by Tonjanita Johnson

Created on: August 06, 2008

Malcolm Forbes suggests that "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." It is, then, my belief that nothing is more valuable in this period of human existence than education, for it is only through education that citizens will come to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to survive and thrive in this new knowledge-driven society. Furthermore, it is through exposure to new knowledge and concepts that minds become open to new ideas and possibilities.

General Views on Education

Learning is a continual, lifelong process. Thus, it is important that educators avoid attempts to force knowledge upon learners but rather help them realize the importance of education in our society and teach using techniques that give learners a thirst for knowledge. Therefore, the educational experience should be more than simply the gathering of facts and information, but it should also foster the development of a worldview. It is my belief that education is an active rather than a passive process and that we not only learn from the material that is introduced in the classroom but also from the knowledge and the experiences brought into the classroom by the teacher as well as the student.

I further believe that education should encourage the acquisition of knowledge not only for the purpose of acquiring the technical and social skills needed to function in the workplace, the classroom, and in society in general, but also for the purpose of appreciating different cultures, different disciplines and different philosophies. Education should affect the person in terms of who he/she is and enable them to better understand their world and those who live in it. Truth and opposing points of view should be welcomed and encouraged so that students may have a broader foundation upon which to develop and build their own worldview.

Philosophy of Higher Education

As we accept and embrace our changing society and the forces behind those changes such as the globalization of commerce and culture, the advanced educational needs of the high-tech/high-performance workplace, and the impact of new information technologies, a new paradigm in higher education must be considered. I believe that inter- and trans-disciplinary learning is vital in the educational process for today's student. It is imperative that we see sister academic disciplines as complementing and not competing with one another in the educational process. All study should be taught and pursued both objectively and

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