TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My entire life I have been a student. Now as an educator, I use my student experiences to guide and inform my teaching. My classrooms are very much student-friendly and student-oriented for I believe the students are the most important element of any learning experience. My job as a teacher is to determine how I can best assist these young adults in their personal processes of educating themselves.

Within the area of health education exist many topic areas that are sensitive and value-laden. A great deal of my job is to make students aware of attitudes they may have with regard to content areas. Many attitudes are a result of misinformation or lack of exposure to different ideas, people, or points of view. I aim to give them the most up-to-date knowledge they may need to make informed decisions about health behaviors. These attitudes and behaviors become functional only if a student is armed with the practical skills necessary to carry out a health behavior as well as the self-efficacy they may need to be successful. Practicing these skills is one important function of their education.

As a sexuality educator, I am faced with challenges that may exceed those of other educators. I have a enormous responsibility to create an atmosphere of acceptance and diversity within a political and social climate that is often oppressive. Students in my class need to feel comfortable enough to be open to new ideas as well as to share their own ideas with their peers. My classrooms offer a safe haven for discourse that may be deemed inappropriate or uncomfortable in other arenas.

Health education is a vital component of the future of the health of our Nation. As an important element, we as health educators have a responsibility to improve upon the quality of education we provide. Programs and educational efforts should be innovative, theory-based, appropriate according to age, race, skill level, ability, etc… and have a respect for on-going evaluation.

I do not believe that health educators are “Warriors Against Pleasure”. I feel very strongly that the democratic principles this country was built on extend to the health education community. Students need to be empowered to make their own, albeit informed, decisions absent from moral judgments. Health information should be honest and positive rather than fear-based or manipulative. Only in an environment of choices can we all truly be free.