It is my educational
philosophy that students should be anxiously engaged in their own
learning rather than just enduring it. The role of the teacher is to
enable students to discover for themselves the truths and values of
the learning opportunity. It is my philosophy that
students learn best when they recognize how the subject applies to
the world in which they live. As adult learners, students contribute to the depth of understanding based on their own
experiences and expectations. A teacher should give guidance and
encouragement. It is the role of educators to help others discover
their own potential. I agree with the observation of John
L. Clarke who 27 years as president of BYU-Idaho
(then known as Ricks College); he said, “There are extraordinary capabilities
in ordinary people.” Furthermore, I delight in the
wisdom of President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The work of the
world isn’t done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people who have
learned to work in extraordinary ways”
(dedication of Gordon B. Hinckley
Building, BYU-Idaho, 22 Oct. 2002).