Teaching Philosophy
The reason I teach is to inspire. I want to inspire passion and excitement, to develop a creative environment that fosters student’s natural curiosity and nurtures an intrinsic motivation to be constantly learning and inquiring about the world around them. Art is an invaluable tool that allows for a profound expression of curiosity, it’s a lens through which to see the world. Art allows us to value and understand life, it helps us make sense of our experiences and connect with others, this is a privilege that I want to share with the younger generations.
Much like my artistic practice, my teaching practice is completely concerned with people, I create art for the same reasons I teach: to communicate. Art is an invaluable form of communication that connects people to each other and the wider world. I aim to encourage students to become intelligent, critical thinkers who engage with complex concepts and have confidence in their ability to express themselves. It's important to me that students’ voices are valued and that they explore the potential impact they can have on the world. The subject of art has the unique advantage of tackling a wide variety of topics, from politics to philosophy, and it’s my goal for students to get involved, to feel passionate about something and pursue it, to interrogate and follow their interests.
Art is a humanity. At the core of my teaching practice is empathy; as an educator my top priority is the care of my students. This looks like creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where students feel important, building rapport with students based on mutual respect, challenging my own preconceptions and biases, and constantly learning, adapting and improving together. I aim to model compassion and empathy in my classrooms, to create spaces where students work socially and collaboratively to interpret others work and empathise together.
