B. Lee Hurren, Ph.D.
I
believe that it is my primary duty to help prepare professional educators to
meet the needs of a rapidly changing and complex society.
Students must acquire knowledge about learners, pedagogy, and content.
They must use reflection as they integrate theory with their planning and
practice. Students must also engage
in collaboration as they develop and hone communication and leadership skills
necessary to work with the needs of a diverse population of students, parents,
colleagues, and community members. I
believe that it is my duty to help students gain appropriate knowledge in their
respective subject areas and be equipped to critically analyze, evaluate and
effectively present this subject matter to students of all cultures, races, and
academic levels.
I
believe that the university classroom is a space of critical inquiry where my
students and I search for deeper understandings of ourselves and our
responsibilities as teachers in the community and the world.
I view higher education as a forum for free and open communication,
inquiry, and critique. Because a
forum such as this is so difficult to find, I feel that it is imperative that
universities in general, and university classrooms in particular, continue to be
spaces of critical inquiry.
I
see myself as a teacher/student in a classroom of students/teachers.
I am forever engaged in exploration with my students.
I believe that together we can become a group of scholars seeking a
better understanding of ourselves and our responsibilities in our communities
and the world. I also believe that
it is my duty to help inspire students to action, as they understand their roles
as teachers more fully. I believe
that it is important for all teachers to possess and share a sense of humor with
their students and I try to share humor with my students when appropriate.
I believe that learning should be augmented by smiles and laughter.
Humor in the classroom keeps the learning process from becoming dull and
boring, while enhancing creativity and critical thinking.
I
continue to study and learn. During
class-time I am engaged in exploration of the content with my students.
I expect students to be in class, to have read and studied the text, and
to be prepared for discussion. I
encourage participation, and share the responsibility for creating a safe, open
forum for discussion. I do not
expect students to agree with everything that I say in class, or everything that
they read in texts, but I do expect them to study the texts in a serious manner,
and be able to establish positions in support of, or in opposition to, the texts
and our discussions.
I
believe strongly in what I teach. I
enjoy teaching and being a part of the education process.
I believe that teachers can and do make a difference in the lives of
their students. I believe that
teachers have the ability to change lives for the better, and even save lives.
I am glad to be a part of that.