My philosophy of education involves these principles:

• EQUALITY: I regard everyone in the classroom as equal. Each person, regardless of background, education, or expertise, can make a unique and valuable contribution to the class based on personal experiences, aptitudes, and perspectives.
   
• DIVERSITY: I think diversity is essential to learning. It gives us an opportunity to experience a variety of views and perspectives and to interact and be challenged by other’s thoughts and ideas.
   
• RESPECT: I affirm the dignity, worth, and potential of every person in the classroom. By respecting another's views, even if they are distasteful to us, we challenge our own assumptions, broaden our personal perspective, learn to make value judgments, and develop the ability to think independently.

My concept of student success is summarized by this story:

Once there were three bricklayers. Each one of them was asked what they were doing.

• The first man answered gruffly, “I'm laying bricks.”
• The second man replied sarcastically, “I'm making $12.50 an hour.”
• But the third man said enthusiastically and with pride, “I'm building a cathedral.”

--First told by Sir Christopher Wren (the famous architect who built St. Paul’s Cathedral in London)

In this history class:

• The first student is “taking a class.”
• The second student is “earning a grade.”
• But the third student is “getting a worthwhile education."

According to Catherine Pulsifer (a motivational speaker), this story reveals two secrets of success:

• ATTITUDE: “Your attitude towards whatever you are doing determines your ultimate level of success."
   
• GRASPING THE BIG PICTURE: “Being able to see the end result, rather than just the task, eliminates obstacles, focuses your energy, and provides motivation to excel.”

If you're taking a class from me, my hope is that all of you will build a cathedral in the coming months.