My Philosophy of Teaching :: Philosophy of Education

Philosophy of Education Have you ever sat down and thought about who your favorite teacher was during your primary and secondary school years? Did you enjoy their class because it was exciting, educational, and unique? When I decided to become a teacher I sat down and asked myself these very questions. After graduation it was very difficult for me to decide on how to further my life, college or entering the work force. After looking back on my life and trying to decide what has made the biggest influence on it, teaching has given me the greatest joy and pride. This is why I have decided to become an elementary teacher. Teachers are very special people placed on earth to aid in the education process of children. Teachers in today’s school system have their own style of teaching which can range from the basics of essentialism to the laid back approach of progressivism. I personally am not going to limit myself to one style of teaching. When I become a teacher I will have an eclectic vie w of different philosophies and teaching styles for my classroom. Educator William Bagley coined the philosophical word essentialism in the 1930’s. This term is the traditional, or back-to-basics, approach to education. This particular style of teaching is based on lecture, discussion and recitation of reading, writing, history, social studies, foreign languages and science. This method of teaching has been the dominant since early history and is the most recognized in classrooms today. I personally know that essentialism was the philosophy used by most of my high school teachers and college professors. In my classroom I would use certain aspects of the essentialism philosophy. With the aid of the essentialism philosophy I would instill consideration of others, respect for authority and practicality for life situations. On the flip side of the essentialism coin is behaviorism. B.F. Skinner popularized behaviorism in the United States. This method of teaching uses classical conditioning from the root work of Ivan Pavlov, critical thinking skills and programmed instruction. Most teachers in today’s society use the behaviorism philosophy because they believe that the material is taught more effectively when it is broken down into smaller sections in each class.

Lady Macbeth Analysis

The characters in Shakespeare’s are strongly developed by the use of soliloquies. Through them, introspection of the characters is revealed. Lady Macbeth, in particular, is very dynamic, and her nature grows throughout the play. Her changes are often highlighted through her soliloquies, thus giving the audience a clear idea of her development. When Macbeth told his wife of the witches’ prophecy, Lady Macbeth wanted nothing else but to make it true.She asked the spirits to â€Å"Unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty! † (Act 1, Scene 5) She asks for the power to convince and control her husband’s mind with her ambition to become the queen. In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals to the audience her evil nature; however, this trait is hidden from the characters around her as the minute Macbeth enters and her soliloquy finishes, she softens into a loving wife, calling Macbeth â€Å"My dearest love,† and comfor ting him of Duncan’s visit.Right before the scene ends, she tells him that â€Å"To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me. † This should send Macbeth a signal of her blooming nature. Lady Macbeth enters the courtyard of the castle after drugging the king’s guards with alcohol and says to herself that â€Å"what has quench’d them hath given me fire. † (Act 2, Scene 2) She is bold and ferocious, and she drunk not only on the alcohol, but her greed and her evil desires fuel her.Her soliloquy shows the audience the climax of her growth. She confidently admits to herself who she is and is happy about what she’s done. After meeting with Macbeth and seeing his weakness, she calls Macbeth â€Å"Infirm of purpose† and takes matters into her own hands to complete the deed. Lady Macbeth’s growth is revealed to both the audience and to her husband in this soliloquy. The last of Lady Macbeth’s soliloquies is during he r sleep walk.She is admitting her crime, and trying to wash blood off her hands. She believes that ‘’all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand,† (Act 1, Scene 1) obviously crumbling under the guilt. Her fear is also torturing her, through her unresolved reassurance to herself that â€Å"Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out on ‘s grave. † There are no traces of her evil nature left, and her soliloquy reveals her weakness, and her regret as she admits to herself that â€Å"what is done cannot be undone. Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the fierce minded wife of Macbeth, unlike most women of her time. She is strong willed, however, not stronger than her guilty conscience, as she is eventually crushed and killed by her own evil nature. Shakespeare shows the development of Lady Macbeth through three soliloquies placed in the beginning, the middle, and the end of the play to give the audience a very clear understanding of both the dyna mics of the character and also the plot of the play.

Christian and Pagan Virtues Displayed in Beowulf Essay

Many times in literature authors blend two dissimilar traditions and virtues in order to make up a persons true identity. In the epic poem Beowulf, the Christian allegory is woven with a pagan fable in order to truly represent the characters. The Christian and pagan virtues are successfully synchronized and amalgamate the story as a whole which is displayed by the two main characters, Beowulf and Grendel, through their personal traits. Many Christian elements and values create the disposition of Beowulf. The author of Beowulf creates a character who seen as a Christ- like figure in that he possesses the Christian value of self-sacrifice and assists in the fight against evil. Beowulf is willing to die and defend his people, in this case†¦show more content†¦The entire scene of the battle with Grendel’s mother runs parallel with Christ’s life. The pond that surrounds Grendel’s mothers murky house represents evil. Beowulf knows he is faced battling evil, is prepared for death, and forgives all his enemies. The submission into the murky pond distils Beowulf as he overcomes the evil of Grendel’s mother. He submerges from the water, just like Christ ascended into heaven. As Beowulf immerses from the battle with Grendel’s mother, he credits Christ again saying, â€Å"I’d have been dead at once,/And the fight finished, the she-devil victorious,/ If our Father in Heaven ha d not helped me† (310-312). As a final point, just as Christ had one last battle, so did Beowulf. The battle with the fire-breathing dragon was Beowulf’s last battle in which he came out with a victory, in that he defeated evil. Beowulf fought long and hard in his last battle with evil. Even though both Beowulf and Christ ultimately pass away in their final battles, they both were able to conquer evil. At the end of the battle he declared to Hrothgar, â€Å"If God had not helped me, the outcome would have been quick and fatal.† In pointing out his successes and accomplishments to God’s help, Beowulf demonstrates how he accredits Christian beliefs. In addition to Christian virtues Beowulf exemplifies many pagan virtues. The pagan elements of the character of BeowulfShow MoreRelatedBeowulf as Christian Propaganda1318 Words   |  6 Pagesliterary work of Beowulf is believed, by many, to contain numerous attributes of Christian propaganda. Throughout the story of Beowulf, there are several circumstances and coincidences that distinctly relate to the Christian belief system. 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