It also symbolizes human interaction with nature, for good or ill. My approach to teaching is one of engagement. I see myself not solely as someone with knowledge to impart to a younger generation, but as a facilitator. In the classroom, I hope to foster a community of learners, where every person is heard and respected for who and where she or he is. One of the difficult, but ultimately rewarding challenges facing an educator today is to respect and nurture the uniqueness of students as persons while working to broaden their horizons and helping them acquire the skills and knowledge base that will help them succeed in life.
Education is growth, and fostering growth requires both nurturance of self and expansion of self.
To succeed in undertaking this work of engagement, nurturing and facilitation requires breadth and depth of knowledge, sensitivity and openness to students as self-directed human beings, and an understanding of the processes of learning and growing. I believe I possess these qualities and skills. In my six years of teaching, I have always sought to draw out the individual points of view of my students, while not shrinking from providing them with the kinds of knowledge that can enable them to develop these opinions. I have studied widely throughout my life. My studies have focused particularly on the intersection of science and ethics, especially with regard to the natural environment and human social issues that relate to the environment.