students’ biblical worldview and Christian philosophy.
There can be different aspects of the role of a teacher depending on the teacher’s specific
educational philosophy. It is a teacher’s duty to not only enhance the students’ academic
potential, but also aid in developing the students’ moral character. One researcher defines
character education as the growing practice of integrating character qualities and moral
practices into the classroom (Bahm, 2012). Parents of students entrust qualified teachers with
the well-being of their children, therefore, it should be the privilege of the teacher to continue
incorporating life lessons into the students. A child is morally strengthened when they are
taught right from wrong, therefore, the role of the teacher ought to be to incorporate moral
teachings into the classroom setting.
Bahm, K. (2012) The integration of character education and its impact on teachers’ professional
practice. University of Missouri – Saint Louis, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Gutek, G. L. (1995). A history of Western educational experience (2nd ed.) Long Grove, IL:
Waveland Press. ISBN: 9780881338188
