I truly believe in the “whole child approach” to education, where students are looked at as individuals with different needs; each student deserves to feel safe and cared for. I am a big fan of the educational philosopher and feminist Nel Noddings, who, in her work, The Challenge to Care in Schools writes, “The main aim of education should be to produce competent, caring, loving, and lovable people” and believes “we cannot separate education from personal experience” (Noddings, 174, xiii).
I earned a Master of Arts degree in Humanities, with a focus on the teaching of Human Rights and Peace Education. I learned a great deal about the philosophy of education and the movement to create more socially responsible students. Part of this movement is showing the student that he or she is valued, wholly. As a tutor I am the student’s support and advocate, so showing that I care is an essential aspect of my job. Just being able to sit and listen to the student can be the key to understanding what is going on and how I can help.
Further reading on philosophies:
Noddings, Nel. (1992). The Challenge to Care in Schools: An Alternative Approach to Education. New York: Teachers College Press.
Union Street Tutor 